Isaiah 54:1-17

                                                     Acts 10:9-23

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.  In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”  And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”  This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” So he invited them in to be his guests.

The previous text showed how God prepared Cornelius for the messenger.  This passage tells how God prepared the messenger for Cornelius.  Peter, of course, was that messenger.  God had told Peter and all the apostles that they were to make disciples in all nations.  However, the idea of going to Gentiles was so foreign to the worldview of these Jewish men, that it would take a special instruction from the Lord to bring this about.  Phillip had evangelized the Eunuch in the privacy of a desert.  What God was doing now was much more public and would have greater consequences for Peter and the Church.  God’s love for all nations is unquestionable.

 

PETER RECEIVES A VISION ABOUT UNCLEAN FOOD: As the men from Cornelius are approaching, Peter goes up on the rooftop to pray.  When he gets hungry and the household, he was staying at was preparing his lunch, he falls into a trance and has a vision.  The vision is of a sheet floating down from heaven with all kinds of unclean foods on it.  God tells Peter three times to kill and eat these unclean animals, but Peter refuses based on the Law of the Old Testament diet.  Each time God tells Peter not to call unclean that which God has declared clean.  Peter’s conviction in admirable; saying “no” to God, not so much.  The Lord is liberating the use of foods believers are free to enjoy that the Jewish Law prohibited.  This is similar to what happened after the flood and man was now permitted to eat meat.  However, more important than the meat, God is preparing Peter for the mission to Gentile nations. God has the authority to reveal truth and amend His Law.  We have the responsibility to obey.

 

PETER RECEIVES INSTRUCTION ABOUT UNKNOWN MEN: The point about Peter’s vision was not only about food, but also about people.  Peter was part of a nationalistic Jewish nation that looked on other nations with disdain.  Gentiles were, like the foods in Peter’s vision, unclean.  However, God instructed Peter that they were arriving, looking for him and that he should not fear them.  God is preparing Peter’s heart for what He is about to do just as He had prepared the heart of Cornelius.  God moves in both the hearts of unbelievers and the hearts of His children in order to bring others to Himself.  He came to seek and save the lost and continues on that mission through His disciples.  

 

PETER RECEIVES GUESTS WHO ARE UNCLEAN GENTILES: Jesus spent a good deal of time demonstrating and teaching about the love of God for all nations.  However, the culture in which Peter was raised had a deep disdain for Gentiles.  This would have gone even deeper for anyone associated with a soldier from Rome.  God had prepared Peter to understand that He was not to treat these men as unclean even though they were Gentiles.  God’s will was more important to Peter than his culture or his personal preference.  Normally Peter would not have talked to these men.  However, because of the vision and instruction of God, Peter not only speaks to them; He welcomes them into the home where he was staying as his guests.  Peter could see that God was working.  This was confirmed by the fact that a Roman soldier had sent for him.  God is faithful to prepare the way for His Word to change the world.

 

APPLICATION: God loves all people from all places.  There is no room in the family of God for superiority or racism.  Don’t argue with God, it is a losing proposition.  As we serve the Lord, He will take us out of our comfort zone on a regular basis.  Be hospitable to strangers, it is a quality of leadership and a common way God calls us to live.