Community Bible Study -- Acts Text of Presentation, Lesson 9, Acts 9:32-10:48 Click Here to see Lesson 9 Photos . . . Click Here to return to Acts Home Page

Peter Begins Ministry to Gentiles

Last week we discussed one of the most important events in the history of the church:  the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Today’s discussion is another most important event in church history: the inclusion of Gentiles . . . not by Paul, but by Peter.

We learned in Acts 8 that Peter and John traveled to Samaria to “legitimize” the church founded there by Philip . . . and afterward they did missionary work among the Samaritans.

Peter continued traveling around to evangelize and encourage churches that sprouted across Judea and Samaria (Acts 9: 32). During his travels, the bible records two especially significant miracles. The first is in Lydda, where Peter heals a paralytic. The second is in Joppa – modern Tel Aviv – where he raises a woman from the dead. Many people in Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa become believers as a result of these miracles (Acts 9:35, 42) . . . but in the bigger picture, they seem a prelude to what happens next.

After Peter heals the paralytic in Lydda, he says:  “Get up and take care of your mat” (Acts 9:34b). These are essentially the same words Jesus uses when he heals of a paralytic in Capernaum by forgiving the man’s sin (cf Matt 9, Mark 2, Luke 5); Jesus said, “Get up, take your mat and go home” (Matt 9:6b). 

And when Peter raises Tabitha from the dead in Joppa, he says: “Tabitha koum!” (Acts 9:40). Again . . . essentially the same words Jesus used when he raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead; Jesus says: “Talitha koum!” (Mark 5:41). Moreover, Peter is joining very elite company as he raises the dead; elsewhere in the bible, only Elisha (2 Kings 4) and Jesus (Matt 9, Mark 5, Luke 7-8, John 11) are recorded as performing this miracle.

These miracles are more powerful than any of Peter’s earlier healings, and specifically require the power of God (since the Jews believe only God can forgive sin and raise the dead). Other believers accompanying Peter have seen these miracles . . . and since they replicate miracles performed by Jesus, Luke seems to be making the point Peter is now acting with the full power and authority of Jesus, Messiah and Son of God. And the godly power claimed by Jesus included the authority to redefine Old Testament law – the oral law of the Pharisees in particular – to reflect God’s intent; and with the help of the Holy Spirit, that’s where Peter is going next.

In summary, Peter is built up with the full power and authority of Jesus so he may effect a radical paradigm shift which redefines the direction of the Christian Church. Peter is about to by bring in Gentiles into the church.

To understand what a radical thing Peter is about to do, recall that all members of the Christian church at this time are Jews or Samaritans. As discussed in our first lesson Jews, despise the Greco-Roman culture called “Hellenism,” including hedonism and free love . . . many gods—with great power but human weaknesses . . . theater and horse racing and nude athletic competitions . . . things detestable to Jews. Pious Jews have no social association with Gentiles. 

But Hellenism is not spiritually satisfying, and many Gentiles find fulfillment through the God of the Jews. The bible refers to such people as “God-fearing Gentiles.” They study Jewish scripture and attend Sabbath synagogue services; many are more devoted to the God of Israel – in thought and action – than rank-and-file Jews. Nevertheless, Jews still refuse to eat with them, visit in their homes, or otherwise associate with them socially.

Acts 10 opens with the introduction of Cornelius: a centurion in the Roman army stationed in the capital city of Caesarea. Cornelius is a “God-fearing Gentile,” and the one through whom God chooses to effect this new paradigm shift.

To bring this about, God utilizes simultaneous visions, as He did earlier with Saul and Ananias. While Cornelius is observing the Jewish hour of prayer at 3 pm, he has a vision of an angel who tells him, essentially, that something really neat is about to happen, and he needs to send for a man named Peter, some 30 miles south in Joppa, and bring him to Caesarea. Cornelius believes the vision, and immediately sends of 3 of his men.

