Scripture: Now 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 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And 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.” So he invited them in to be his guests.
Acts 10:17-23a ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, the day after Cornelius sent his men to Joppa, Peter went to the rooftop of Simon’s house at noon to pray. Feeling peckish and perhaps smelling the aroma of food preparation from below, Peter drifts into a daydream and sees a great sheet holding clean and unclean animals descending from heaven. Suddenly, a heavenly voice commands Peter to rise, kill, and eat. Peter contends that he has not and could not eat anything “common or unclean.” But the voice admonishes Peter for calling what God has “made clean” common. This interactive vision and voice occurs three times before it fades into heaven.
Today’s devotion continues this landmark development of the church to include Gentile converts. Luke tells us that, while Peter remained confused about the implications of his vision, Cornelius’ emissaries appeared at the gate to Simon’s house and called out to Simon, inquiring if Peter was lodging with him. Simultaneously, the Holy Spirit speaks to Peter and informs him that three men are seeking him and commands Peter to go with them, for he has sent for them. So Peter goes out to meet the men, confirming he is the one they seek, and inquires why they request his company. They respond that a holy angel directed their master, Cornelius, a God-fearing man respected by the Jewish nation, to bring Peter to his house to receive God’s message. So Peter invites them to stay at Simon’s house as Peter’s guests for the night.
Of note: Simon’s hide-tanning business would not support a stately home with a front courtyard. Instead, the gate would be near the entrance, permitting the men to call out for Peter within Simon’s earshot. Still, Peter, consumed in this perplexing message from the Lord, screens out the background noise of men shouting. Thus, the Holy Spirit speaks directly to Peter, whether audible or in his thoughts, and directs him to the men.
Takeaway: As theologian Richard Longenecker rightfully contends, the distinctions between the angel of the Lord who spoke to Cornelius and the Spirit who communicated to Peter inextricably function as one with Christ (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Acts, p.389). Indeed, as Longenecker cites from an earlier passage, this same relational dynamic occurs when an angel of the Lord and the Spirit work together to direct Philip to pursue the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26, 29, and 39.) Also, later in this second volume, Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit and the “Spirit of Jesus” forbade Paul to speak the word of God in Asia (Acts 16:6-7). Thus, the point is that when the Holy Spirit or an angelic messenger speaks, they manifest the Spirit of Christ (i.e., Christ is indistinguishably present with them).
Our takeaway? That Christ is intimately present with his Holy Spirit and his angelic messengers applies to us as much as it did to Peter and Paul. Indeed, this oneness of presence and purpose is what Paul has in mind when he says the Spirit of Christ dwells in us (Romans 8:9) and that we are Christ’s ambassadors who carry forward his message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-21), which is similar to but superior to Cornelius’ men seeking Peter and speaking on behalf of their master.
So how do we live our mortal lives in this manner, in the oneness of presence and purpose in Christ? Like Cornelius, we live upright, fearing and revering God so others speak well of us (v.22). Like Peter, even when the message causes consternation, we rise and go as the Holy Spirit leads, trusting that it will all make sense later. And all the while, we go by the grace of God, knowing that we can do nothing outside of abiding in Christ (John 15:5). In short, it’s not about us, but Christ in us: the unstoppable, unified power and love that created the universe, has rescued us and now dwells in us. It’s Good News that, like Peter, compels us to go and tell others.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who, being one with you and the Holy Spirit, set aside his divine power to suffer and die for us so that we might become one with him. And we thank you for the Holy Spirit, who, with your Son, dwells in us and works through us to lead us to others with your Son’s marvelous message. Still, understanding that we fall short of the mark regarding consistently living upright lives, we desperately need your Son’s grace to shore up the shortfall. So would you please help us abide in him so that his presence and purpose might flow through us to those who desperately need Good News? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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