*Acts 10:1-23
An angel instructs a devout Roman centurion named Cornelius to send for Peter.
- Cornelius’s Vision
- Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment stationed in Caesarea, is described as a devout man who fears God, gives generously to the people, and prays regularly.
- He has a vision about three in the afternoon, in which an angel of God comes to him and calls him by name.
- The angel tells Cornelius that his prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
- The angel instructs him to send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon, who is also called Peter, staying with a tanner named Simon whose house is by the sea.
- After the angel who spoke to him departs, Cornelius calls two of his servants and a devout soldier from his guards, explains everything to them, and sends them to Joppa.
- Peter’s Vision
- The next day, as Cornelius’s messengers are nearing Joppa, Peter goes up on the roof to pray around noon and becomes hungry.
- While food is being prepared, he falls into a trance and sees heaven opened and an object like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
- Inside the sheet are all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds.
- A voice tells him to get up, kill, and eat. Peter refuses, saying he has never eaten anything impure or unclean.
- The voice speaks to him a second time, saying, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
- This happens three times, and then the sheet is taken back to heaven.
- Peter Goes to Cornelius
- While Peter is pondering the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrive at the gate of Simon the tanner’s house, asking for Simon Peter.
- The Spirit tells Peter that three men are looking for him and instructs him to go downstairs without hesitating because God has sent them.
- Peter goes down to the men and acknowledges that he is the one they are looking for. They explain why Cornelius sent them.
- The next day, Peter goes with them, accompanied by some of the believers from Joppa.
Acts 10:1-23 teaches us that God’s love is for everyone, no matter their background. Cornelius was a good man who wanted to know God, and Peter learned that God doesn’t show favoritism—He welcomes all who seek Him. This reminds us to be open to people who are different from us and to not let personal biases keep us from sharing God’s love. We can apply this by treating everyone with kindness and being willing to follow God’s direction, even when it challenges our usual way of thinking.
Acts 10:1-23 (WEB)
10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”4 He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?”He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 6 He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 16 This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. 20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23 So he called them in and provided a place to stay.On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.