The Aftermath of Peter’s Visit to Cornelius

Acts 11:1-18

11 Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised

believers criticized him, 3 saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 8 But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’

The book of Acts originally was written on a scroll. The technology of the day meant scrolls could only be a certain length or they would fall apart. (Notice that Matthew, Luke, John, and Acts are close to the same length in number of words.) So that leads to a question, why did Luke use up some of his limited space to tell the story again in such detail? It is a sign of how significant this event was – the Gentiles becoming followers of Jesus Christ changed the whole history of the church, of God’s working in the world.

Another interesting thing in the passage is the process outlined. News about the Gentiles becoming followers of the Jesus way and what Peter did got back to Jerusalem before Peter was able to explain to the leaders of the church what had happened. So there were rumours in Jerusalem about what had happened (vs. 2 and 3). The rumours led to criticism of Peter. This pattern is one we recognize – news and rumours followed by criticism, before a conversation is had with the person who is the subject of the rumours . The leadership gave Peter a chance to explain himself. This would have taken patience and grace on both sides. The critics needed to listen, really listen, patiently to what Peter had to say and not decide beforehand that they knew better and therefore not be able to listen to Peter. And Peter needed to trust that if he patiently described what had happened the critics, by the power of the Holy Spirit, might really hear what God was doing in that moment in Cornelius’ house.

We hear a rumour, we jump to conclusions, and then when we confront the person who is the subject of the rumour we don’t really listen because we have already made up our mind. Peter and the leaders of the early church chose a different path – one of patient and careful listening, being open to what God might be up to.

PRAYER:

O Lord, we confess that at times in the church we hear a rumour and jump to the worst possible conclusions, and then we speak to the person who is the subject of the rumour with our minds already made up. Teach us the path of patient and careful listening. Forgive us for our quick judgements made in haste. Shape us into a community that is open to your surprising action. In Jesus’ name. Amen.