Erasing Excuses For Being Exclusive
Acts 10:1-11:18
The famed test pilot Chuck Yeager related a fascinating story in his autobiography. He was flying an F-86 Sabre over a lake in the Sierras when he decided to buzz a friend’s house near the edge of the lake. During a slow roll, he suddenly felt his wing flap lock. He says, "It was a hairy moment, flying about 150 feet off the ground and upside down."
A lesser pilot might have panicked with fatal results, but Yeager let off of the G’s, pushed up the nose, and sure enough, the wing flap unlocked. Climbing to 15,000 feet, where it was safer, and he tried the maneuver again. Every time he rolled, the problem reoccurred.
Yeager knew several pilots who had died under similar circumstances, but to date, investigators were puzzled as to the source of the Sabre’s fatal flaw. Yeager went to his superior with a report, and the inspectors went to work. Here's what they discovered: a bolt on the wing flap cylinder was installed upside down.
Eventually, the culprit was found in a North American plant. He was an older man on the assembly line who ignored instructions about how to insert that bolt, because, by golly, he knew that bolts were supposed to be placed head up, not head down. In a sad commentary, Yeager says that "nobody ever told the man how many pilots he had killed." (From "Yeager" by Chuck Yeager, Bantam, 1985)
Sometimes being hard-headed can have devastating results. We all can be that way sometimes - thinking we've got all the answers; thinking we know best how things ought to be done. I can sometimes be stubborn and obstinate, and some of you can too.
As we continue in our series through the book of Acts we find ourselves in chapter 10. We started this series in Acts in January. Our goal at the beginning was to complete the book of Acts this year. There are 28 chapters and we're in chapter 10, and we're almost at the halfway point of the year. What that means is we're going to significantly pick up the pace. Last week we covered 8 verses - today we're covering 66.
What we'll discover today is that God uses a fascinating vision in Peter's life to break down some prejudicial barriers he had developed over the years. God was indeed Erasing Excuses for Being Exclusive. Breaking down those barriers of partiality was necessary because God had ordained the gospel to cross over from the Jews to Gentiles. Like that airplane assemblyman, Peter was sure the bolt should only go in one way, and God was about to show him the right way.
But Peter was not alone in his prejudice. This was the mindset of the early church in general. The early church resisted any acceptance of Gentiles and they even resisted efforts to do missions among the Gentiles. So really, it is not the church that introduces the gospel to Gentiles - it is God himself who works sovereignly in this account to introduce the gospel to them.
One thing we should note about Luke's writing style - when he devotes a large section to chronicle a single event, it's because that event holds significant meaning and purpose in the unfolding story of the early church. This event is one such event. And Luke emphasizes the importance of this event by repeating elements of the story several times. This passage highlights when the gospel crosses the border from the Jews to Gentiles.
And we all should be thankful this event occurred because I dare say that all of us who are here today are Gentiles. In fact, the vast majority of Christians in the world today are not Jews - they are Gentiles. But that was not the demographic makeup of the church at this time. The church was almost exclusively Jewish as far as it's ethnic and cultural makeup.
So this section is important because it marks the transition to Gentile outreach by the church, but this section is also important because it marks the transition of the book of Acts. Up to this point Peter has been the main character of the book of Acts. In the middle of chapter 11 we see the focus shift from Peter's ministry to Paul's ministry. So as we consider this compelling account of God taking the gospel to the Gentiles through Peter, there are five things I want us to notice. The first...
I. Hearts PREPARED
In order to transition the church to a Gentile focus, God ordained a series of visions among two prominent people. Before plunging the church headlong into the transition he prepares hearts. He prepares the heart of Peter and he prepares the heart of a Roman centurion we'll be introduced to named Cornelius.
And that’s God’s nature, that’s God’s way. Before he launches a people into a new mission or a new arena of work, he prepares hearts. He prepares the hearts of those who are being reached and he prepares the hearts of those who are doing the reaching.
And that’s how we should pray for any mission strategy or mission trip or mission activity – that God would not only prepare the hearts of those who would receive the word, but that he would prepare the hearts of those who are taking the word.
And here God prepares these hearts through two separate but connected visions. First in God's vision to Cornelius we see...
A. Cornelius: A NEED disclosed (10:1-8)
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa
Here’s some things we know about Cornelius from the text. First, he was in the city of Caesarea. Caesarea was the Roman capital of the Judean province. This is the city where Pontius Pilate lived – the Roman prefect over that province. So it’s a city of considerable influence in the region.
We know his name is Cornelius. That was a common name at this time. In 86 BC – 86 years before Christ – there was a Roman official named Cornelius Sulla. He granted freedom to thousands of slaves in the Roman Empire. As a result many of those freed slaves named their sons Cornelius in honor of the one who had freed them. So Cornelius was the number one name on the baby-naming websites following that event.
