THE GENTILE PENTECOST
Picture of Cornelius Before Peter
Acts 10:1 – 11:18
By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min.
Cornelius was a Roman centurion in the Italian Regiment. He commanded a military force of about 100 men garrisoned in Caesarea, the Roman capital in the Middle East. “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (Acts 10:1-2).
The Ministry of Angels.
Cornelius had a vision one day at about three in the afternoon. “He distinctly saw an angel of God” who called his name and said to him, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now, send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea” (Acts 10:3-6).
Ah! The Holy Spirit knows our names and addresses and can speak perfectly all sixty-six of the world’s known languages. He never confuses a name or forgets a name.
This story links with the miracles experienced by Aeneas and Dorcas and shows the Holy Spirit kept Peter in Joppa so he could readily make the trip to Caesarea, a trip he did not know he would be making. It also shows the ministry of angels (see Hebrews 1:14). This angel knew Cornelius’ character and integrity, and commended him for it, saying “your prayers and gifts… are a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4).
The angel specifically told Cornelius to send men to Joppa and bring Peter back to Cornelius’ home. He gave Cornelius the Apostle Peter’s birth name, Simon, and his Greek name, Peter. The angel also knew the name and address of Simon the Tanner, the man who was hosting Peter in Joppa. It confirms the Spirit did in fact position Peter in Joppa for this moment when Peter had no idea what was about to happen.
Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should expect this kind of guidance that at times will also include angelic messengers. The message of the angel to Cornelius also affirms God is pleased for the followers of His Beloved Son to come from all nations and ethnicities. He also wants each of them to be people of prayer and generosity.
Gentile Hunger for God.
Many Gentiles knew from experience the demon inspired worship of polytheism had nothing to offer except more emptiness and oppression. These spiritually famished idolaters would respond to the gospel if they had opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit saw to it that they did hear.
One of the primary reasons for the success of the gospel of Jesus Christ generation after generation is that it accomplishes what idol worship can never do – it offers people a personal, one-on-one relationship with the God who graciously loves and forgives.
The narrative also reveals not all Romans were idol-worshiping pagans, and not all Roman soldiers were cruel. But enough Romans were haughty and condescending, even evil, to motivate most Jews to interpret all of them as cruel and wicked. Rome’s taxation policies were the cornerstone of the oppression.
Cornelius believed the message and called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything the angel had said and sent them to Joppa. The trip from Caesarea to Joppa was about 30 miles south on the coastal road by the Mediterranean Sea.
The Law of Moses made clear distinctions between clean and unclean, and the rules applied to people as well as animals and foods. Jews considered it profane even to touch certain foods, nor would they go into the home of a Gentile. For the gospel to spread around the world, this understanding of clean and unclean had to be changed. For example, Adam and his descendants were vegetarians up to the time of the Flood, when God gave them meat to eat (Genesis 9:2-3). Moses’ dietary laws designated certain meats as clean, and therefore edible; others were forbidden (see Leviticus 11).
The Holy Spirit on the spot was writing a new law in Peter’s heart. The blood of Jesus would cleanse from sin the Gentiles too as they opened-up to the gospel. They were not to be treated as unclean people. Here’s how it happened.
Peter’s Instructions.
The Holy Spirit’s timing was perfect. About noon the next day as the visitors were approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. While in prayer Peter fell into a trance. In that setting Peter received his instructions.
“He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean….”
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven” (Acts 10:11-16).
While Peter was pondering the vision, the men from Caesarea arrived. As they were knocking at the gate, the Holy Spirit spoke to Peter: “Simon, three men are looking for you. So, get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:19-20).
This story unveils a classic illustration of the ministry of the Holy Spirit: launching a whole new sphere of ministry in the Gentile world, and in this case, using Rome’s military to help do it. It communicates the Spirit knew Jesus would find followers all over the Empire.
Peter’s response was very apostolic. He obeyed the Holy Spirit and began a new ministry most people would think impossible, taking the Gospel to the nations.
If Peter had been told he had two visitors, for example, he probably would not have made the trip, but it was three, just as the Holy Spirit said. We are left to wonder if the devil whispered to Peter in that precise moment: Don’t go; it’s a trap. They’re tricking you to get you there and arrest you, so they can cut off your head!
If the devil tried, to Peter’s eternal credit he listened to the Holy Spirit.
“The next day Peter started out with them,” along with six of the brothers in Joppa (Acts 10:23; 11:12). [I want to ask Peter when I get to heaven why he took half-a-dozen men with him.]
The trip gave Peter more time to think and pray as he tried to process the vision he had received.
When they arrived, “Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends” (Acts 10:24). They were waiting for Peter.
Launching the Gentile Pentecost was at hand.
Lesson two will follow next week.
