Chapter 10 in the Book of Acts records for us a very clear and important principle related to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a matter of background, the Jewish religion incorporated a very extensive and specific dietary regimen. Leviticus 11 provides a detailed “law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten” (Leviticus 11:46).
Move forward to the days immediately following the resurrection of Christ, Peter is found lodging “with one Simon a tanner, whose house was by the sea side” (Acts 10:6). It came to pass that Peter went upon the housetop to pray about noon and became hungry while food was being prepared below. As he was praying, “he fell into a trance, 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: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” (Acts 10:10-14).
Peter’s response is not surprising. He was a faithful Jew and was fastidious with his dietary observances. Even so, “the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:15). To drive the point home to Peter, this exchange occurred three times.
The significance lies in what immediately followed. Now there were “men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate” (Acts 10:17). God had previously instructed Cornelius, a centurion, to send for Peter who “shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:6). Peter then accompanied the men to Cornelius’ home.
As Peter stood before Cornelius and his household, he said “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 showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (Acts 10:28). His Jewish practice had forbidden close interaction with Gentiles. But now, as a result of the vision that God had given him, Peter understood that God had other ideas.
He shared with Cornelius and his household how that Christ died for the sins of all and was raised the third day and “that it is he which was ordained to be the Judge of the quick [living] and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:42-43; emphasis added). The gospel is for all who believe. There are none that are excluded. This includes you. Have you believed?
From the Chaplain 