Peter Visits Cornelius
TRANSLATION
(17) While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius, after asking for Simon’s house, stood at the gate, (18) asking whether Simon, surnamed Peter, was staying there. (19) While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Three men are looking for you. (20) Get up and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” (21) So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one for whom you are looking. What is the reason for your coming?” (22) And they said, “We have come from Cornelius, a centurion. He is an upright man, a God-fearer, and well regarded by all the Jewish people. He was told by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house so that he might hear what you have to say.” (23) So Peter invited them in to be his guests.
The next day, he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. (24) The following day, they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. (25) When Peter arrived, Cornelius went out to meet him, bowed down at his feet and worshipped him. (26) But Peter raised him up saying, “Stand up! I am only a man myself.” (27) As he talked with him, they went inside and found many people gathered. (28) Peter then said to them, “You are aware that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. Yet, God has shown me that I must not call anyone impure or unclean. (29) That is why I have come without raising any objection when you summoned me. I ask, therefore, the reason why you sent for me.” (30) Cornelius responded, “Four days ago about this time at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Suddenly, a man in shining garments stood before me (31) and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers and remembered your generosity to the poor. (32) Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, who lives by the sea.’ (33) That is why I sent for you immediately, and it is good that you have come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
OBSERVATIONS
Overcoming Jewish reluctance to include Gentiles in the early church took God’s direct intervention to demonstrate that the church was to be inclusive. As the Apostle Paul would later write, “For (Jesus Christ) himself is our peace who has made the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” (Eph. 2:14). Persuading Peter to share the Gospel with Cornelius was a significant milestone in this process.
The most frequent repetitions in this segment in which Peter obeyed God and responded to Cornelius’ request for a visit were proper names. “Peter” occurred seven times and twice with “Simon who is called…” (vss. 17, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26, & 32). We find “Cornelius” mentioned six times (vss. 17, 22, 24, 25, 30, & 31). “Simon” referring to the tanner is found twice (vss. 17 & 32). “God” was repeated four times (vss. 22, 28, 31, & 33) along with mentions of “the Spirit” (vs. 19) and “Lord” (vs. 33). Other recurring words included “house” four times (vss. 17, 22, 30, & 32), “men” twice (vss. 20 & 21), “man” twice (vss. 26 & 31), and “sent” four times (in vss. 20, 29, & 33).
OUTLINE
I. Cornelius’ messengers sought out Peter in Joppa to bring him to Caesarea. (17-23)
II. Peter with some other Jewish brothers went with the messengers to meet Cornelius. (24-27)
III. When Peter asked Cornelius why he had sent for him, Cornelius told him about his vision. (28-33)
IDEA STATEMENT
In obedience to the vision God had given him, Peter and some other believers from Joppa responded to Cornelius’ request for a visit and went to meet him in Caesarea.
APPLICATION
Peter’s reluctance to visit Cornelius and his household was apparent throughout this narrative. Three times God had to prompt Peter to go with the repeated vision of the lowered sheet. Twice Peter asked why he had been summoned. First, it was a question to the messengers whom Cornelius had sent: “What is the reason for your coming” (vs. 21)? And then later it was a question to Cornelius himself: “I ask then why you sent for me” (vs. 29). Peter was hardly being tactful when he explained to Cornelius why he felt uneasy about meeting him using words like “unlawful for a Jew to associate” with a Gentile or God showing him not to call anyone “impure or unclean.”
However, Cornelius did not allow himself to be put off by Peter’s words although, as a high-ranking member of the Roman army occupying Palestine, he certainly had every right to feel slighted. So great was his desire to know the truth about God that he put aside any negative feelings he might have had. This alone demonstrated to Peter and all who had come with him the genuineness of Cornelius’ motivation. But what happened next would serve as an unmistakable confirmation of God’s working to spread the Gospel beyond the confines of Judaism to the multitudes of Gentiles whose hearts were hungry and prepared to place their faith in the Savior of the world.