Next Luke turns his attention to the travels of the Apostle Peter.
Acts 9:32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
As Peter is traveling north through Samaria he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. After Peter heals Aeneas in the name of Jesus Christ all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon… turned to the Lord.
While Peter was out proclaiming in Lydda a believer named Tabitha in the neighboring town of Joppa became sick and had died. Tabitha was well respected and loved because she selflessly and compassionately helped the poor widows by making them robes and other clothing. Believers in Joppa, remembering how Christ had raised the dead and hearing that Peter was nearby healing the sick, sent two men to urge Peter to come to Joppa.
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
When Peter arrived in Joppa he got down in his knees and prayed for Tabitha’s healing, and although she had been dead and her body was being prepared for burial, God raised her from the dead. As word of Tabitha’s resurrection from the dead spread throughout the town many came to faith in Christ. After the miracle Peter stayed in Joppa for an extended period of time with a tanner named Simon so that he could instruct and disciple the new believers.
The Holy Spirit was clearly at work because wherever Peter went people flocked into the Kingdom of Christ.
Luke adds one important fact in this story that, though it is often overlooked, it is an important bridge to the next event in the narrative. Luke points out that Peter stayed for an extended period of time with a tanner. A tanner skinned dead animals and tanned their hides in the making of leather, which was needed for all sorts of things such as harnesses for work animals and leather for sandals. However, touching a dead animal or coming into contact with those who did, made you ceremonially unclean. Leviticus 5:2 As such, people like Simon would have been shunned in the Jewish community, however, Simon was accepted in the Christian community.
This sets the stage for the next great event in the proclamation of the Gospel.
Acts 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius was a Roman commander attached to an Italian Regiment stationed to Palestine. Though he was not a Jew Cornelius was a God fearing man who gave generously to the poor and prayed to God. Micah 6:8 An angel of the Lord appeared to him and instructed him to send for Peter. Cornelius immediately dispatched two of his servants as well as a solider under his command.
Why would God send an angel to an official in the foreign army occupying the Holy Land?
Acts 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
While Cornelius’ representatives were on their way to find Peter, God also showed Peter a strange vision. Peter was instructed three times to eat impure foods that Leviticus 11 had clearly forbidden Jews from eating. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the three men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon the tanner’s house asking for Peter.
Acts 10:17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
What could all of this mean?
First, Peter living in an unclean house with a man working in an unclean profession.
Second, the Lord telling Peter to eat unclean food.
And then, third, sending Peter to the home of an unclean Gentile soldier.
Acts 10:23 The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
All of the Scriptures are the inspired word of the great Creator God and are profitable for teaching His image-bearers their place in the world and how to live. However, this is one of the pivotal passages on which the whole story of the Bible, and really, the whole story of mankind hinges.
How so?
After Adam had brought the curse of death onto mankind by his disobedience, God made a Promise. God Promised that one day a child, born of a woman, would defeat death. Genesis 3:15 God later explained that this Promise would be for all of mankind. Genesis 22:18 All of those walking in darkness would be brought to the light of the Creator. Isaiah 9:2 Those alienated from God by their sin and living under a death sentence would be made alive by God’s Spirit. Ezekiel 37:14
For thousands of years God had carefully and progressively revealed through the prophets of His chosen people, the Jews, how Christ’s sacrifice would be for all peoples. Zephaniah 3:9, Micah 4:2 Here in Acts 10, God showed Peter, a faithful Jewish follower of the risen Christ, that the Promise of salvation is not only for the Jews but also for all of the unclean peoples of the world: all those captive in the dragon’s kingdom, all those lost in their sin and rebellion against their Creator God.
As Peter said, You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
Again, God arranged for clear presentation of the Gospel. In answer to Peter’s question, May I ask why you sent for me? Cornelius answered we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Discrimination, partiality, and favoritism have no place in the church because such attitudes and actions are inconsistent with faith in Jesus Christ. God accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. Peter goes on to explain why and how this is true.
Peter clearly presented the Gospel: They killed Christ by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead… and everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.
And notice that this is not some kind of spiritual or esoteric event. This was real and verifiable with witnesses, including Peter, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
Do you want be free from the power of the devil?
Do you want to overcome death, be granted forgiveness of sins… and receive the Holy Spirit of power? Peter explained how.
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
When the Gentiles, including the Italian Centurion and his family and friends, heard Peter’s message they believed him. As a result, just like the Jewish believers before them they received the Holy Spirit.
God dwells in all of His people, Jews, Samaritans, Ethiopians, and now even Italians. This is monumental, world transforming news; all those made righteous by the sacrifice of Christ are brought into His Kingdom. And just as God had promised, Christ will stand as a banner for the peoples and the nations will seek Him and find rest. Isaiah 11:10 All who had believed and received the Holy Spirit were then baptized with water as the outward sign of their new inward reality.
While the growing and increasingly popular counterfeit religion today known as Critical Theory, celebrates diversity as it’s goal, separating people into different groups and tribes based on economics, gender, skin pigmentation, with division and destruction as the dragon’s goal, the goal of Christ’s kingdom is inclusion. Christians are one body consisting of many parts: God’s house built on the foundation of Christ, the chief cornerstone.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
People of every tongue, tribe, nation and language, Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female, barbarian, Scythian, circumcised, and uncircumcised, are all one family, God’s family, under the banner of Christ. Galatians 3:28
All attempts at inclusion, without the larger context of a unifying shared humanity, lead to incoherence…The LGBTQA+ flag reflects an ever growing jumble of contradictory claims about sex, gender, and psychology, all of which lacks any unifying principle [except] deconstructing what came before it… This incoherence is an opportunity for Christians to offer a better vision. (John Stonestreet, The Colson Center for Christian Worldview, breakpoint.org)
Acts 11:1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Peter stayed with Cornelius for a while to teach him, his family, and his friends all about Christ. Then, hearing that the Jewish Christians were upset with him because he violated the Old Covenant ceremonial laws by entering into the home of a Gentile, Peter went back to Jerusalem to defend himself and to explain how God had fulfilled the Covenants of the Promise. Ephesians 2:12
Acts 11:4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
In the Old Covenant the law of God consisted of three parts, ceremonial, civil, and moral.
