Chapter 10

I would not like to suggest the apostles of Jesus were stubborn or blockheaded, because that would not be fair. The transition they were having to make was no simple matter. It is easy from our perspective to think they should have understood or should have seen more quickly, but we were not in their shoes.

They had grown up in a religious system, and they were having to make major adjustments in their thinking. The religious system was the prevailing version of Judaism that they had all grown up with. The modern reader has trouble making the distinction between what one might call the religion of the Old Testament and the religion of the Jews–i.e Judaism. But there is a very strong distinction.

Jesus cautioned his audiences not to assume that he came to do away with the law–he said not one jot or tittle could pass from the written law. But then He proceeded to challenge the law at every turn. What may not be obvious to us is the fact that the law he was challenging was the oral law–what he called "their traditions." By the time Jesus came on the scene, Judaism had a highly developed religion that, while it recognized the written law of Moses as its cornerstone, It also had much more elaborate oral law. And it is not always and immediately clear in the NT which law they are talking about.

Naturally, having grown up in the system, the most natural way to interpret the written law was in accordance with the oral law. The problem was, that the oral law actually was in conflict with the written law in far too many ways. You encounter this again and again throughout Jesus’ ministry.

Even the apostles had trouble keeping these two aspects of the law clear in their own minds. A really noteworthy example of this shows up in the tenth chapter of the book of Acts.

The early church had moved through three major phases by this time. The gospel had been thoroughly developed among the Jews at Jerusalem. As a result of persecution it had spread up to Samaria. Then, the gospel was given to a man who would take it to Africa–the Ethiopian. Now, the apostles have to be convinced that the direction of this movement away from being a exclusively Jewish church had to continue.

 

(Acts 10:1-4 KJV) "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, {2} A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. {3} He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. {4} And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."

This is a fascinating note. We go through the motions in our Christian life, praying, helping others and we often do so without a lot of thought beyond the acts themselves. But here, an angel shows up on a man’s doorstep and tells him that his prayers and his alms have come up before God and caused God to remember him, to think about him. There would have been others praying and giving in this time, but this man was picked to make a point.

(Acts 10:5-7 KJV) "And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: {6} He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. {7} And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;"

It is of special interest that there were those of his household and even a soldier that shared his faith.

(Acts 10:8-12 KJV) "And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. {9} On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: {10} And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, {11} And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: {12} Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air."

Mind you, the phrase, "all manner," includes everything from cockroaches to scorpions to vultures, to dogs. Some of these you would never think of eating.

(Acts 10:13-16 KJV) "And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. {14} But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. {15} And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. {16} This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."

Now I don’t know about you, but if God told me to do something, I don’t really think I would feel like arguing with Him. Why, did Peter argue the matter? Why didn’t he do as he was told? Well, Peter had his problems, but there were some things he understood all to well. One of them was that when a voice from heaven tells you to do something that the written law of God tells you not to do, you don’t do it.

You would think at this point, that if it had been Jesus’ intent during his ministry to do away with the law regarding foods that may be eaten, it would have said something about it. Surely, if that had been Jesus’ intent, Peter would have known it. But here long after Jesus’ ministry is complete, Peter did not understand that it was now okay to eat centipedes.

(Acts 10:17-28 KJV) "Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, {18} And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. {19} While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. {20} Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. {21} Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? {22} And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. {23} Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. {24} And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. {25} And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. {26} But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. {27} And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. {28} And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."

Now we know the answer to what Peter’s vision meant. It had nothing to do with animals and everything to do with men.

There is not one word in the Old Testament to suggest that it is unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile. It was unlawful in the prevailing sects of Judaism, but NOT in the law of Moses. Rather to the contrary.  See Leviticus 19:33, Numbers 15:13-16, Deuteronomy 10:17-19, and Ezekiel 47:21-23.

Racism is buried deep in the heart of a man, it seems, but it was God’s intent from the beginning that race be ignored. Peter knew all these scriptures well enough, but custom was buried very deep in his character. Without the vision, it is highly doubtful that he would have even considered going to see Cornelius.

Throughout this time period, God seems mostly to have left the disciples to make their own plans, to carry out their own methods of preaching the Gospel. But once in a while, that His purposes might stand, God steps in to direct things.

(Acts 10:29-34 KJV) "Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? {30} And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, {31} And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. {32} Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. {33} Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. {34} Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"

Sometimes one wonders what it takes to get this idea through our heads. God is not a respecter of persons. He isn’t the God of the Jews, the Israelites, the Americans or the British.

(Acts 10:35-38 KJV) "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. {36} The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) {37} That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; {38} How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

They already knew all this. But they had not heard the story from a witness.

(Acts 10:39-48 KJV) "And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: {40} Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; {41} Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. {42} And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. {43} To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. {44} While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. {45} And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. {46} For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, {47} Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? {48} And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

Everyone was astonished because the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit. They were uncircumcised and this wasn’t supposed to happen. And the truth is that were people in Peter’s group that would have denied baptism to these people unless God had intervened. God broke through all that.

But it wasn’t accepted by everyone as the next chapter will tell.

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