We also know he was a Roman centurion. He was a military man. He was a captain of a regiment of Roman soldiers. It’s commonly accepted that a centurion was the captain of 100 soldiers – century is 100 years, centurion would be over 100 soldiers. But historically we also know there were different levels of centurions and some could be over as many as 800 soldiers. In fact the text tells us he was a part of the Italian Cohort. A Roman cohort would have included 6 regiments of 100 soldiers each. So he is someone of considerable authority in a city of considerable influence.
But Luke’s emphasis is not on his military career but rather his spiritual character. He mentions four positive traits in verse 2: a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
This is a man that had been exposed to the God of Israel and had believed that He is the one true God. He had abandoned the pagan Roman gods – which would have been an extremely bold thing to do.
The Romans believed that their gods were what gave them their military power and prowess. So to be a military leader and to abandon those gods to believe in the God of the conquered nation; a nation in which you are a military leader of the occupying force – that is quite remarkable. But Luke says he was devout – a sincere believer in God; one who feared God. He was also a generous person. He had compassion on the pour. And finally, he prayed continually to God.
If you look at verse 22 you see how his servants described him: “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, It’s important to see what this man was like BEFORE he became a Christian. He was a sincere, devoted, upright, God-fearing man. But yet, he wasn’t saved. If he was saved there would have been no need for God to send Peter to him. But he was not saved, he was not converted, he had not been born again.
It’s important we have this category for people like Cornelius. Because our experience will tell us that there are some really good, nice, honest, honorable, generous, compassionate and kind non-Christians. Not all non-Christians are God-haters who have 666 tattooed on their forehead. Some non-Christians act more like Christians than many Christians do. But here’s the deal – they’re still lost; they’re still separated from God; they still need the gospel of Jesus – his life, death and resurrection applied to their lives.
Because here’s the danger – we can see a person like Cornelius and say, “Well, he’s very sincere, he’s doing the best he can with the amount of spiritual light he has received. Surely God will permit a person like Cornelius into heaven. In fact, that perspective feels good to us. That’s why this is the prevailing view of our age – “It doesn’t really matter what you believe so long as you are sincere.” Sincerity - not truth - is seen as the highest virtue. As long as you have a general respect for a divine being, you pray to that being, you’re generous with your money – then you’re right with God and you’ll be saved. But that’s not what this encounter communicates at all.
We know that Cornelius was not already saved because of chapter 11, verses 13-14: ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ Acts 11:13b-14
Although Cornelius was sincere, God-fearing, was devout, generous, well-respected and prayed continually – he was not a saved man. So an angel of God appears to him in a vision. And what does the angel direct him to do but to go and call for Peter to bring the message of Salvation to him.
Now it’s important to note – the angel could have preached the gospel to Cornelius. But instead, God chose to use a human instrument to preach the gospel. God could write the gospel in neon letters across the sky. That would be an effective means – but that is not the means God has chosen to use. He chooses to use people like you and like me to be his messengers.
So that’s the first thing about God preparing hearts we see God prepare Cornelius heart and in him we see a need disclosed. The other heart God prepares is…
B. Peter: A PREJUDICE exposed (10:9-16)
And just as God revealed Cornelius' need for salvation in a supernatural vision he revealed Peter's prejudice by means of a vision as well.
9The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, If you'll remember from last week Peter was in the town of Joppa. The two servants and 1 soldier dispatched by Cornelius to go get Peter were coming from Caesarea which is 31 miles away. As they're approaching the end of their journey to get Peter, he goes up on the roof to pray. And I think it's worth noting - God chose to speak to both Cornelius and Peter when they were in a time of intentional, devotional prayer. If you're not sensing God's direction, perhaps prayer might be a good place to start.
Let's keep reading: Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
The Lord let's down a heavenly picnic and the food at this picnic is still alive. But for Peter, the issue of it being alive was not as significant as WHAT was being served by God for dinner. The sheet contained all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. The Lord says, "You're hungry - eat up!" But even though the Lord gave him a clear command he says, "By no means." That's a pretty emphatic response.
Ill. It reminded me of my son Trevor. He's not a big risk-taker and I'm one who's always trying to get him to take risks. So when I prod him to do something he doesn't really want to do he responds, "That is NOT gonna happen!" That's how Peter responds, "Peter, kill and eat!" "that is not gonna happen!"
Why would Peter respond in that way? I don't think we can fully appreciate what's going on here because none of us here have lived a life committed to Kosher dietary laws. And it's important to remember that for the Jews, following those dietary laws was not a health issue, it wasn't a nutrition issue. It was an obedience to God issue.
