Acts of the Apostles (25)
Introduction
So we need to begin where we left off, which was at the house of Simon the tanner. Simon Peter had been somewhat settled there, and it was there that God spoke to him about how he should not consider Gentiles unclean when God had declared them clean. This was hard for Peter because he had never eaten anything common or unclean, and God’s instruction to him about the Gentiles came in the form of telling him to eat unclean food.
But tanning was an unclean occupation. A tanner has to handle the carcasses of dead animals, as that is his profession. Simon the tanner lived by the sea because he required salt water for his work, and because the sea breezes would help with the smell, which was consistently bad. We know that handling dead animals made one unclean from Scripture (Num. 19:9-10), and this was the case even if the animal was a clean animal. So in some way, shape or form, Peter is already not a purist—even though he had never eaten unclean food.
The Text
“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. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 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. 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: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 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. 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. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (Acts 10:21–48).
Summary of the Text
So Peter went downstairs to the emissaries, identified himself, and asked why they had come (v. 21). They said that Cornelius, a God-fearing and just man, with a high reputation with Jews, was told by a holy angel to send for Peter in order to hear him speak (v. 22). So Peter took these Gentiles in and put them up (v. 23). We can see that Peter is over the line already. The next day, Peter left with them, along with six Jews from Joppa (v. 24; Acts 11:12), including some from the circumcision party (v. 45). The day after that they arrived (v. 24). Cornelius was waiting outside, with quite a gathering of relatives and friends (v. 24). As Peter was coming up, Cornelius fell prostrate in order to worship (v. 25). Peter lifted him up, and said that he was also just a man (v. 26). If Peter were the first pope—which he was not—notice his decidedly non-papal behavior here. So they went in, talking, and found a crowd already gathered there (v. 27). Peter began by saying that what he was doing was technically “unlawful,” but that God had shown him not to call any man unclean (v. 28). It was unlawful according to Pharisaical interpretation, not according the law itself. But either way, that is why he came without argument—“how can I help you?” (v. 29). And so Cornelius told the story about the angel in bright clothing (v. 30). The angel had said that his prayers and alms were accepted in the sight of God, and that he was to send for Peter, in order to hear whatever he had to say (vv. 31-32). “And so here we all are. Speak to us” (v. 33). And so Peter began by acknowledging that a great barrier had fallen—God accepts men from every nation (vv. 34-35).
He then turned to preach the gospel that had come to Israel, the proclamation of peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all (v. 36). Just a few years before, Jesus had already caused a commotion in that country. So they knew something about Jesus, but Peter had come to finish the story out. They already knew how after the baptism of John, the word began in Galilee and spread out to Judea (v. 37). God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power. God was with Him, and He went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil (v. 38). The apostles were witnesses of all this, not to mention the crucifixion (v. 39), followed by the resurrection and His public appearances (v. 40). He did not appear to absolutely everyone, but rather to those chosen by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose (v. 41). These witnesses were commanded to preach to the people that Christ was ordained to judge the living and the dead (v. 42). All the prophets spoke of this, and the meaning of it, which was that through the name of Christ sins would be forgiven (v. 43). And while Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit interrupted him by falling on all these listeners (v. 44). The members of the circumcision party, who had come from Joppa, were astonished that these Gentiles had been given the Spirit (v. 45). They heard these Gentiles speaking in tongues and magnifying God (v. 46). What is striking here is the members of the circumcision faction were part of Peter’s entourage, and it appears as though Peter set them up. So Peter drew the obvious conclusion. There was no point in denying them water baptism, right? They have been given the Spirit, just like the Jews had been (v. 47). Water baptism clearly has a sacramental attachment to Spirit baptism. And so it was that Peter commanded that they be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (v. 48), and so he stayed with them for a number of days (v. 48).
The Plain Gospel Facts
Now the facts of the gospel are objective and fixed. They would be true and certain had none of us ever been born. They are all true outside of us, extra nos, independent of us. Jesus is the Lord of all. God anointed Him. He did wonderful things over the course of His ministry. He was crucified and then rose from the dead. After His resurrection, He appeared to multiple witnesses, who ate and drank with Him, and who were commanded to tell everyone that this Jesus had been ordained to judge all men, whether living and dead. These are the facts. That’s it. Deal with it. If Jesus rose from the dead, then everything else follows. If He did not rise from the dead, then you are free to go your own meaningless way—eating, drinking, and being as merry as a lost bit of protoplasm can be. But what you are not free to do is adopt a meaningless worldview, and draft off the meaning that the Christians have been given by grace.
The Plain Gospel Intent
But what was the point? Why did God orchestrate all of this? The point of the gospel message is found in this—in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, God saves sinners. Peter summarizes everything in v. 43.
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”Acts 10:43 (KJV)
All the prophets are bent on telling us this. From Samuel to Isaiah, and from Jeremiah to Malachi. From Moses to Habbakuk, and from Ezekiel to Jonah, the message is clear. God offers to wipe away your sins, and the offer extends to absolutely anyone who has faith in Christ. So there is the offer. All your griping, washed away. All your lusts, washed away. All your fears, washed away. All your ambitious striving, washed away. All your cursing, washed away. All your crackling envy, washed away. All of it. Done. Forgiven. Hear the word that was spoken over all your tangled ganglion of problems, troubles and lusts, the word that was spoken from the cross. It is finished.