Peter’s Vision
TRANSLATION
(1) At Caesarea there was a man by the name of Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. (2) Along with his whole household he feared God. He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. (3) One day at three in the afternoon he clearly saw an angel of God appear to him in a vision calling, “Cornelius.” (4) And staring at him in fear he asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel responded, “Your prayers and your generosity to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering to God. (5) Now send men to Joppa and have them bring back a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. (6) He is staying with a tanner named Simon whose house is by the sea.” (7) When the angel who spoke to him departed, Cornelius called two of his servants as well as a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. (8) After he told them everything that had happened, he sent them to Joppa.
(9) The next day as they were approaching the city at about noon, Peter went up to the roof to pray. (10) He became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter fell into a trance. (11) He saw the heavens open and something like a great sheet being let down by its four corners to the earth. (12) It contained all kinds of animals as well as reptiles and birds of the air. (13) A voice spoke to him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat.” (14) Peter responded, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.” (15) The voice spoke to him again, “Do not call unclean anything that God has declared clean!” (16) After this happened three times, the sheet was immediately taken back to heaven.
OBSERVATIONS
Luke spent two chapters describing how the preaching of the Gospel first reached the Gentiles. Proper names are the most frequently repeated words found in this opening segment of Acts 10. “Cornelius” was used twice (vss. 1 & 3), “Peter” four times (vss. 5, 9, 13, & 14), “Joppa” twice (vss. 5 & 8), “God” five times (in vss. 2, 3, 4, & 15), and “Lord” twice (vss. 4 & 14). Other repetitions include three occurrences of “prayed/prayers/pray” (vss. 2, 4, & 9), “heaven(s)” twice (vss. 11 & 16), “eat/eaten” three times (vss. 10, 13, & 14), and “unclean” twice (vss. 14 & 15).
OUTLINE
I. Cornelius sent for Peter in Joppa after receiving a message from God in a vision. (1-8)
II. Peter also heard from God in a vision to make sure he would go with Cornelius’ messengers. (9-16)
IDEA STATEMENT
Visions given first to Cornelius and then to Peter prepared the way for the proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles.
APPLICATION
In working his divine purposes out, God gave two visions to two very different men. One was a Roman soldier, a leading member of an elite occupying force that held the nation of Israel in its grip. Somehow this military man had become a God-fearer, both committed to serving humanity (generosity) and to serving the Almighty (prayer). To the soldier God sent an angel, directing him to send for Peter in Joppa. Meanwhile, Peter received a vision of a great sheet being lowered with all kinds of animal life in it. When a voice commanded Peter to “kill and eat,” the apostle objected on the basis of Old Testament law: “I have never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.” To Peter’s amazement he heard, “What God has made clean, do not call unclean.” Three times this was repeated to make sure that Peter understood the message.
While Peter was wondering why he had received such a vision, the messengers from Cornelius were knocking on the door. God had perfectly timed these two visions to accomplish a great purpose, to extend the proclamation of the Good News to Gentiles beyond the confines of Judaism. As we continue into Acts 10 & 11, we will see how Peter’s obedience led to the conversion of Cornelius and his entire household. These events demonstrated to the early church that it was God’s will for the Gospel to be proclaimed not only to Jews but to all people in every nation, tongue, and tribe.