Acts 10:1-23
A Door Opens to the Nations
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
8He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
9The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
13Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
18They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
21So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Berean Standard Bible
Cornelius is a Roman centurion who fears God, prays regularly, and gives generously. An angel tells him that his prayers and gifts have been remembered, then sends him to find Peter. At the same time, Peter is praying on a rooftop when he receives a difficult vision.
Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.
Peter is still puzzling over the vision when Cornelius's messengers arrive. The Spirit tells Peter to go with them without hesitation. Peter invites the men in as guests and leaves with them the next day, accompanied by several brothers. The Lord is preparing both sides of this meeting: a Gentile household ready to listen, and a Jewish apostle learning not to place limits on God's welcome.
Cornelius is a Roman centurion who fears God, gives generously, and prays regularly. Even his devotion does not lead him to assume he already understands everything God wants. An angel tells him to send for Simon Peter, while Peter is being prepared to receive the invitation.
Peter's vision confronts his instinct to label certain animals unclean. The point is not merely a new menu. When the messengers arrive, the Spirit tells Peter to go with them without hesitation because God has sent them. Peter begins to see that he must not call any person impure or unclean.
Cornelius has gathered relatives and close friends and is waiting to hear what God has commanded Peter to say. Peter recognizes that God does not show favoritism but welcomes people from every nation who fear him and do what is right. The gospel is not being diluted; its reach is being revealed. The next part of the encounter will show that God himself confirms this welcome.
Questions
1 What kind of man was Cornelius?
AnswerHe was devout, God-fearing, generous, and regular in prayer.
2 What did the angel tell Cornelius to do?
AnswerHe was told to send for Simon Peter in Joppa.
3 What did Peter see in his vision?
AnswerHe saw something like a large sheet containing animals being lowered from heaven.
4 What did the Spirit tell Peter to do?
AnswerHe told Peter to accompany the men without hesitation.
What This Means for Us
God often prepares people and circumstances before we understand the purpose. When the Spirit challenges our assumptions, obedience may begin with a simple step toward people we would not have approached on our own.
Prayer
God, show us where our habits have made your welcome smaller than it is. Give us humility to learn and courage to follow your direction. Amen.