Acts 10:21-33
Acts 10:21-33
October 25, 2020
Acts 10:21-33
21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them,
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” 1
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 10:21–33). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 1
“You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew
to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent
for me.”
I think that sometimes, perhaps, when we are in our Life Groups, our D- groups, or just reading through the Bible as believers, we come across these stories of men like Cornelius and Peter and forget these were flesh- and-blood human beings living in a culture that had long-held beliefs and divides. It may be that we place these individuals to a two- dimensional reality that makes them less human and more of characters in a play.
That’s why the amazing, miraculous connection that is on display here is often seen as interesting, but not that amazing.
And for that we suffer in our study.
Peter and Cornelius were nearby – about thirty miles from Joppa to Caesarea but were mile apart culturally.
Carnality and pride had built a wall between them that would take a movement of God to remove.
Jews in this day had very low tolerance for the Gentiles. A good Jewish man, as Peter had been raised, was to do nothing with Gentiles. Therefore, in the early church comprised of Jews who had surrendered their lives to Jesus as Lord and the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the Messiah, Gentiles were not invited to join, expected to partake, or thought to be worthy to belong.
This was the law. The Jews were proud of that. They considered Gentiles to be pagans. They had nothing but contempt for them. The church was, therefore, exclusive – Jews only.
And this hatred and discontent was both ways. The Gentiles hated the Jews, too.
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Some Jews had stated that Gentiles were created by God to be fuel for the fires of hell.
In some cases if a Jewish man married a Gentile woman a funeral was held by the man’s family.
Gentiles viewed Jews as slave material, property, less than human. Anti- Semitic beliefs did not begin in Nazi Germany. Many Gentiles commonly referred to Jews as enemies of the human race.
Now, this Peter-Cornelius story is revealed to be more amazing and outlandish than ever.
There is a Satan-fueled disdain for people in this broken world. Classism, cultural division, racism, and carnal pride are the result of being born into sin.
Even as believers, followers of Christ, and children of God we continue to have to push against these feelings, thoughts, and pressures to elevate and sequester ourselves.
Justification of segmentation for our own comfort has been not only done but celebrated for generations. This is why it is so radical, so amazing, so insane (as some would say) to abandon all for the sake of the gospel.
This is why the expected norm of Christianity is that people who are alike in their culture, desires, race, economic status, etc. should worship together and others should just find other places and other churches to join.
It may not be said aloud, but it is prevalent. And this is why when we have families like the Singermans, Garduces, and Cockaynes and others come share of their missionary callings to far off lands where the languages are different, the customs seem strange, and the differences
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far outweigh the similarities to our own experiences, it is so interesting, amazing, inspiring, and ... odd.
I mean, it should not be odd or strange, but often people just are amazed that someone, especially someone with a family and responsibilities would leave an area that is known, somewhat comfortable, maybe even predictable, near family and friends to go “there” where they know no one well, have never lived, and will spend much time just acclimating to the region before likely even experiencing it as “home.”
And yet, that’s what was happening here to Peter...and the Cornelius.
These two men lived in different circles. They would not encounter each other naturally. They would not run into each other at the market, likely – especially since they would not even eat the same food.
They didn’t have common stories to share or other such things that may unite them beyond maybe talking about the weather or current events. To talk politics wouldn’t be beneficial, especially since the region was Jewish, but occupied by the Gentile Roman government and army.
In fact, if not for the occupation of Israel by Rome, Cornelius would never have been in Caesarea. He would have been stationed someone in Europe likely.
In the letter by Paul to the Ephesians we have much written about the walls that were separating Gentiles and Jews in the early church. Disunity was the norm and the apostle, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit addressed that. In fact, he went right to the issue in this passage.
Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands. 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth
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of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.2
In other words, Paul is addressing the disunity among the believers that is categorized when this wall kept being rebuild to divide the church. He said “The Jews keep reminding you Gentiles that you were not circumcised, that you were without Christ.”
