Peter welcomes the Roman Centurion’s men into his home.

Acts 10:17-23

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“Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.” Acts 10:17-18

In the previous section, Peter saw a vision of all different types of animals and birds which were not permitted to be eaten by the laws of Judaism, as described in Leviticus 11. The Lord said, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter had never broken the Jewish custom of eating anything “unclean”, Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” Acts 10:12-14 This happened three times. Peter knew the Lord was speaking a spiritual truth to Him, beyond simply physical food. Peter was wondering what the vision meant.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we will receive something from the word of God and the Holy Spirit will work within us to grasp what is really being said to us. Because of our long-held views of what Jesus wants for us, we may struggle with the liberation we have in the Spirit. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify…For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things…For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh…” 1 Corinthians 10:23, 1 John 3:20, Galatians 5:13″

God says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and He wants us to live freely in whatever is helpful and edifying. Long-held views are hard to overcome because our conscience grabs hold of those views and with difficulty and struggle lets them go. If our conscience condemns us, God is greater. The Jewish people wrestled with their conscience when they left the Jewish laws and customs to live by faith in Jesus Christ.

While Peter was wrestling with the new vision he received, non-Jewish Gentiles came to his house looking for him. They were sent by the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, according to the instruction of the Angel of the Lord. Peter’s faith in the word of the new vision he received was about to be tested. When we receive a new inspiration from the word of God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, situations will arise to enable us to put our new revelation into practice to further the testimony of Jesus Christ. The Gentiles stood at the gate asking for Peter. The “gate” can be viewed as the gate that is either closed or shut to the testimony of Jesus Christ. Whatever long-held views we have held, if they close the door to sharing our born-again testimony [which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart], we need a new perspective on the word of God. A new vision gives us the liberation to share the testimony of Jesus in areas where those doors were once closed.

“While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” Acts 10:19-21

As we learn in Acts 10:28, the vision Peter was struggling with is that his long-held views [rooted in the laws of Judaism] were against keeping company or going into the home of Gentiles. However, the Spirit encouraged Peter to go with the three men into the home of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, and to eat with them. In Peter’s mind, he was about to violate another Jewish law and custom, but in the Spirit, he was following the will of God and the reason that our Lord Jesus gave His life on the Cross for the whosoever, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 One thing for sure, Peter was living in good conscience, with love from a pure heart, and sincere faith, 1 Timothy 1:5.

“And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” Acts 10:22-23

As soon as the three men told Peter a Holy Angel instructed them to invite him into the home of the Roman Centurion, I think he might have had some inner struggles. Peter just had a new vision from the Lord that he was still grappling to understand, and then was the time to put it into practice by saying “Yes, I will go with you.” As followers of Jesus Christ, there will be times when we will have to put aside our long-held views and to grow in the Spirit, into the grace and mercy of our Lord. This is not to enable us to befriend the ways of the world, but to tear down the attitudes and beliefs that create barriers to bringing people to Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44

Cornelius, the Roman centurion, was from Caesarea, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius…” Acts 10:1 He sent his men to Joppa, where Peter was staying with a man named Simon after raising Tabitha from the dead [Acts 19:36-43]. On the map below, Joppa is south of Caesarea, both on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. “SHARON” is between the two.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11