The story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10 has definitely stimulated some cultivation in me. Cornelius is a Gentile who loves and obeys God. It’s because of his prayers and gifts to the poor that an angel visits him and says to send men to Joppa to bring back Peter.
The first thing that is interesting is that the angel told Cornelius to bring back Peter to hear what he had to say. It seems that the angel could have given Cornelius the message of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t. The angel appeared to point him in the direction of Peter.
The next day Peter is praying and sees a vision of a big sheet with four-footed animals that according to the law were considered unclean and not to be eaten. Peter hears a voice that says, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter says, “Surely not, Lord! 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 should be taken to heart. God has called you clean. It is unacceptable to consider yourself as unclean. Believe that!)
Peter has this vision and then the men from Cornelius show up and the Spirit tells Peter that he sent them and not to hesitate to go with them.
The second interesting thing, is that Peter had a vision that he didn’t understand until he met with Cornelius and the group he had invited. It was there that Peter said, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
The revelation that God was revealing was only understood when Peter and Cornelius were together. They each had a piece of the puzzle that when put together brought about a revelation.
The thing that stands out the most for me is that the angel didn’t share the message of Jesus with Cornelius. He pointed Cornelius to the one whose responsibility it was to share the message.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
YOU will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and YOU will be my witnesses. In John 21 Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” Peter said, “You know I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Peter’s duties and responsibilities had to do with sharing the truth and knowledge about Jesus. For me this story further confirms that God’s will is accomplished in and through the cooperation of man.
We have duties and responsibilities with the authority and ability to accomplish them. We are instruments of righteousness. We are built to solve problems. We the people of the Kingdom are sent into the darkness to bring freedom, peace, joy, healing and wholeness. We are people of epic value, called to demonstrate and display the glory and splendor of God.
What God has called clean, let us not call unclean.