Peter has now received Jesus’ command vertically from heaven in the form of a sheet containing foods declared “unclean” by Jewish law. The Lord’s message is that perfect unity is to be a horizontal work among all people of the world. He has agreed to go with the messengers sent by Cornelius to speak to the Gentiles about faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
“And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends” (Ac 10:24).
Recall that Cornelius has encountered an angel of the Lord in a vision, who gave him a command to bring Simon Peter, a total stranger, up from Joppa to his own house in Caesarea. This too was a vertical command from heaven. So both Cornelius and Peter have received a command and have determined to obey in perfect unity based solely on faith.
Two culturally opposite men are now moving horizontally toward each other at the command of the Lord.
“When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I too am a man.’ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And then he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me’” (Ac 10:25-29).
Peter has now broken with Jewish tradition, correctly deciding that a command from the Lord supersedes everything – yes, everything! Cornelius has decided the same thing: if Peter has been sent by the God who gave him his vision to find Peter and bring him to Caesarea, Cornelius drops to the floor in worship just as he would for God himself.
Here are two cases of vertical perfect unity with God merging into a beautiful horizontal perfect unity between Peter and the Gentile Cornelius:
“And Cornelius said, ‘Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.” So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord’” (Ac 10:30-33).
Now both men understand why the Lord has brought them together: so that Paul can preach the gospel of Jesus the Christ to the Gentiles for the very first time!
Hurry back next time and be warmed to the soul with the Gospel according to Peter!