So that begs the question: why did God ordain those laws? Leviticus 20 tells us that these dietary laws serve to distinguish the Jewish people as holy & separate from the pagan nations surrounding them. 25You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. 26You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. Leviticus 20:25-26
It was imperative that the Jews be kept separate from their idolatrous neighbors and the dietary restrictions would hinder social interactions with them. You can't go eat with the Gentiles because there's no telling what they'll put on the table.
After Peter protests, the Lord makes a powerful statement in verse 15: “What God has made clean, do not call common.” With this one statement God is beginning to crack open that hard outer-shell of prejudice that Peter has. I believe the Lord is not just referring to food here - though that is certainly included - but he's referring to people. Don't call common what God has made clean. In fact, this prejudice against what was considered common was so ingrained in Peter's brain that God repeated the vision of the sheet coming down three times!
But then Peter wakes up. Have you ever woken up from a dream and thought, "boy that was weird." That's exactly what happens with Peter. Look at verse 17: 17Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, [another translation of inwardly perplexed might be "freaked out"] behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate
I dare say I never get such a quick answer to my perplexing dreams, but God's all in this. At the very moment while he's scratching his head trying to figure this whole thing out Cornelius' men are knocking at the door. And that leads the next thing I want you to notice this morning...
II. Opportunity PRESENTED (10:17-33)
God presented the opportunity for Peter to live out the truth he had just revealed to him in the perplexing vision. Look back again at verse 17 in your Bible as this opportunity unfolds. 17Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” Right then Peter understood the connection. God was calling for his full obedience to accomplish his purpose of crossing borders with the gospel. And Peter responded with immediate obedience to the call of God:
21And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23So he invited them in to be his guests. Again, Luke keeps repeating aspects of this story throughout this chapter and in to chapter 11. He doesn't want us to miss the divine orchestration by God of all the details in these events. How else can you understand Cornelius, the Gentile military officer being eager and ready to hear what Peter, a Jewish fisherman has to say about Jesus? And only God's work and divine communication through the vision of the sheet would move Peter to not only invite these Gentiles into the house, but to actually lodge there and stay the night there.
What a night that must have been for Peter. Could he even sleep as he thought through the weight and significance of what this meant. He was about to travel to see a Gentile officer and proclaim the gospel to him. Let's keep reading in verse 23: The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. We learn in the next chapter that 6 men accompanied Peter on the 31 mile trip with these 3 Gentiles to see Cornelius.
24And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. Can you see Cornelius' heart in this? He wants those he loves - his family and close friends - to hear the truth of the gospel for themselves.
25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, (odd to introduce yourself)but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. He understood the meaning of the vision. 29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
And again, in Luke's account he repeats details of the story so we don't miss God's sovereign hand in all of this... 30And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
This is the moment - hearts have been prepared, the opportunity has been presented. Here's the third things to notice...
III. Truth PROCLAIMED
God has done all of the background preparation for this divine appointment. This is how God works. He trusts his human instruments with the task of proclaiming the gospel. God had the means of communicating the truth to them in dreams, through angels - but instead he chooses to proclaim it through a human agent - Peter. There are three aspects of Peter's message to note. He begins by describing...
A. The PURPOSE of God (10:34-35)
34So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Peter starts off his message by proclaiming the truth that had just become crystallized in his own mind. Namely, that God shows no partiality but that the gospel is open to all peoples, all races, all socio-economic backgrounds, all ages. Every tribe, every tongue, every people group! That's the first point to Peter's sermon - the purpose of God. The second point to Peter's sermon is...
B. The PLAN of God (10:36-38)
Don't you love the fact that Peter's sermon is alliterated too! 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
The plan of God revolved around his son Jesus. I've made this statement before but it bears repeating - every sermon recorded in the book of Acts has Jesus as it's subject; every Christian sermon recorded in the early church is purely gospel-centered. This serves as a model for us. Peter recounts for them what he himself was a witness of. He was there when Jesus was baptized, he was there when he was anointed by the Holy Spirit; he was there when he did miracles and healing and exorcisms of those who were demonically oppressed - all of which confirmed his divine nature.
But though Jesus was a great teacher and healer and miracle worker - that's not the ultimate reason why Jesus came, which leads to Peter's final point in his sermon...
C. The PURCHASE of God (10:39-43)
The ultimate reason for Christ's coming, his ultimate work was to purchase the salvation of all who would trust in him. Notice how Peter continues halfway through verse 39: They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. So not only was Peter a witness to his miraculous life, but also his death and victorious resurrection. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness through his name. There is no forgiveness for sin, there is no salvation, there is no right standing with God, there is no hope of heaven apart from believing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the gospel Peter preached then, and that's the gospel we preach today.
