Acts 10:9-23
Sept. 29 - Acts 10:9-23
9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” 15 The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate. 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are searching for you. 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?” 22 They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging.
Continuing in our reflections on reconciliation across cultural and racial tension. A quick reminder that Jews and Gentiles were at odds with each other and lived very different cultural patterns.
We are picking up the story part way through. Cornelius, a Roman centurion (a Gentile), had a vision in which he was told to send messengers to get Peter who was staying in Joppa. It was a day and a half’s journey from where Cornelius was to Joppa.
Peter’s vision challenges Peter’s definition of who he can associate with. Yes, the vision is about food (Peter has a vision of food while he is hungry), and the kinds of food can a Jew can and cannot eat. But the point of the vision is deeper: it is who is allowed to become part of the people of God. Do people have to give up their culture and become Jewish in order to become Christians? And we respond by saying, “Of course not, people do not need to take on Jewish practices and patterns in order to become Christian.” The follow-up question then is why do we insist that people from other cultures adopt white, Anglo-Saxon practices and patterns to become part of the people of God, to be welcomed into the church of Jesus Christ?
Just to make sure Peter got this point, the vision happened 3 times (notice it was 3 messengers who were sent). For Peter things that happen in threes are important. (Three denials of Jesus, three times Jesus offered forgiveness.)
Verse 23 gives a hint that the wall of division between Jews and Gentiles was breaking down. Peter invited the 3 men, at least one of whom was a Gentile (the soldier was Roman – a Gentile) to stay in the house overnight. The call to hospitality superseded the concerns about cultural purity.
Will we welcome people on their own cultural terms into the body of Christ, or do they need to become culturally like us?
PRAYER:
We rejoice, O Lord, that you have called us into the body of Christ, the church. We rejoice that you have called people of every tribe and language and ethnicity into your church. Teach us the lesson that Peter learned that all the people who you have called are equal sisters and brothers with us regardless of race or tribal background. In Jesus’ name. Amen.