The Pilgrim Path---Acts 10: 1 – 16 

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision am angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, LORD?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, LORD; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

“WHAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN, DO NOT CALL COMMON.”

The LORD told Abraham that he would become the Father of many nations. Ancient Israel was reminded by quite a few prophetic voices that they were not to conform to the nations---they were to be a “light” to the nations. God’s Kingdom endeavors included people from every tribe, tongue, and people. Yet, time and time again---the LORD’S own ambassadors would have to be reminded to “open” the invitation of Life and Love to “all” nations. We get a beautiful and powerful picture of this, within this segment of the Book of Acts. We are introduced to a God-fearing Centurion (Cornelius the Gentile). He is seeking the LORD’S face in prayer in the very first scene. What he needs is a full-orbed understanding of the Gospel of God’s righteousness in Jesus Christ the LORD. Well, well---there just happens to be a personal agent of the Risen Messiah close at hand in the city of Joppa: The Apostle Peter (he is praying as well). Peter is not exactly ready for this “Heavenly-Power-Point-Presentation”---concerning who the people “are”--- who are the newest and largest group of candidates about to enter the Kingdom by the power of the Gospel. The big sheet from Heaven descends, with all sorts of animals and birds (that no Jew would ever consider eating---per the Mosaic code). A voice from Heaven tells Peter, “Kill and eat.” That one phrase lays the foundation for this important truth: “What God has cleansed, let no man call unclean.” Hmmm? What a struggle must have been going on within the Apostle Peter. Well, his life is about to change---and the attitude of the entire Church. If the LORD can pronounce previously unclean food---as clean, then the LORD God Almighty may also declare whole people groups (beside Jews)---“clean” through the power of the Gospel of His Son. My, my---slow to learn. Soon to behold: The Life giving, nation transforming power of the Gospel!

We must consider that the “Sheet from heaven,” descended three times. The Apostle Peter was proud of his dietary performance over the course of his life as a faithful Jew. The directive from Glory each time was, “kill and eat.” Peter’s first response was, “By no means---I do not do that sort of thing.” Would there come occasions in his future service for the Savior when some converted Gentiles would offer him food---not in conformity with the Mosaic Code? Would he refuse it? Or would he accept it as having been cleansed by the LORD---and be grateful for the provision? Would he now “see” that the LORD who loves everlastingly---includes Gentiles within the Covenant of Grace---just as HE had told Abraham?

It is always appropriate to do what the LORD requires. It is not a good thing to keep the LORD waiting. When this vision of Peter’s ended---he had guests at the gate (representing Cornelius). He was puzzled what this vision might mean? He would not have to wonder for very long---off he goes for the living Gospel Scene in the rest of Dr. Luke’s record. And the folks at the home of Cornelius, can barely contain themselves in anticipation!

From Justin S. Holcomb: The story of the conversion of Cornelius is the longest narrative in the book of Acts. It is a very significant moment in the gospel’s advance, as God is showing that the gospel is for all people, not just the Jews (in accord with the purposes Jesus outlined by the expanding concentric circles of Acts 1: 8). In the gospel, the same God who chose Israel is doing a new thing, bringing Israel’s vocation to be a “light for the nations” (Isaiah 49: 6) to its climax and fruition. This happens as God embraces the Gentiles through Jesus, the perfect Israelite, the Light of the World. He is the Light who shines in the darkness of a rebel people to create new men and women from all nations who carry this light through the Spirit to the ends of the earth.

“WHAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN, DO NOT CALL COMMON.”

We fall on our path through this world. Our own heart and mind may tie us in knots at times. The enemy of our soul tells us, “You are awful---and should just follow the world.” Of course---he is the father of lies…God has cleansed You by the power of the Gospel----whom GOD has cleansed---They are not common---they are accepted in The Beloved! When you fall---“run” toward the Light…

“…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” First John 1: 7

HYMN

For your gift of God the Spirit, power to make our lives anew,

Pledge of life and hope of glory, Savior, we would worship you.

Crowning gift of resurrection sent from your ascended throne,

Fullness of the very Godhead, come to make your life our own.

He who in creation’s dawning brooded on the lifeless deep,

Still across our nature’s darkness moves to wake our souls from sleep,

Moves to stir, to draw, to quicken, thrusts us through with sense of sin;

Brings to birth and seals and fills us---saving Advocate within.

Margaret Clarkson, 1984

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason