We must continue to spread the Gospel.

Have you heard of Cornelius? He was the devout, God-fearing, Roman centurion who liberally gave alms to the poor and always prayed (Acts 10:1-3). Though he observed some of the Jewish traditions, he was a Gentile. That didn’t matter to God. He accepted and remembered Cornelius’s prayers and charitable acts; they were a memorial to Him. This Roman man was similar to a Jewish person waiting for the Messiah, and he was ready to receive the gospel. God had just the man to share it with him.

God prepared Peter by putting him in a trance and giving him a vision of unclean animals. He told Peter, “What God has cleansed you must not call common” (Acts 10:15). God had declared to Peter that those who were viewed as unclean (all Gentiles) could be pure and free from the guilt of sin—just like the Jews.

When Peter arrived at the house of Cornelius, he reminded him it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile. Then Peter told him that God had shown him that no one was to be excluded from hearing the gospel and that’s why he came.

In Acts 10:34-35 Peter said, “God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Peter realized that God does not prefer a man based on whether he’s Jew or Gentile, or rich or poor. Through Jesus the offer of salvation was made to all, in every nation, and Peter was reminded of that when God gave him the vision.

As Peter preached Jesus to Cornelius and his family, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. The Jews who were with Peter were astonished that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles (Acts 10:45).

News of this event spread. When Peter went to Jerusalem, the apostles and brethren contended with him about what had happened. They were appalled that he had been with uncircumcised men. This shows that Peter did not have special authority over the other believers; they challenged his actions, disputed and quarreled, and found fault with him. Peter defended himself, “If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us…who was I that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:17). His accusers were silenced. And their view changed. They concluded that God had indeed opened the same glorious pathway for the Gentiles.

It’s likely that Peter’s heart had been just as prejudiced as the other Jewish believers were, and that’s why God had to put him in the trance and give him the vision. All though Peter finally realized that salvation through Jesus was for all people, he didn’t have a clear revelation of how the Law of Moses applied to the Gentiles—or rather that it didn’t apply.

Peter would eat with Gentiles—but only until certain Jews came around—then he withdrew and separated himself because he feared the Jews. Peter’s behavior influenced the other Jews, including Barnabas. In Galatians 2:11-21 Paul opposed Peter’s behavior and called him a hypocrite. Perhaps this is what caused Paul to go on and preach about justification by faith and not by the law or works.

We can’t just pick on Peter though. The Jews in general had a difficult time accepting that God would include Gentiles in His covenant. After so many years of being God’s chosen people and being separated from non-Jews they had become racist against other nations. Their behaviors and attitudes toward Gentiles were ingrained into them by previous generations. The law forbade the Jews to have conversations, to eat or drink in Gentile homes, or walk with them in the streets. How could they possibly worship God together? The Gentiles would have to become like them. Or so they thought.

I don’t know about you, but I have often felt too intimidated to approach someone of a different culture with the gospel message; not only because their own cultural religious beliefs might cause them to reject it, but because I think their lives would require so much change to be able to “properly” live for Christ. Like the Jews placing their Law on the Gentiles, I want them to conform to my standards of acceptable Christian living. I fell into the trap of thinking that the way I live out my faith is the only acceptable way—even within my own culture.

Let’s push through the barriers of racism (and pride) and give others the opportunity to hear the gospel and to make a choice for or against it. If they accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

Strength and courage to you,

Denise