Acts 10:1-18

Acts 10:1-18

[1] a certain  man  in  Caesarea  called  Cornelius,  a centurion  of  the band  called  the Italian  [2] A devout  man, and  one that feared  God  with  all  his  house,  gave  much  alms  to the people,  and  prayed  to God  [3] in  a vision  evidently  about  the ninth  hour  of the day  an angel  of God  coming in  to  him,  and  saying  unto him,  Cornelius.  [4] And  when he looked  on him,  he was  afraid,  and  said,  What  Lord?  And  he said  unto him,  prayers  and  alms  are come up  for  a memorial  God.  [5] And  now  send  men  to  Joppa,  and  call for  one Simon,  whose  surname is  Peter:  [6] He  lodgeth  with  one  Simon  a tanner,  whose  house  by  the sea side:  he  shall tell  what  oughtest  to do.  [7] And  when  the angel  which  spake  was departed,  he called  two  of his  household servants,  and  a devout  soldier  him  continually;  [8] And  when he had declared  all these things  unto them,  he sent  them  to  Joppa.  [9] On the morrow,  as they  went on their journey,  and  drew nigh  unto the city,  Peter  went up  upon  the housetop  to pray  about  the sixth  hour:  [10] And  he became  very hungry,  and  would  have eaten:  but  made ready,  he  into  a trance,  [11] And  saw  heaven  opened,  and  a certain  vessel  descending  unto  as  it had been a great  sheet  at the four  corners,  and  let down  to  the earth:  [12] Wherein  were  all manner  of fourfooted beasts  of the earth,  and  creeping things,  and  fowls  of the air.  [13] And  there came  a voice  to  him,  Rise,  Peter;  kill,  and  eat.  [14] But  Peter  said,  Not so,  Lord;  for  never  eaten  any thing  that is common  unclean.  [15] And  the voice  spake unto  him  again  the second time,  What  God  hath cleansed,  not  thou  common.  [16] was done  thrice:  and  the vessel  was received up  into  heaven.  [17] Now  while  Peter  doubted  in  himself  what  this vision  which  should mean,  behold,  the men  which  were sent  Cornelius  had made enquiry  for Simon's  house,  and stood  before  the gate,  [18] And  called,  and asked  whether  Simon,  which  was surnamed  Peter,  were lodged  there. 

What does Acts 10:1-18 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Many people consider healing a lame person a great miracle and raising a dead person back to life an even greater one. But the spiritual salvation of a lost sinner is greater than both of them. The Lord performed the first two miracles through Peter ( Acts 9:32-43), and now He did the third (ch10).
"In a sense this scene is the book"s turning point, as from here the gospel will fan out in all directions to people across a vast array of geographical regions, something Paul"s three missionary journeys will underscore." [1]
The episode concerning Cornelius is obviously very important since there are three lengthy references to it in Acts (chs10 , 11 , and15). It deals with an important issue concerning the mission that the Lord gave His disciples. That issue is how the Christians should carry out that mission in view of the obstacle of Gentile uncleanness. Gentiles were ritually unclean and communicated ritual uncleanness to Jews, according to the Mosaic Law, mainly because they did not observe Jewish dietary distinctions ( Leviticus 11). This obstacle kept Jews and Gentiles separate in society.
Luke stressed four things in this conversion story particularly. First, the Christians initially resisted the ideas of evangelizing Gentiles and accepting them into the church apart from any relationship to Judaism ( Acts 10:14; Acts 10:28; Acts 11:2-3; Acts 11:8). Second, God Himself led the way in Gentile evangelism and acceptance, and He showed His approval ( Acts 10:3; Acts 10:11-16; Acts 10:19-20; Acts 10:22 b, 30-33 , 44-46; Acts 11:5-10; Acts 11:13; Acts 11:15-17). Third, it was Peter, the leader of the Jerusalem apostles, whom God used to open the door of the church to Gentiles rather than Paul ( Acts 10:23; Acts 10:34-43; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 11:15-17). Fourth, the Jerusalem church accepted the conversion of Gentiles apart from their associating with Judaism because God had validated this in Cornelius" case ( Acts 11:18). [2]
"Although Paul is the primary agent in the mission to the Gentiles, Luke wishes to make it plain, not only that Peter was in full sympathy with his position, but that, as head of the Church, Peter was the first to give its official blessing to the admission of Gentiles as full and equal members of the New Israel [3] by his action in the case of a Roman centurion and his friends ..." [4]