“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15).
Was it a coincidence that God spoke to Cornelius, an Italian centurion, who was also known to be a God-fearing man and devout worshipper of God and to a man named Simon, who is called Peter at the same time? No, for God had determined Peter would introduce Christianity to the Gentiles at the home of Cornelius in Caesarea.
Cornelius was given a vision by God to send for Peter. Peter while praying was given a vision of a large sheet let down from heaven by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. God told Peter to “Kill and eat.” Peter said to God, “Surely not, Lord.” God then told Peter not to call anything He created impure or unclean. In his same vision, God told Peter there were three men who had come for him and he was to go with them to Caesarea. Peter did as God instructed. When Peter got to Caesarea and the home of Cornelius he found that Cornelius had gathered many of his friends and relatives to hear what Peter had to say to them. Peter told the large crowd how it was against Jewish law for Jews to associate with Gentiles but that God had told him he was not to call any man impure or unclean. Cornelius told Peter how four days before while praying one of God’s angels came to him and told him he was to send for a man named Peter who lived in Joppa.
What appears to be coincidence was God’s plan for the beginning of Christianity among the Gentiles. Peter was His messenger and all that heard Peter speak that day were visited by the Holy Spirit, they spoke in tongues and praised God. All who received the Holy Spirit were then baptized with water in the in the name of Jesus Christ.
(Acts 10:1-48) tells the wonderful story of how we as Christians received the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
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