Paul is uncovering their pious pride in that they are elevating an historic division rather than celebrating the new unity offered by Jesus Christ to all.
This Ephesians passage and the Acts passage actually are connected. Where one gives the theological underpinning of why unity in Christ is essential in the church, the other (Acts 10) gives the historical account of why division was the default and normative setting for people.
This leads to the ultimate question that Peter would have to answer. In fact it is the question that Cornelius had to answer. To be fully transparent...it is the question you and I must answer as well.
WHY?
1. Why did Cornelius send for Peter? The narrative gives us the steps taken. Cornelius, a religious, God-fearing, well-respected Gentile military man of power was given a message from God to send a soldier and a couple of servants thirty miles away to a specific place to meet a specific man with a specific calling so that a specific message could be relayed.
Random? No. Specific and clear.
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 2:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 5
God was repairing a divide between two people groups who would be part of his family for centuries of ministry, mission, and disciple-making. For the sake of the future Ephesian church, this meeting would happen. For the sake of the future Orange Park church, this meeting would need to happen. For the glory of God, this meeting would happen. Cornelius didn’t know all that, but he did know what God revealed and he did what he was told.
2. Why did Peter go to Cornelius? While things and vision was happening in Caesarea with Cornelius, God was working on Peter in Joppa. The man who had other plans (meaning anywhere but Caesarea) was given clear instruction to go with these Gentiles (against every historic fiber of his being) to meet with Cornelius.
This meeting had to occur for the sake of the furtherance of the gospel in the city, in the region, and ultimately throughout the world.
Did you catch what Peter said to Cornelius when he arrived at Joppa and entered the house full of people?
28 And he said to them,
Cornelius answered and God put this Jew in the house of a Gentile to destroy centuries of division, showing how God unites those who surrender to Christ as Lord for his own glory...and our good.
WHY GO TO NEW YORK CITY?
“You yourselves know how unlawful it
is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another
nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person
common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without
objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
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Jordan and Melissa have been asked that. Some have asked me why they would go there. Others have even said things like “I’m glad it’s not me,” or “I wouldn’t go there” (be careful – you may be revealing some things about your spiritual health that you shouldn’t.)
Why go to New York City? Why now? Why in a pandemic? Why? This makes no sense.
I was having lunch with Jordan about a week ago and he shared about the apartment they were renting. It’s wonderful that they have a place. It is small, but will suffice. It is actually affordable, which if you know about rental in NYC, that’s rare.
The realtor contacted Jordan and said that the landlord of the building wanted to talk with him. So, Jordan ended up talking with the landlord. He is from Russia originally, I believe, and owns this building with a number of apartments available – recently renovated. The landlord shared how if this was January he could have rented them for much more, but due to circumstances, his rates are much lower than he wanted – but lower rent is better than no rent.
But, here’s the questions Jordan was asked. Things like “How do you get paid?” “Where is your money coming from for rent?” “Why are you moving here?”
These are questions with logical answers for those immersed in the church culture, especially a mission-focused, church planting culture. But, for those with no context...it makes no sense.
This question resonated with me “So, why would a church in Florida give you money to move to New York City to go to a church that doesn’t exist yet?”
Why?
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Same question Cornelius had to answer. Peter had to answer. Jordan and Melissa have to answer. And you and I have to answer.
Why would we do something like this? Why would we send this family? Why would we choose to send, support, and help sustain 40 different church plants throughout our nation and world by 2040? Why in the world?
And that’s the answer...it IS “in” the world, but not of the world that is our motivation – our mission.
This family is going. They are sent. Some of you should likely move there with them. (and that feeling of “no way” is normal...but remember most every called minister of the gospel began with “no way.”)
If not NYC, then where? And if your “yes” is on the table...remember...you don’t get to pick the where. Surrendering to God’s call is the command for all of us. By saying “YES” you will be stepping away from safety and into the secure adventure of obedience.
May we send the Floros well today, going with them (some personally, others through prayer and support) and may we do it again next year and the years to come.
Footnotes
