“The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.”  Acts 10:45

 I have been studying the book of Acts with two different Bible study groups.  It’s amazing to me how we can read the same text over and over and not see the significance of certain verses.  In Acts 9, Peter visited Joppa and while there, he was instrumental in raising Dorcas from the dead.  This miracle was known all over Joppa, it brought great rejoicing and many people believed in the Lord!  Peter was a well-known leader of the early church, a spokesman for the apostles and a godly Jew, yet he stayed for some time with Simon, the Tanner.  Luke mentions three times that the apostle lodged with “one Simon, a tanner,” (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 32).  What was the significance?  A tanner was held in low regard by strict Jews because of the nature of their work.  They dealt constantly with dead animals and other unclean elements in the process of leather making.  Their businesses were usually not permitted within the city walls because of the stench of decayed animals and the fermenting process using animal and human waste.  Since salt water was needed, tanners were situated along the Mediterranean where the breezes would carry the odors out to sea. Tanners were considered unclean and had to complete ceremonially cleansing before they could be received into Jewish society.  Could it be that Peter was changing his thinking about the Jewish traditions regarding what was clean or unclean?  Was the command “to go and make disciples of all nations” uppermost in Peter’s heart?

To add to this counter-culture shift, Peter had a vision of heaven opening and a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.  It contained all kinds of four footed animals, reptiles and birds.  What a surprise from God!  The voice said, “Rise Peter, kill and eat.”  Peter was dubious, so the sheet came down two more times.  Then God spoke to him about an upcoming visit of gentiles from Caesarea.  God was sending him to Cornelius, a Roman centurion.  Wow!  What a day!

Caesarea was the great gentile city of Palestine, built by Herod the Great for the visiting reigning monarch from Rome.  It contained numerous temples to various gods and with it the immorality that accompanied it.  A godly Jew would never set foot in Caesarea.  If they had business with someone who resided in the city, they would travel to the city gate, request the gate keeper to summon the person they wished to see, then conduct their business outside the city walls.  For Peter, the leader of the church to go with Cornelius’ men to an unclean city to the home of a Roman was a dichotomy shift!

But God!  God had prepared Cornelius’ heart four days before when an angel appeared and gave him instructions to send for Peter.  Smelling faintly of the tanners’ house, Peter arrived with his six friends to present the gospel to Cornelius and his houseguests. The Law forbade Jews to enter a gentile house, but the Lord showed Peter he wasn’t to call any person clean or unclean.  “How true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right,” Acts 10:34-35.  Peter added, “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” Acts 10:43.  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,” Acts 10:45.

Praise God!!  What an astonishing week for Peter!!  The door of faith was opened to the gentiles!!

Your friend, Jean