Acts 10 explained: God Opens the Door to Outsiders

Cornelius sees an angel (vv. 1-8)

Cornelius was a Roman officer over about a hundred soldiers, based in Caesarea, the Roman seat of government on the coast. He was not Jewish but worshiped Israel's God, and an angel tells him his prayers and gifts to the poor have been noticed and that he should send for Peter.

Peter's rooftop vision (vv. 9-16)

Jewish law sorted animals into clean and unclean, and these food rules helped mark Israel as a people set apart. Peter is told three times not to call unclean what God has made clean, and in verse 28 he applies this to people; many readers think it also set aside the food rules themselves, though others read it as only about people.

The messengers arrive (vv. 17-23a)

While Peter is still puzzling over the vision, God's Spirit tells him to go with the visitors without hesitating. By inviting these non-Jewish men in as overnight guests, Peter is already acting on what he saw.

Peter enters a Gentile home (vv. 23b-33)

Gentile means anyone not Jewish, and devout Jews usually avoided close contact with Gentiles, such as entering their homes or eating with them, though this was more custom than a written command. Peter refuses to let Cornelius bow to him and says God has shown him not to call any person unclean.

Peter's message about Jesus (vv. 34-43)

Peter says he now sees that God does not favor one nation over another, then sums up the life, death and rising of Jesus, which he says he witnessed himself. He ends by saying that everyone who trusts in Jesus is forgiven, and he links this to Israel's prophets.

The Spirit comes first (vv. 44-48)

Before Peter finishes, the listeners begin praising God in unusual speech called tongues, much as Jesus's first followers had done in Acts 2. Peter's Jewish companions are amazed, and Peter decides no one can refuse to baptize them, that is, to wash them in water as a sign of joining Jesus's followers.

Key verse: Acts 10:34

Where Christians differ

Christians differ over what Peter means when he says God accepts people from every nation who fear him and do right (v. 35): some read it as acceptance even of people who have not heard of Jesus, while others read it as meaning such people are welcome to hear and receive the message about Jesus.

Something to think about

Is there a kind of person you would find hard to sit at the same table with, and what do you think might change that?