34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
( Acts 10:34-43 ) KJV
Then Peter Opened his Mouth
35 But in every nation
Does this mean that people can come to the Lord without Jesus Christ?
Or does this mean that the name Jesus Christ has been given for these people?
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
( Acts 4:12 ) KJV
Muhammad exploits this nuance in the Qur’an by taking us back to the so-called pure religion of Abraham, and denouncing the worship of any false god – including Jesus.
The Qur’an
43 through his name
This is the clarification. Cornelius was seeking some kind of assurance that God knew who he was and that he was saved. Peter comes with the explanation of how to get it.
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Sometimes we receive something that we are certain is teaching or guidance that’s divine in nature and an answer to prayer, but we still don’t understand it.
Pigs in a blanket. I never understood this phrase.
Peter had been raised as a Jew and being discriminating was a way of life. He had been trained to avoid certain people, places and food. God had to get him past this in order for his will to be done in taking the gospel to the gentiles.
21
Peter did as he had been told. He went to the men, not discriminating.
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
( Acts 10:1-16 )
Ecstasy
The Big Picture
We have learned about Saul’s road to Damascus experience and his meeting with Ananias where he learned that he was a chosen vessel who would take the gospel of salvation to the gentiles.
This was followed by an evangelistic revival in the area around Antioch where followers of Christ were first called Christians.
Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find Saul, being well aware that this is what he has been called to be a part of.
Today’s passage is more spiritual motion in the direction of helping the Jews understand that their time of Divine exclusivity has ended. Grace is for everyone. However, this is going to be tricky.
a displacement (of the mind), bewilderment, ecstasy
(properly: distraction or disturbance of mind caused by shock), bewilderment, amazement; a trance.
completely remove
properly, take out of regular position (standing) and bring into a state of ecstasy (rapture)
like a person “carried out” in trance-like amazement. This state of mind reaches far beyond the powers of ordinary perception.
Peter’s trance is designed to help him understand that the dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law don’t apply to Christians. By extension, this means that everyone can be a Christian, it is not just for the Jews.
Leviticus 11
Allowed Animals
v. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud
In the Waters
v. 9 whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters
Arthropods
v. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
Locust
Bald Locust
Beetle
Grasshopper
Forbidden Animals
v. 4 cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; v. 7 clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud
Camel
Coney (rabbit)
Hare (rabbit)
Swine
In the waters
v. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Fowls
Eagle
Ossifrage
Osprey
Vulture
Kite
Raven
Owl
Night Hawk
Cuckow
Hawk
Little Owl
Cormorrant
Great Owl
Swan
Pelican
Gier Eagle
Stork
Heron
Lapwing
Bat
Terrestrial Animals
Weasel
Mouse
Tortoise
Ferret
Chamelion
Lizard
Snail
Mole
And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
( Leviticus 11:41-42 )
This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
The threat of imminent death was very real. This is why the Angel of the Lord let them out of prison.
34
Gamaliel was well regarded as a scholar of the law.
Acts 22:1-5
Paul studied under Gamaliel. He uses the name to give himself authenticity when confronting the Jews in Jerusalem.
Gamaliel was clearly tender towards the Holy Spirit. He had not hardened his heart against the new Christianity and he was prepared to wait and see what would happen.
Gamaliel’s wisdom had apparently been instilled into Paul, and when he looked at the situation objectively he realized that …
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
( Acts 9:5 )
35
Gamaliel clearly has a Godly perspective on what Peter has been saying.
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
( Proverbs 1:23-25 )
36-37
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
(Habakkuk 2:1-3) KJV
Our generation is on a highway to hell because of popular science (SciPop) and people like Richard Dawkins, Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. These are the Pied Pipers of Hamelin, leading our children to destruction.
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
(Acts 5:34-39) KJV
I’m celebrating a lot of things, not just coming to the end of another month of the “Why Did God Create Creation?” epic year-long blog. We only have September and October to go. I am also celebrating the accomplishments to date of the year 2018, which began with me finding myself out of work, courtesy of the kind folk at Wake Forest University.
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
(Acts 20:35) NKJV
We overcome the power of the law [M] by being quickened [q] through faith in Jesus Christ. We have to be willing to let go of everything the world has to offer [pG], and ready to allow the Lord to sustain us.
Matty (Headwind) 