Acts 10:17-23

Some may think it was very convenient for the church to make this vision of Peter's up to justify allowing the  Gentiles in, but it is entirely consistent with what Jesus said in Matthew 15:11.

Just after receiving the vision, the men arrive. The Holy Spirit gives further instructions to Peter, ensuring that he does indeed meet them. We should not take this as meaning we should expect the Spirit to tell us every little thing, but this was a momentous occasion for Peter. We do not appreciate what a big thing it was for a Jew to treat a Gentile is equal, and equal in the eyes of God. What we can take from this is that if God does ask us to do very difficult things He will also provide all the spiritual support that we need, and will communicate with us.

The men relate the tale of what happened to Cornelius, and why they were at Peter's house. They also emphasise that Cornelius was a godly man, and respected by the Jewish people. Note that God did not make the situation impossibly difficult for Peter. Ie He did not choose a drunkard or sexually immoral Gentile. God does have some regard for us and our sensibilities, and usually takes us one step at a time, though sometimes they might be very big steps!

Acts 10:9-16

If Cornelius had based his decision on the state of Peter at the time the angel appeared to him he would not have gone. For Peter was a Jew, albeit a Christian one, and Jews did not mix with Gentiles. But Cornelius rightly based his decision on what God said, trusting that God had everything under control, which of course He did. We need to learn from this, for we can base our decisions on the way things are, whereas God's instructions to us are based on the way things are and what He is going to do about it, and God does not tell us everything that He is going to do. In this case He was going to change Peter's mind.

Peter went up on the roof of his house to pray. Note that Cornelius' men were already on their way, God often seems to leave things very late! Peter was hungry and about to have something to eat. At this point he fell into a trance and received a vision of all sorts of unclean animals coming down from heaven on a sheet and was told to eat them. Now to eat these animals was forbidden in the Law, hence Peter's reaction, but the voice told him not to call anything unclean that God has made pure. This happened three times, just to make sure that Peter got the message.

So we see here that God is able to change our prejudices. Now Peter's attitudes were based on the Law and the way he had been brought up. They weren't wrong, but they needed to change. God is able to change our minds and our attitudes.

Acts 10:1-8

We now come to the next major move in the break out of the gospel to the whole world, the conversion of Cornelius.

I mentioned in the last post the importance the New Testament places in godly behaviour, and we see another example of it here. Cornelius and his family were god fearers, they prayed to God and gave generously to the poor. The text says explicitly that God remembers what they had done, ie their actions influenced God's actions.

People sometimes, in objection to the gospel, say something like "what about good people who do not believe in Jesus". Well, here we see an example of "what about ...". God notes what they have done and takes steps to reveal the Lord to them, and when they see the Lord they are absolutely delighted.

An angel appears to Cornelius and gives him specific instructions. Cornelius is initially scared, but then he receives instructions, and immediately obeys them.

Angels play a role at a number of key stages in the gospels and Acts, but note that they come at the instigation of God, not at man's request. We should not pray for God to send an angel. We should just pray for what we need, if God chooses to send an angel to answer the prayer then so be it. Moreover, he will normally send one in order to achieve His purpose, as here when He is going to do something which no one expected, or was planning.

Acts 9:32-43

We now move back to Peter. Two incidents are recorded which show Peter performing miracles in much the same way that Jesus did, in fact the incidents would fit quite happily in the gospels.

First Peter is travelling about, and goes to Lydda. Aeneas had was paralysed and had been in this state for eight years. Peter told him that Jesus healed him, and told him to roll up his mat. This is very similar to the healing of the paralytic whose friends lowered him through the roof to see Jesus (Mark 9:1-8). So we see the same Jesus working through His disciples.

Next on to Joppa. Tabitha was a good person, but she became sick. As an aside we should note two things. One is that the New Testament is quite happy to talk about good and bad people, just because we are all sinners saved by grace does not mean that it doesn't make any difference how we live. The second is that good people can get sick. All sickness is not a direct result of sin.

Friends of Tabitha sent for Peter to help. We might ask why they could not heal her themselves, but, as mentioned in an earlier post, most of the miracles were carried out by the apostles. People were crying and generally making a commotion. Peter clears them out, prayed and told her to get up. So Peter raised a woman from the dead. Again, this is similar to Jesus raising a dead girl (Mark 5:39-42).

Acts 9:20-31

Saul spent several days with the disciples and immediately started preaching about Jesus in the synagogue. This must have caused something of a surprise! See how God was using the abilities Paul previously had, the difference was that they were now directed towards serving Christ. Everyone knew who Saul was and what he had previously been doing, now he was doing the very opposite. By the Spirit he was made more and more powerful and proved to all that Jesus was the Messiah.

His new opponents did not let matters rest, and now sought to use the tactics that Saul had employed against Christians, they plotted to kill him. However, Saul learnt of their plans and the disciples rescued him by lowering him in a basket out of the city. In some ways this was a rather ignominious exit for Saul.

He went to Jerusalem, but quite reasonable the disciples were rather reluctant to let him join them, no doubt assuming it was some sort of plot to infiltrate them. God's answer was to use Barnabas who explained to the disciples what had happened, and how Saul had been proclaiming the Lord in Damascus. So he was allowed to join the believers. So Saul continued proclaiming Christ as Lord, particularly with the Hellenistic Jews, so they tried to kill him. So Saul had to be helped to escape again, this time to Tarsus, his birthplace.

The church then enjoyed a time of peace and grew in numbers.

Acts 9:10-19

We know nothing about Ananias except what we are told here, and Paul's later recollections of the incident, yet he played a pivotal role in the life of Paul, and hence in the life of the world. He must have lived a godly life day by day, and was no doubt an asset to the local church. Then he was given a vital task to perform, and one that required great obedience.

God tells him exactly what to do, sometimes God's word to us will be very specific. Now Ananias knew who Saul was and the sort of man he was, so not unnaturally he questioned God. Note that God is perfectly happy to be questioned by Ananias. God actually seems to have very little problem with people complaining directly to Him. Problems arise when people complain to other people about God, as with the Israelites in the desert.

Ananias then obeys God. Note also it is not an easy word he has to take, for he has to tell Paul how much he will suffer. God had also prepared the way by giving Saul a vision of Ananias. When they meet Paul is healed and baptised.

Acts 9:1-9

Back to Acts. The first 8 chapters describe the birth of the church, and its break out into Samaria. Now we come to its break out into the rest of the world. There are two key events which formed the foundation for this. One was the conversion of Saul (later to be called Paul), and the other was the actions of Peter. Saul's conversion on the Damascus road is the first one to be described.

This incident shows above all the sovereignty of God, and that we should never imagine that we have everything worked out. We first came across Saul when he was holding the coats of those stoning Stephen and approving of the whole affair. We should notice that there is no indication of Saul having any change of heart. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute as many Christians as possible. Saul's heart was set on destroying the church, the only reason he was saved as because of the sovereign act of God. We sometimes place too much emphasis on the human side. We should pray fervently for friends or relations (or enemies) who do not believe. There may be no signs of the least bit of interest on their part, but this does not mean that nothing will happen.

God intervened in a dramatic manner, appearing as a bright light and speaking to Saul. Jesus asked Saul why he persecuted Him. Saul has no idea who Jesus is. Jesus then commands him to go into the city. Note that there is no overt repentence here, no debate, just God commanding Saul what to do, and Saul obeying.

Saul was now blind and was led to the city, where he fasted for three days.