The next day, as Cornelius’ men are approaching Joppa, Peter has his vision. Recall that all devout Jews – Peter included – observe very strict dietary laws detailed in the Torah. Yet in his vision, God shows Peter a large sheet full of animals, including animals Jews are forbidden to eat. God tells Peter to “kill and eat” (Acts 10:13). Peter protests:  “But God, I’m a good Jew; I don’t eat anything the Torah says is unclean!” God responds:  “I am God, and everything I made is clean.” This scene is repeated twice more. God is using repetition to emphasize the vision is real and important – just as He has done on other occasions recorded in the bible (eg 1 Sam 3). Peter probably realizes this.

As Peter ponders the meaning of his vision, the Holy Spirit tells him to go downstairs to meet 3 men who are about to arrive . . . and to accompany them wherever they are going, because they have been sent by God. 

So Peter goes downstairs. If he wants confirmation the vision is real, he gets it when he finds 3 men asking for him; but his heart may sink when sees the men are Roman soldiers. For a Jew, this is as exciting as opening the door and finding Gestapo: Roman soldiers mean trouble. Yet with his vision from God and instructions from the Holy Spirit, Peter steps forward confidently. “I'm the one you're looking for,” he says. Then he asks, “Why have you come?” (Acts 10:21). The soldiers tell him about Cornelius and his vision, and Peter agrees to go with them. But Caesarea is too far to travel that evening, so he invites the soldiers to spend the night.

There are a couple of things of interest here. The bible says Peter is staying at the home of Simon the tanner (Acts 10:6) . . . a despised occupation among Jews, because tanners were in frequent contact with “unclean" things. Apparently, most early Christian converts aren’t high class Jews – which makes sense. Second, Peter invites these Gentile soldiers to spend the night in Simon’s home – an outrageous thing for a devout Hebraic Jew to do. Perhaps Peter is already learning from his vision!

The next morning Peter and other Jewish believers depart for Caesarea with the 3 soldiers. Peter and the “brothers” are probably walking, so they make it a 2-day trip – but one of the soldiers may have gone ahead with the news of their pending arrival, because Cornelius has made elaborate preparations for Peter’s visit: he has gathered together his “relatives and close friends” (Acts 10:24).

Imagine the scene when Peter arrives. Cornelius, resplendent in the scarlet-and-gold-and-white uniform of a Roman centurion . . . sitting in the courtyard of his Roman villa, surrounded by a “large gathering” (Acts 10:27), with slaves attending their needs.  Peter arrives . . . probably dressed like a Jewish peasant. From a “power” point of view, Peter the meek has come to Cornelius the powerful . . . but the great man falls at the feet of the humble Jew – like he was welcoming Caesar!

“Stand up,” says Peter (Acts 10:26). “I’m not God; you don’t need to do this.” Then he gets right to the point. “As you know, I’m breaking Jewish law just by being here, in the home of a Gentile. But God has shown me I should not call any man impure or unclean.  So when I got your message, I came immediately. How can I help?” (Acts 10:28-29).

Cornelius tells Peter about his vision. He concludes: “I believe you have a special message for me from God, and I’ve gathered family and friends around so that we can all hear it together. Talk to us, Peter; we’re all ears!” (Acts 10:30-33).

Peter has lots of experience telling Jews about Jesus, the Messiah . . . but how does he tell the good news of Jesus to Gentiles? Let’s paraphrase what he says: “We Jews have been pretty arrogant about being God’s chosen people, but I now realize a man’s race isn’t what’s important to God . . . it’s what’s in a man’s heart. You know about Jesus of Nazareth, who was sent by God to preach ‘the good news of peace’ (Acts 10:36). ‘You know . . . God anointed Jesus . . . with the Holy Spirit and power, and (He) went around doing good and healing . . . because God was with Him.’ We’re here to confirm the stories you heard are true, because we were witnesses (to) ‘everything he did’ (Acts 10:38-39a). It’s also true, as you have heard, that Jesus was crucified, ‘but God raised him from the dead’ (Acts 10:40). The resurrected Jesus didn’t show Himself to everyone, but He did appear to us and other followers: He actually ‘ate and drank with’ us (Acts 10:41). Jesus ‘commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is’ the Messiah promised by God (Acts 10:42). You have studied Jewish scripture, Cornelius, and you know the Messiah our ‘prophets testify about’ – but he wasn’t sent to overthrow Rome as the Jews believe. Instead, ‘everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name’” (Acts 10:43).

