The Return to the Ministry of Peter (9:32-43)Jesus had promised that the disciples would do the things he did and even more. Here Peter carries out two miracles that were ones Jesus did, the healing of a paralytic and the raising of Dorcas from the dead. In the book, Like a Mighty Wind, by Mel Tari, the revival on the islands of Indonesia included quite a number of resurrections. The present revivals in Africa and Latin America are also loaded with miracles of all kinds, including a few resurrections. Is it possible that the western-European mindset (from which US thought descends) gets in the way of the miraculous? That question does haunt me from time to time.
God Prepares the Way (10:1-7)We have seen this pattern before in chapter 9 (with a vision to Annanias before he meets Saul) and it is to some degree implied in chapter 8 (God sending Phillip to Gaza so that he will be able to answer the questions of the Ethiopian). Who is Cornelius? First, he is a Gentile. Second, he is part of the Roman army with responsibilities for 100 men (thus the name “centurion”). Third, he is a God-fearer, one of those who had a general belief in God and were seekers. Many of these came to Jewish feasts and events. Cornelius is told to send for Peter as an answer to Cornelius’ prayers. Again, notice that Peter will not be taking Christ to Cornelius. He will only make Christ more obvious.
The Dropping of the Sheet (10:8-23)Some of the things we think are unchanging about our faith are not. Peter discovers this in an astonishing way. The Jewish food laws were central to who Jews were. They ate what was “clean,” not what was “unclean” (what those unclean Gentiles ate). When Peter goes to Cornelius’ house, will there be mainly Jews or Gentiles living and working there? The answer of course is, “Gentiles.” Will they be eating kosher or non-kosher food? The answer is “non-kosher” is what will be eaten. Peter, as a missionary must learn to be multi-cutural. It must never be forgotten that the receptiveness to the gospel by Gentiles and the resistance to it by Jews was the single greatest surprise in the book of Acts. Following Jesus was to lead to the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, not to save the whole world.
The event with the sheet also tells us that God is not bound by structures or plans of the past. The accomplishment of the mission is more important and allowing God to be who God chooses to be is more important than the structures we tend to make sacred over time. For Peter it is repulsive to think about eating “unclean” foods, but God invites him to see that what was once unclean is now clean for the work of reaching new people. John Wesley, when he was denied the freedom to preach in the Anglican Church said, “I decided to be more vile,” and began preaching in outdoor gathering places throughout England. When I am arguing with my Southern Baptist friends about female preachers, I often point to this passage. I have seen the hand of God on so many women for preaching and ministry that I know God is not restricted to first century standards.
The gospel now takes Peter where he thought he would never be. So it seems to be with all who truly follow Jesus.
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