Though Cornelius was a God-fearing, devout, generous man - he was nonetheless a lost man. And Peter clearly communicates the gospel - he communicates the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross for sin. And he calls for a response - that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins. So the question is did Cornelius and those he had gathered there to hear Peter's message believe in Jesus? Did they receive the gospel? Well, that leads to the fourth thing we see in the text...
IV. Faith PROFESSED (10:44-48)
44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Let me explain what's happening here. Peter is preaching and in the midst of his preaching, those who were listening to the message believed it. They received it. And as it says in verse 46 they were speaking in tongues. And they received the Holy Spirit evidenced by tongues at the very moment of their conversion, when they believed, not at a later time. Now this act of speaking in tongues served as confirmation to Peter and to the six Jewish Christians who were with him.
It confirmed the fact these uncircumcised Gentiles were legitimately born again. This is divine certification that they were genuinely converted.
Notice the response of the Jewish believers: 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
The obvious response to them being genuinely converted was that they follow in obedience with baptism. And Peter says, there's absolutely nothing that is necessary for them to do that qualifies them for baptism - they don't have to be circumcised, they don't have to adhere to Kosher laws. God has confirmed their conversion through the Holy Spirit and so these brand new believers professed their faith through baptism.
What a compelling and fascinating series of events transpired in this chapter. And God is in the middle of it all, orchestrating all the events to produce the desired outcome. But as we move into chapter 11 and conclude the message this morning, the fifth and final thing I want us to notice is the mission of the church is pronounced. And it is pronounced with distinct clarity.
V. Mission PRONOUNCED (11:1-18)
Now Peter had to know that news of what happened in Caesarea was going to spread back to the Jerusalem. And the idea of consorting and associating with uncircumcised Gentiles was not going to sit well with some people. Look at verse 1 of chapter 11: 11:1Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3“You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Nevermind that he baptized them and received them into full fellowship in the church, he ate with them. This shows you how deep the prejudice ran among them. 4But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
Again, Luke recounts the highlights of the entire event involving Peter and Cornelius to reiterate the importance of this event. Looking down at verse 15 we se how Peter gives those gathered in Jerusalem some of the thought process going on in his mind as this incredible event was unfolding before him: 15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”
What a statement - who was I that I should stand in God's way? Notice how the church leaders gathered in Jerusalem responded to Peter's explanation: When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, (God's all about his glory!) saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
There the mission is pronounced. To the Gentiles also God has granted repentance. Just a side note - repentance is a gift that is granted by God. And God is no respecter of persons, God shows no partiality in the granting of that gift of repentance. And they concluded the same thing Peter concluded - "Who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
You know we’re approaching hurricane season, and as a native Floridian – even though I’ve been in TN for 16 years, I still have feelings of apprehension and anxiety when I think about the destructive threat that hurricane season brings. Perhaps it's because I remember from early childhood every year watching weather reports to see if the latest named tropical storm in the Caribbean was going to develop into a hurricane, and if that hurricane was going to follow a path that brought it into the Gulf of Mexico; and if that path was going to come close to the Tampa Bay area where I grew up. All of that anxiety would mean stocking up on groceries, boarding up windows, fueling generators, and tying down belongings.
USA Today once did a report on how amateur hurricane busters have come up with and suggested a number of crackpot ideas to spare Florida from ferocious hurricanes that threaten every year. The report reads, “Dozens of ideas — part hope, part fantasy — continue to crop up among weather wonks, Internet bloggers and others who think they have come up with a way to spare coastal residents the misery of hurricanes. Suggestions have included coating the surface of the water with olive oil; blowing the storm up with a nuclear warhead, towing an iceberg down to Florida to cool down the water temperature; or building large fans on the coast to blow away approaching storms.”
So somebody actually thinks they can blow away a hurricane with some really big box fans on the beach. But do you know what, there's more of a chance of blowing a hurricane away with a box fan than resisting God's will. "Who was I that I could stand in God's way."
How have you tried to resist God's will? Have you tried to stand in God's way as he purposes to seek and save that which is lost? My encouragement to you is to be like Peter in this account.
Regardless of the potential fall out among the religious, we must join God in his saving work; we must go on mission with him in taking the gospel to those who need it. And remember, sometimes that means going to people we might be tempted to think are outside the bounds of salvation.
Last Thought: God shows no FAVORITISM in the invitation of the gospel.
That includes today. You may be here today and you think you're too far away, too far gone, you've done too much. Listen, God shows no favoritism in the invitation of the gospel. As you've heard the message about Jesus' life, death and resurrection that Peter declared to Cornelius and his family and friends - we declare that same message to you today. Look again at the conclusion of Peter's message: "Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:43