What happens next? Will Peter carry this argument to its logical conclusion, and offer salvation to Gentiles? Does Peter’s testimony make believers out of Cornelius and his family and friends . . . or do they believe already because of the stories they heard (which Peter now confirms)? We’ll never know the answer to these questions, because God steps in in dramatic fashion. While Peter is still speaking – and as his fellow Jewish believers stare in amazement – the Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles in Cornelius’ home . . . and they begin to speak in other languages.

Think about the significance of this. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the assembled Jewish believers – spontaneously, without warning. For the Samaritans, the Holy Spirit came only when Peter and John laid on hands. The Holy Spirit came upon Saul as Ananias laid on hands. But now, with these Gentiles, the Holy Spirit again comes spontaneously, without warning . . . and they speak in other languages – just like the Jewish believers at Pentecost. Why? 

We can only speculate . . . but when we learn the reaction of the Jerusalem church to this – as we’ll discuss next week – it seems likely God wants to make the point that He Himself has sent the Holy Spirit to these Gentiles; it’s not something Peter has taken upon himself (if he were even capable of such a feat).

And how does Peter react. To quote the bible:

“Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:46-48)

Sounds pretty simple to us in 21^st century America, with over 1900 years of Christian tradition. But in the 1^st century, Peter’s statement has profound implications. Let’s recall that baptism was a Jewish rite, which served several purposes. One was purification. Another was a commitment to follow the teachings of a particular rabbi; this was the baptism practiced by early Christians with fellow Jews . . . and also with Samaritans, because Samaritans were circumcised and practiced similar rituals as Jews – including baptism.

But things were different with Gentiles. When a Gentile converted to Judaism, he was circumcised – then baptized – as the final step in the process. Few Gentiles took this step; circumcision was not just painful: Hellenists it considered mutilation of a beautiful body!

Although Jesus’ instructions to make new believers in “all nations” and “baptize them” (Matt 28:19) were clear, He left out one crucial detail: should non-Jewish new believers first be circumcised and become Jews – or must they only believe in Jesus? And this is not a trivial point, because circumcision is the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham (cf Gen 17); and believing in Jesus makes a person part of this covenant. Can someone follow Jesus, the Son of God, without having the sign of God’s covenant?

The bible doesn’t say if Peter thinks this through . . . or if he is caught up in an emotional high as God fills the Gentiles with the Holy Spirit . . . or something else. But the text implies Peter reasons that if God sends the Holy Spirit, He is accepting the Gentiles as believers . . . so why shouldn’t the church also accept them by baptizing them? As Peter puts it: “Can anyone keep these (uncircumcised Gentiles) from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have” (Acts 10:47).

But many in the Jerusalem church do find fault with Peter’s reasoning . . . as we will discuss next week.

But, today, in Caesarea, one of the most important events in the history of the church occurs as Peter proclaims Gentiles can be Christians without being circumcised. And Peter’s paradigm shift opens the door to the worldwide church we experience today. Without this gathering in Caesarea – in which the Holy Spirit spontaneously comes upon Gentile believers – none of us would be here!

The next lesson is jam-packed. First, Peter’s reception of uncircumcised Gentiles into the church receives a lukewarm-to-icy reception when he returns to Jerusalem; he overcomes the objections for the moment . . . but they will recur again and again! Then a new persecution of Christians breaks out as Herod Agrippa I seeks please the Jews after he ascends the throne of his grandfather, Herod the Great. James, one of Jesus’ original apostles, is killed, and Peter barely escapes. Finally, rapid growth of Gentile Christians in the city of Antioch causes the church to send to Tarsus and fetch Saul to instruct the new believers . . . something which turns out to be another pivotal event in Christian history.