Abide Together: Reflections on Acts 10

Chapter 10 begins with Cornelius who has had a vision from an angel of God.  Cornelius responded the same way that people have always responded to angels.  He is terrified.  The angel asks him to call for Peter to come to him.  He gave Cornelius the location and Cornelius sends his servants to go to pick Peter up.

Scripture shifts to Peter’s current view point.  Peter received a vision as well.  He did not immediately understand the vision he saw.  Vs. 17 says “Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as the what the vision that he had seen might mean.”  I find comfort in knowing that even Peter, the rock that the church would be built on, was perplexed by what God was teaching him.  The servants from Cornelius came to Peter while he was still trying to figure things out.  The spirit told him to leave with the servants and he immediately got up and went with them.

Cornelius prepared the way for Peter to come.  He had much faith in the vision that he had seen and that it was truly a vision from God.  He brought in friends and family to come in and here what God was going to say through Peter.  At the correct time, God allowed Peter full understanding of his vision.  Peter came in to see Cornelius and spoke with clarity.  He began by setting the record straight that he, Peter, was not to be worshiped.  He then revealed the meaning of the vision he had had.  This vision was to show God’s love for both Jews and gentiles.  Peter had been a Jew and so for him to take this step out to minister to the people Peter was with, was something that would not have been acceptable beforehand.

Peter then put into words the gospel perfectly.  Verses 34-43 give us all we need to know and understand in order to repent and believe for salvation.  Verse 42 says and he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.  Thank the Lord for this hope! I pray that this is the cry of our hearts to “preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God”

We get to see the believers who had “been circumcised” got to see the Holy Spirit come upon gentiles.  Many people chose to follow Christ.  Praise the Lord for his timing and grace!  We can be encouraged by the love of God, for all men, and his choosing to send his son to die for our sins.

– Joshua Dawes