The ceremonial laws pointed to, and were fulfilled by, Christ: sacrifices, burnt offerings, the spotless lamb, washings, cleanliness, dietary laws, etc. Matthew 5:17 Because Christ was the Lamb of God who gave His life for the salvation of the world, those who believe in Him are made pure. Their sins and offenses are washed away. As Peter learned, in God’s kingdom there is no more uncleanliness. The Old Covenant ceremonial laws have been fulfilled, once and for all time, in Christ. Matthew 5:17
Acts 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
As noted, today while we hear much about diversity from secular sources we continue to see, hear, and experience much division, animosity, strife and recrimination in the world. But notice what happened in first century Antioch. People of many ethnicities, people from many different nations, and people from very different social strata were united in Christ. They were one people, no longer exclusively the members of their worldly tribes. They were now, first and foremost, in Christ’s tribe, and here, accordingly, for the first time they called themselves Christians.
Notice the progression. Spurred on by both persecution in Jerusalem and the courageous and faithful witness of the believers, Luke has explained how, what was seen by detractors, as nothing more than a Jerusalem based Jewish cult, became an international, multi-ethnic movement, forevermore identified as Christianity.
The Church in Antioch grew strong in wisdom and in numbers because Barnabas recruited Saul and the two men worked together for a year teaching the new Christians. At the end of the year a prophet named Agabus, had received a warning from God that a famine would sweep the Roman world. Accordingly, the disciples took up a collection in Antioch and sent the gift by way of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11:27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Again, notice this offering was not coerced. Rather, each gave as he was able.
At about the same time renewed persecution broke out against the Church.
Acts 12:1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
In spite of the advice given by the Pharisee Gamaliel in Acts 5:34, that if ignored, the Christians and their cult would die out, the Gospel continued to spread. King Herod had seen enough, and decided to cut off the head of the snake by arresting the leaders of the Jerusalem Church. He then had James, the brother of John, murdered during the Passover. Seeing that the murder had the approval of the Jews, Herod also seized Peter.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
The reigning Christ sent an angel to free the sleeping Peter from prison. It all happened so quickly that Peter… had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. It seemed like a dream or a vision: chains falling off, walking right past two sets of guards, massive iron gates opening by themselves. Standing alone on the street Peter came to his senses, realizing he had been miraculously freed.
Acts 12:12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
Peter went to the house where many believers had gathered to pray for him. When Rhoda announced that their prayers were answered and Peter was actually at the door those praying accused her of being out of her mind. As Paul would later write, God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or ever imagine. Ephesians 3:20 The disciples were praying for Peter but they could not imagine that Christ could break him out of King Herod’s heavily guarded prison.
We might chuckle at Rhoda leaving Peter outside or wonder how the disciples couldn’t believe that their prayers were answered but I think as believers we often react the same way. Do you really believe and understand the implications that the Creator of the world, reigning over all things, called you and loves to hear your prayers? As Christ said, I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and they know Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. John 10:14 & 28
Rather than getting swallowed up in despair of worst-case scenario thinking we need to see the world from God’s perspective. We are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11
The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24:1
The dragon has been defeated. The world belongs to our Creator and we are His children. We have no reason to fear the dragon and his minions; the vocal, attacking, rabid unbelievers who populate our world. There is never any reason to compromise with those who oppose our God. There is never a good reason to dilute God’s word. This is our world and unbelievers are just living in it by God’s grace. God is giving us time to present the Gospel to all the people in all the nations, calling them out of darkness, to repentance, and to true and everlasting life. John 10:10
Acts 12:18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
While the disciples could not imagine how Christ could free Peter, neither could King Herod imagine how his prisoner escaped. Instead of seeing it for what it was, a miracle of God, King Herod blamed the escape on his prison guards and had them executed.
Acts 12:19 Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.
Do you remember when Cornelius first met Peter? He bowed down to worship Peter. Peter corrected Cornelius saying Stand up, I am only a man myself. Acts 10:26 In contrast, Herod was pleased to be called a god. Rather than repenting of his sins and accepting the Gospel, King Herod accepted the flattery and praise of people who depended on him for their food. Though he was a man Herod allowed his subjects to call him a god. So, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down. Herod was eaten alive by worms and died.
King Herod’s arrogance mirrored that of King Nebuchadnezzar.
As the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. Daniel 4:28-31
Unbelievers frequently live under the delusion that they are supreme saying, I am the one! There is none beside me. Zephaniah 2:15 But God reigns supreme and Christians are tasked with calling unbelievers out of their delusions of divinity and autonomy and into repentance and life before it is too late.
Can you think of any delusions that people persistently cling to today?
Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
God has decisively acted in history defeating death and offering salvation to all of the tribes, people, nations, and languages of the world, through Christ. Empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s servants, despite facing constant persecution and imprisonment, present this offer of life on behalf of Christ. In fact, the theme of the book of Acts is the story of God’s children, dancing in the dragon’s jaws, as they traverse the earth snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
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