Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius Have A Divine Appointment!
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[b] 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.
We often use the word "divine appointment" when God shows up in our lives in seemingly miraculous ways. If ever there was a divine appointment, we see it today as Cornelius, a Roman centurion, has a vision given to him by an angel to send men to bring the apostle Peter back to his house. He must have been thinking, "What?"
Meanwhile, as his men are on their way to visit Peter, Peter has his own vision. He is on his rooftop praying and he became hungry. This is a point I have often missed and has relevance based on the vision he is going to get. In the vision all kinds of unclean animals, reptiles and birds are lowered on a big sheet. To eat any of these would have viloated the dietary laws prescribed by the Law of Moses. Today we might say they were not "kosher".
But the voice tells Peter to eat them. Peter objects three times (a popular number for Peter) saying they are "unclean". But the voice tells him what God has made clean he is not to call unclean. This is a reference to the fact that dietary laws were not applicable to Christians, as they are given freedom in Christ. Galatians 5:1 says,
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
This is not freedom from the moral laws (10 Comamndments) God has given us, but laws relating to purity, which only Jesus could give us.
The men go to see Peter at the house he is staying at. When he sees them, he realizes it is a divine appointment. The men assure him that Cornelius' motive is not hurt Peter, but that he is a God fearing man. How do we know that? Verse 2 says,
"He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly."
You see God was already working in Cornelius' life. Cornelus sought God and expressed it through His fear of God, His generous heart to those in need, and his prayer life. God's plan was always to reveal the Good News of the gospel of Jesus to all nations. His desire was to bless all nations, not just the people of Israel. Even when God called Abraham, he said he would be a blessing to all nations (Gentiles).
Realizing that this was a divine apppintment, Peter recounted the story of Jesus. While he is speaking, he proclaims that he now knows that God DOES NOT show favoritism but calls and accepts people from all nations, especially those who fear him and do what it right.
Note this is not saying Cornelius was not a sinner, but that he was faithful to obey God with what He knew of God. Though he was not yet a Christian, from the beginning he was seeking God. This is very important in our evangelism efforts to realize God is preparing those whom he would call from all walks of life. And this is where the gospel comes in.
As Peter preaches the gospel, and shares that he was an eyewitness to Jesus' being raised from the dead, the Holy Spirit on all those who were gathered in Cornelius' house. The evidence was they started speaking in tongues. Obviously they would not just start speaking in unknown languages had not the Holy Spirit led them to faith in Jesus. Those who were with Peter experienced a paradigm shift. They now knew that God had called all people to faith in Jesus.
Having seen that the Holy Spirit was working in them, Peter ordered them to be baptized. And they were baptized in NAME of JESUS! Note the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as it relates to belief, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and baptism. They are all part of the salvation process. They are all gifts of God, meaning Cornelius and his men had done nothing to deserve them.
This was a true watershed moment for the church. Peter, the leader of the church, came to realize that God's plan was to save all people, Jews and Gentiles.
How does this story inform us how the power of the Holy Spirit and how we share the story of Jesus? We share both the story of Jesus and also our testimony of how Jesus has changed our lives.
We don't do anything to bring people to faith, but we see Peter's obedience to follow the leading of the Father through His vision.
Does God always speak to us in such dramatic ways? No! But he is always calling us to share our faith in Jesus and gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to do so.
In Peter's letter to the New Testament church years later he teaches them,
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect!"
Do you look for DIVINE APPOINTMENTS in your daily life? They come in all shapes and sizes and are often subtle. I have found when I am looking for them, I find them. They are very exciting as we see God using us every day to share the Good News and love and pray for people!
Jesus, we thank you that you give us the Holy Spirit that guides us and empowers us when we share the people with ALL PEOPLE we encounter in daily life. Help us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's nudgings and promptings as you bring people like Cornelius into our lives. Amen.
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