Verse divisions were not part of the original Scriptures, and some traditional choices are awkward. For the sake of clarity, it would have been better if this verse was split—there are two distinct moments in question. Peter has had a vision wherein God repeals the Mosaic law regarding clean and unclean food. Right before Peter had this vision, he had been waiting for a meal from the household of his guest, Simon the Tanner (Acts 10:9–16). Right after the vision, three strangers come to the gate asking for Peter. At least one of them is a Gentile, since he is a soldier of the Italian cohort (Acts 10:1, 7, 17).

The timing is not coincidental. God told Peter that foods were no longer unclean, and now three "unclean" men arrive, at meal time. Peter understands God to say He is repealing any custom against eating with Gentiles, as well. Although Peter accepts this now, he and other Jewish Jesus-followers will have problems, later. Jews will find it incredibly difficult to eat with their Gentile brothers and sisters if the Gentiles don't follow kosher law. James, the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church, will convene a meeting with the church leadership, and they will decide that for the sake of peace, Gentiles should "abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled" (Acts 15:29). Paul will later ignore the rule against eating food sacrificed to idols—possibly because in cities outside of Jewish territory, it is difficult to find meat that hasn't been so tainted. But he admonishes Gentile believers to abstain if it bothers others (1 Corinthians 8).

Still, it is difficult to change such a deep cultural tradition. Paul will make his headquarters in the Gentile city of Syrian Antioch, and when Peter visits him there, they will all eat together with no problem. But when more-legalistic Jewish Jesus-followers come from Jerusalem, Peter and Barnabas will withdraw from eating with the Gentiles. Paul will call them out publicly for their hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11–14).

It's interesting that some of the Jewish Jesus-followers from Joppa go with Paul and Cornelius' messengers. Some of their motivation is, no doubt, curiosity. But it's also interesting that throughout Peter's travel in Lydda and Joppa, there is no mention that Peter has a companion from Jerusalem (Acts 9:32–43). In his previous work, the apostle John was almost always with him. When Philip shared Jesus' story in Samaria, Peter and John went to affirm the Samaritans understood. They laid their hands on the people, and the people received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:4–17).

In Lydda and Joppa, Peter is visiting with Jews who are already confirmed Jesus-followers; they may have received the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem before Saul started his persecution (Acts 8:1–3) or they may have learned from Philip when he traveled from Azotus to Caesarea (Acts 8:40). But now, Peter is called to Caesarea, to a Gentile, and he will need witnesses for what is about to happen. When Peter returns to Jerusalem, the legalistic Jesus-followers will question his choice to eat with "uncircumcised men." Although they seem to accept Peter's lone testimony, he also brings the six men from Joppa (Acts 11:1–18).

Acts 10:9–23 occurs as Peter is in Joppa, after having healed a paralyzed man in nearby Lydda and raising Tabitha from the dead in Joppa (Acts 9:32–43). Peter doesn't know that a Roman centurion who worships the Jewish God is sending three men to bring Peter to Caesarea. The centurion wished to learn what God has planned for him, which he will find is to be saved in Jesus' name. First, God makes Peter understand that Jesus' offer of salvation is as available for Gentiles as it is for Jews.

Peter has been a dominant voice in the spread of Jesus' message to Jews and proselytes. Now he brings the gospel to Gentiles. An angel tells Cornelius, a centurion, to ask Peter to come to him. Peter is praying when he receives a vision of food—including non-kosher food—and God's voice telling him to eat. When the centurion's messengers arrive, Peter realizes the dream meant that Gentiles are no longer unclean. He follows the messengers and tells Cornelius' household about salvation through Jesus. Before Peter can lay his hands on them or baptize them, the Holy Spirit falls on them.

Jesus told the disciples they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Oddly, the disciples didn't understand this meant the Holy Spirit would come upon Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike. After several years reaching Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem (Acts 1—7) and Samaritans in Samaria (Acts 8:4–25), God calls Peter to bring the message to Gentiles. Peter's witness that Gentiles can be saved (Acts 11) clears the way for Paul's ministry to Gentiles in modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Italy (Acts 13—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.

Accessed 4/29/2024 7:43:09 AM

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