Acts 10:24-48 (web) |
Peter Preaches to CorneliusCornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 10:25 When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man." 10:27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 10:28 He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful
thing
10:30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour,
and at the ninth hour,{3:00 P. M.}
10:34 Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God
doesn't show favoritism;
10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words,
Then Peter answered,
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Commentsvs 28 reveals the purpose of the vision given to Peter earlier in the chapter. Apparently it was a revelation to Peter that he shouldn't call any may common or unclean. Before that point held such Gentiles in contempt. It appears he hadn't previously taken to heart Jesus' teachings about Gentiles. This explains why previously he wasn't obeying the great commission to make disciples of the Gentiles, but simply stayed around the Jews, while others would better understood the mystery of the faith (Ephesians 3:6) went beyond Jerusalem. vs 34 "God is no respecter of persons:"
vs 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him."
Fearing God and doing works of righteousness go hand in hand. A man's fear of God is revealed by his works. In the case of Cornelius, he prayed, he gave alms and he was a just man of good report among all the Jews. (Acts 10:4,22) What Peter means by "accepted with him" is that such people are appropriate candidates to invite into the kingdom by telling them the gospel. That his how he was applying it. Before his vision he reckoned even God fearing Gentiles unworthy of the kingdom just because they're Gentiles. Now the God fearing among both Jews and Gentiles are worthy to hear the gospel, and in responding they will be given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance. (Ephesians 1:13,14) However I sense that even in this Peter is being too narrow. For wasn't it rather the sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes who were more characteristic of those who responded to Jesus, and not so much those who were reckoned "good decent people" in the society? Formerly Peter classified people by race, and now by their fear of God and their righteous works. But if you view the Bible as a whole it seems to me that God favors neither based upon race nor upon works, but upon their level of humility. Was this not Jesus' teaching in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? And didn't God say, "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15 and also "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."Isaiah 66:2 He got the fear of God right. But Peter had more lessons to learn. vs 36 "He is LORD of all." Peter wanted him to understand that Jesus was not simply the messenger, but the message as well. Accepting Jesus as LORD is essential to qualify for salvation, as Paul writes: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Rom 10:9 The Lordship of Christ must a part of the gospel message and not simply some "by the way" addition at some later date. vs 37 "Ye know" is actually in the perfect tense "You have known", which makes sense. Cornelius had known about Jesus to an extent. Peter may have learned this fact from his servants who he spent the last few days with. But this was not unusually as Jesus had been a very public figure. vs 38-41 Peter is not being comprehensive because Cornelius already knew alot of this. He was just summarizing. The miracles that Jesus did are an essential part of the message to affirm his claims. He also mentioned his death and resurrection. The resurrection should always be mentioned when the gospel is preached. vs 42-43 It is Jesus Christ and not God the Father who people will have to face in judgement. The Father has given this responsibility to the Son. For the Christian Jesus is both judge and defense attorney. "The living and the dead" I think refers not to different judgements but simply another way of saying "everyone" regardless of they are living now, or whether they have died. But the key verse to the gospel message is verse 43. Cornelius may have already heard much of rest of the message. But it was upon Peter revealing this final key which opened the door for the Holy Spirit to come, Cornelius and his household of course having also come to believe it. This final step to be saved is to believe his promise that your sins have been forgiven though faith in him. This is the way that God imputes righteousness throughout the Bible - through faith in the promise of God. Abraham, a Gentile at the time, was reckoned righteous by faith. Ge 15:6 "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." And so now it is by faith as well, that God may graciously offer this gift of the forgiveness of sins to all - both Jews and Gentiles. vs 44-46 Their speaking in tongues was an indication that they had received the Holy Spirit. That's what happened in this case. But that is not to say that such is what happens in every case when one receives the Spirit. Putting one's faith in experiences like tongues is not putting one's faith in the atoning work of Christ. And the object of faith is the Lord Jesus Christ, and not the Holy Spirit. The other Jews, being racist, were amazed that these Gentiles whom they looked down upon recieved the Holy Spirit. To a degree it was humiliating experience for them, as now they had to accept the fact that they were going to have to call Gentile believers "brothers". How disgusting! For a while there would be a conflict in the church over this issue as the Jewish Christians overcame their xenophobia. vs 47-48 When did Cornelius and his house receive the Spirit? Was it before they were water baptized or after? Not after but before! There are those who, in the Spirit of the group of the circumcision, say that you have to get wet to get saved. There are those, for example, in the Church of Christ who hold that conviction. If they had been there, they also would have been astonished, but not at the fact that Gentiles recieved the Spirit. Rather they would have been astonished that they received the Spirit before getting water baptized. It is of couse appropriate to get baptized, having put one's faith in Christ. But in both these cases of the group of the circumcision and the group of the Baptism, people put symbolism over substance and obsess over the flesh while neglecting the spirit. They throw out the baby and keep the bath water. "Cornelius was saved, before he was baptized." Martin Luther |