Acts 10

Read: Acts 10

In this chapter, we see Peter having a strange vision. Jewish people were not supposed to eat certain animals that were considered unclean. In the dream, Peter sees these animals and is told to kill and eat them. Peter declines, saying he has never eaten anything impure. The voice replied, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” Then the same thing happens again three more times.  

The main purpose of this dream has nothing to do with food, though some things may be implied. The purpose of the dream had to do with the Gentiles. Just like Jewish people didn’t eat unclean animals, they also did not associate with unclean Gentiles. Gentiles were non-Israelite people. The Jewish people did not associate with them and looked down on them as lesser in God’s eyes.

Cornelius was one such Gentile, yet there was something different about him. He was a “devout man and feared God.” Because of this, God revealed himself to him in a dream. Those who respond positively to the revelation they have been given will be enlightened and given more; those who reject the revelation they have been given will be darkened in their ability to understand that revelation (See Matthew 13:10-17).  Cornelius has responded positively, yet it is interesting that God doesn’t just tell him about Jesus in the vision. He tells him to find Peter so he can tell him the message.

There are at least two things we can learn from this chapter. First, God uses human beings as his messengers of truth to share about Jesus. Second, God does not show favoritism.  He accepts all who fear him and do what is right regardless of ethnic or cultural backgrounds; and he offers salvation by repentance and faith in Christ to all. There is no room for racism or prejudice in the church; all are equally welcome. God has called each of us to be messengers of truth, and it is not for us to judge how a person will respond to the message. We are just called to share it and trust God to use our words to accomplish his purposes.