Acts 10 and verse 1 reads.
Acts 10:1] There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
Cornelius was a Roman centurion, over thousands of the Roman army. Also, a Gentile, now in these days it was against Hebrew law to talk or associate with gentiles unless you worked in the government.
Acts 10:2] A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
This Roman worshipped the Lord, and all his family does also. They gave much to the Jewish people and the local temple of Caesarea.
Acts 10:3] He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
[4] And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
The Lord heard his prayers. The Lord hears all prayers.
Acts 10:5] And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
Simon Peter, “a hearing and a rock”. It is Peter who Christ built the church on.
Acts 10:6] He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
[7] And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
[8] And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
He sent men that were also believers of God.
Acts 10:9] On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
About noon.
Acts 10:10] And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
[11] And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
[12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
We must remember Peter is in a trance while praying.
Acts 10:13] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
[14] But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
This is where a lot of pastors and teachers go wrong. What was brought down for Peter to kill and eat was unclean for an Hebrew according to Hebrew law, (Leviticus chapter 11). Now, most teach that you can eat unclean animals because of this verse and Timothy. Not so, here we are going to be talking about men. Remember I said it was against the Hebrew law for an Israelite to associate with a Gentile, that is what the Lord is going to talk with Peter about, not food laws. False teachers teach that this and 1Tim.4:4 says that we can eat unclean foods. Well, let’s go to 1Tim.and pick up the subject and begin with verse 1, and it reads.
1Tim.4:1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Funny how it mentions false doctrines. But note that its for us in these end times.
1Tim.4:2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Meaning they have no feelings, ever have a burn and the nerve endings are now dead. Now this is what they missed, pay attention.
1Tim.4:3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
They miss this verse I think on purpose, false teachers. It said meats created to be received. Not that any unclean animal is now clean, but if you want to know what creatures are created to be received go to Lev.11 and read, you will also find what creatures are created not to be received. And forbidding to marry, for these end times we wait for that marriage to the Lamb.
1Tim.4:4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
[5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
The catfish (very unclean) is good for what God created it for. It was created to clean the filth off the bottom of the pond, not to be eaten. And the swine, very unclean also. Don’t eat scavengers, is a really good and safe way to look at it, everything else is covered in Leviticus ch.11. Now let’s go back to Acts and learn what is God teaching Peter here. and verse 15 reads.
Acts 10:15] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
[16] This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
[17] Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
Peter never ate anything off the sheet. And now gentiles were at the gate.
Acts 10:18] And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
[19] While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
[20] Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
These gentiles I have sent, go with them, said the LORD.
Acts 10:21] Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
[22] And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
[23] Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
This not only was amazing to Peter, but also Simon whom Peter lived with. He also was a Hebrew and knew the laws. But notice they both loved and obeyed the Lord.
Acts 10:24] And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Cornelius called not only his family but his friends also.
Acts 10:25] And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
This also happened to John in Revelations when he also fell down and worshipped an angel. We do not worship man or fellow laborers in the Lord, we worship God and Him only.
Acts 10:26] But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
[27] And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
[28] And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
This is why I went to lengths to show you that the sheet with unclean meats was not talking about food but rather people. Those false teachers are quick to overlook the rest of this chapter. Proving they are false teachers. This chapter is talking about bringing in the gentiles for salvation. Also, Paul would speak of this in Eph.3:6, for he was sent to the kings, and Israel and the Gentiles also. And it reads.
Eph.3:6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Back to Acts and verse 29 reads.
Acts 10:29] Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
[30] And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
[31] And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
[32] Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
[33] Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Not only Cornelius, but all of them there loved the Lord.
Acts 10:34] Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
[35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Meaning all gentiles are accepted by God. If they believe, on Jesus. And this is what Peter will be teaching them, Christ crucified.
Acts 10:36] The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
[37] That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
[38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Let me remind all of us John 1:1 and 14.
John 1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And verse 14 reads.
John 1:14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And Matthew 1:23 reads.
Mat.1:23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
To believe on him means to believe in the Word. Back to Acts and verse 39 reads.
Acts 10:39] And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
[40] Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
[41] Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
[42] And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Judge of the Living and the dead.
Acts 10:43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
We know of John 3:16, “whomsoever”. But let’s go back a little further. Isaiah 53 and verse 11 reads.
Isa.53:11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
That on repentance all shall be forgiven, whomsoever believes on me. Well, I ask you, believe what? Believe on the Word of God. From Genesis through Revelations. Back to Acts and verse 44 reads.
Acts 10:44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit was now given to the Gentiles also, as promised. Let’s go back to Isaiah 49 and read verse 6.
Isa.49:6] And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Gods plan always included the Gentiles, but Jacob was a chosen people, whom Christ would come through, from Eve’s umbilical cord to Mary’s the Savior would be born. Back to Acts and verse 46 reads.
Acts 10:46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
[47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
[48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And so many more were baptized in the name of the Lord. And the Gentiles also had the Holy Spirit in them as well, and the church grows bigger and bigger every day. Praise the LORD, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible