Peter’s Vision; Acts 10:9 – 23 – Part 3

Church History: He was ordered by a voice from heaven to make use of this plenty and variety which God had sent him: "Rise, Peter, kill and eat: without putting any difference between clean and unclean, take which thou hast most mind to." The distinction of meats which the law made was intended to put a difference between Jew and Gentile, that it might be difficult to them to dine and sup with a Gentile, because they would have that set before them which they were not allowed to eat; and now the taking off of that prohibition was a plain allowance to converse with the Gentiles, and to be free and familiar with them. Now they might fare as they fared, and therefore might eat with them, and be fellow-commoners with them. He stuck to his principles, and would by no means give in, though he was hungry. Temptations to eat forbidden fruit must not be parleyed with, but peremptorily rejected; we must startle at the thought of it: Not so, Lord. The reason he gives is, "For I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean; until know I have kept my integrity in this matter, and will still keep it."
God, by a second voice from heaven, proclaimed the repeal of the law in this case: “What God hath cleansed, that call thou not common”. He that made the law might alter it when he pleased, and reduce the matter to its first state. God had, for reasons suited to the Old-Testament dispensation, restrained the Jews from eating such and such meats, to which, while that dispensation lasted, they were obliged in conscience to submit; but he has now, for reasons suited to the New-Testament dispensation, taken off that restraint, and set the matter aside. He has cleansed that which was before polluted to us, and we ought to make use of, and stand fast in, the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and not call that common or unclean which God has now declared clean.
Peter is directed by the Spirit to go along with Cornelius's messengers. He is told, before any of the servants could come up to tell him, that three men below want to speak with him. and he must arise from his musings, stop thinking of the vision, and go down to them. He is ordered to go along with the messengers to Cornelius, though he was a Gentile, doubting nothing. He must not only go, but go cheerfully, without reluctance or hesitation, or any scruple concerning the lawfulness of it; not doubting whether he might go, no, nor whether he ought to go; for it was his duty. He then went down and received them as his guests.

Peter’s Vision; Acts 10:9 – 23 – Part 2

Church History: Peter went to the house-top to pray, about noon, about the sixth hour, according to David's example, who, not only morning and evening, but at noon, addressed himself to God by prayer, (Psalms 55:17). He prayed upon the house-top; where he retired for privacy, where he could neither hear nor be heard, and so might avoid both distraction and ostentation. There, upon the roof of the house, he had a full view of the heavens, which might assist his pious adoration of the God he prayed to; and there he had also a full view of the city and country, which might assist his pious compassion of the people he prayed for. He had this vision immediately after he had prayed, as an answer to his prayer for the spreading of the gospel, and because the ascent of the heart to God in prayer is an excellent preparative to receive the discoveries of the divine grace and favor. He became very hungry, and was waiting for his dinner. Now this hunger was a proper inlet to the vision about meats, as Christ's hunger in the wilderness was to Satan's temptation to turn stones into bread.
The vision itself was not as plain as the one given to Cornelius, but more figurative and enigmatical, to make a deeper impression. He fell into a trance or ecstasy, not of terror, but of contemplation. He saw heaven opened, that he might be sure that his authority to go to Cornelius was indeed from heaven, that it was a divine light which altered his sentiments, and a divine power which gave him his commission. The opening of the heavens signified the opening of a mystery that had been hidden, (Romans 16:25). He saw a great sheet full of all manner of living creatures, which descended from heaven, and was let down to him to the earth, that is, to the roof of the house where he now was. Here were not only beasts of the earth, but fowls of the air, which might have flown away, laid at his feet; and not only tame beasts, but wild. There were no fishes of the sea, because there were none of them in particular unclean, but whatever had fins and scales was allowed to be eaten. Some interpret this sheet, to represent the church of Christ. It comes down from heaven, from heaven opened, not only to send it down (Revelation 21:2), but to receive souls sent up from it. It is knit at the four corners, to receive those from all parts of the world that are willing to be added to it; and to retain and keep those safe that are taken into it, that they may not fall out; and in this we find some of all countries, nations, and languages, without any distinction of Greek or Jew, or any disadvantage put upon Barbarian or Scythian, (Colossians 3:11).

Peter’s Vision; Acts 10:9 – 23 – Part 1

Church History: 9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." 16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?" 22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.

Cornelius had received positive orders from heaven to send for Peter, whom otherwise he had not heard of, or at least not heeded; but here is another difficulty that lies in the way of bringing them together. The question is whether Peter would come to Cornelius when he is sent for; not as if he thought it beneath him to come when beckoned, or as if he were afraid to preach his doctrine to a polite man as Cornelius was: but it sticks at a point of conscience. Cornelius is a very worthy man, and has many good qualities, but he is a Gentile, he is not circumcised; and, because God in his law had forbidden his people to associate with idolatrous nations, they would not keep company with any but those of their own religion, though they were ever so deserving, and they carried the matter so far that they made even the involuntary touch of a Gentile to contract a ceremonial pollution, (John 18:28). Peter had not gotten over this stingy bigoted notion of his countrymen, and therefore would be hesitant to come to Cornelius. Now, to remove this difficulty, he has a vision, to prepare him to receive the message sent him by Cornelius, as Ananias had to prepare him to go to Paul. The scriptures of the Old Testament had spoken plainly of the bringing the Gentiles into the church. Christ had given plain intimations of it when he ordered them to teach all nations; and yet even Peter himself, who knew so much of his Master's mind, could not understand it, until it was revealed by vision, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, (Ephesians 3:6).
When the messengers sent from Cornelius was near the city, Peter still didn’t know of their approach, and they knew nothing of his praying; but he that knew both of them was preparing things for the interview, and facilitating the end of their negotiation. To all God's purposes there is a time, a proper time; and he is pleased often to bring things to the minds of his ministers, which they had not thought of, just then when they have occasion to use them.

Cornelius Calls For Peter; Acts 10:1 – 8 – Part 2

Church History: The orders were given him from heaven, by the ministry of an angel, to send for Peter to come to him, which he would never have done if he had not been directed to do it. He had a vision, in which an angel delivered them to him. It was about the ninth hour of the day, at three o’clock in the afternoon, which is with us an hour of business and conversation; but then, because it was in the temple the time of offering the evening sacrifice, it was made by devout people an hour of prayer, to intimate that all our prayers are to be offered up in the virtue of the great sacrifice. Cornelius was now at prayer: so he tells us himself that an angel of God came in to him. By the brightness of his countenance, and the manner of his coming in, he knew him to be something more than a man, and therefore nothing less than an angel, an express from heaven. He saw him evidently with his bodily eyes, not in a dream presented to his imagination, but in a vision presented to his sight; for his greater satisfaction, it carried its own evidence along with it. He called him by his name, Cornelius, to intimate the particular notice God took of him. Cornelius was confused; When he looked on him he was afraid. The wisest and best men have been struck with fear upon the appearance of any extra-ordinary messenger from heaven; and justly, for sinful man knows that he has no reason to expect any good tidings, and therefore Cornelius cries, "What is it, Lord? What is the matter?" This he speaks as one afraid of something amiss, and longing to be eased of that fear, by knowing the truth; or as one desirous to know the mind of God, and ready to comply with it, as Joshua: What saith my Lord unto his servant? And Samuel: Speak, for thy servant heareth.
In the message sent to him he is assured that God accepts him in walking according to the light he had: “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.”
He is appointed to enquire after a further discovery of divine grace, now lately made to the world, Ac 10:5-6. He must send a messenger to Joppa, and enquire for one Simon Peter; he was staying at the house of one Simon a tanner; his house is by the sea side, and, if he is sent for, he will come; and when he comes he will tell me what to do, in answer to the question, What is it, Lord? Cornelius prays and gives alms in the fear of God, is religious himself and keeps up religion in his family, and all this so as to be accepted of God in it.
He immediately complied with these orders. He sent two of his household servants, who both feared God, and a devout soldier, one of those that waited on him continually, to Joppa, to bring Peter to him. Had he been concerned, only for himself he would have gone to Joppa himself. But he had a family, kinsmen, and friends, a little congregation of them that could not go with him. As soon as the angel which spoke to him had departed, without dispute or delay, he was obedient to the heavenly vision. He perceived, by what the angel said, he was to have some further work prescribed him, and he longed to have it revealed to him.

Cornelius Calls For Peter; Acts 10:1 – 8 – Part 1

Church History: 1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" 4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." 7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

The idea of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles, and the bringing of those who had been strangers and foreigners to be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, was a mystery to the apostles themselves. (Ephesians 3:3,6), (1Titus 3:16). We need to carefully observe all the circumstances of the beginning of this great work. It is not unlikely that some Gentiles might before now have stepped into a synagogue of the Jews, and heard the gospel preached; but the gospel was never yet designedly preached to the Gentiles, nor any of them baptized. Cornelius was the first; and here we have an account given us of this Cornelius, who and what he was, who was the first-born of the Gentiles to Christ. We are here told that he was a great man and a good man, two characters that seldom meet, but here they did; and where they do meet they put a luster upon each other: goodness makes greatness truly valuable, and greatness makes goodness much more serviceable.
Cornelius was an officer of the army. He was at present quartered in Cesarea, a strong city, lately re-edified and fortified by Herod the Great, and called Cesarea in honor of Augustus Cæsar. It lay upon the sea-shore, very convenient for the keeping up of a correspondence between Rome and its conquests in those parts. The Roman governor or proconsul ordinarily resided here, (Acts 23:23; 25:6). Here there was a band, or cohort, or regiment, of the Roman army, which probably was the governor's life-guard, and is here called the Italian band, because, that they might be the more sure of their fidelity, they were all native Romans, or Italians. Cornelius had a command in this part of the army. His name, Cornelius was often heard among the Romans, among some of the most ancient and noble families. He was an officer of considerable rank and figure, a centurion. We read of one of that rank in our Savior's time, of whom he gave a great commendation, (Matthew 8:10).

The Cure Of Aeneas And the Visit To Dorcas; Acts 9:32–43–Part 3

Church History:Her Christian friends sent for Peter to come to them with all speed, not to attend the funeral, but, if it might be, to prevent it. Lydda, where Peter was, was near Joppa, and the disciples at Joppa had heard that Peter was there, and that he had raised Aeneas from a bed of languishing; and therefore they sent him two men, to make the message more solemn and respectful, asking him to come to them; not telling him the occasion, fearing he might decline coming upon so great an errand as to raise the dead. Their friend was dead, and it was too late to send for a physician, but not too late to send for Peter. Post mortem medicus, a physician after death, is an absurdity, but not Post mortem apostolus, an apostle after death.
Peter arose and went with them. Though they did not tell him what they wanted him for, yet he was willing to go along with them, believing it was upon some good account or other that he was sent for. He found the corpse laid in the upper chamber, and attended by widows, probably such as were in the communion of the church, poor widows; there they were.
They were here lamenting the loss of her: The widows stood by Peter, weeping. Peter did not want a public display; they came to see, but he did not come to be seen. He sent them from the room, that he might have more freedom to pour out his soul before God in prayer upon this occasion, and not be disturbed with their noisy and clamorous lamentations. In his healing of Aeneas there was an implied prayer, but in this greater work he addressed himself to God by solemn prayer, as Christ when he raised Lazarus; but Christ's prayer was with the authority of a Son, who quickens whom he will; Peter's with the submission of a servant, who is under direction, and therefore he knelt down and prayed.
When he had prayed, he turned to the body, and spoke in his Master's name, according to his example: "Tabitha, arise; return to life again." Power went along with this word, and she came to life, opened her eyes which death had closed. Thus, in the raising of dead souls to spiritual life, the first sign of life is the opening of the eyes of the mind. When she saw Peter, she sat up, to show that she was really and truly alive; and he gave her his hand and lifted her up, not as if she labored under any remaining weakness, but it was to welcome her to life again, and give her the right hand of fellowship among the living, from whom she had been cut off. And, lastly, he called the saints and widows, who were all in sorrow for her death, and presented her alive to them, to their great comfort, particularly of the widows; to them he presented her, as Elijah (1Kings 17:23), and Elisha (2Kings4:36), and Christ (Luke 7:15), presented the dead sons alive to their mothers. The greatest joy and satisfaction are expressed by life from the dead.
Many were convinced of the truth of the gospel, realizing that it was from heaven, and not of men, and believed in the Lord. The news of the event was soon known throughout Joppa. Finding that a door of opportunity was opened for him there, Peter stayed there many days, until he was called to another place. He didn’t stay in the house of Tabitha, though she was rich, lest he should seem to seek his own glory; but he took up his lodgings with one Simon a tanner, an ordinary tradesman, which is an instance of his condescension and humility: and hereby he has taught us not to mind high things, but to condescend to those of low estate, (Romans 12:16).

The Cure Of Aeneas And the Visit To Dorcas; Acts 9:32–43–Part 2

Church History: Peter healed Aeneas, a man that had been bedridden for eight years. His case was very deplorable: He was sick of the palsy, a dumb palsy, perhaps a dead palsy. The disease was extreme and chronic for he was bedridden for eight years; and we may assume that both he himself and all about him despaired of relief for him, and that he would be bedridden until his death. Peter said to him; Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole. Peter does not pretend to do it himself by any power of his own, but declares it to be Christ's act and deed, directs him to look up to Christ for help, and assures him of an immediate cure--not, "He will make you," but, "He does make you, whole." He ordered him to bestir himself, to exert himself: "Arise and make your bed, that all may see that you are thoroughly cured." Power went along with this word: he arose immediately, and no doubt very willingly made his own bed.
All that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. They all made enquiry into the truth of the miracle, did not overlook it, but saw him that was healed, and saw that it was a miraculous cure that was wrought upon him by the power of Christ, in his name, and with a design to confirm and ratify that doctrine of Christ which was now preached to the world.
They all submitted to the convincing proof and evidence there was in this of the divine origin of the Christian doctrine, and turned to the Lord, to the Lord Jesus. They turned from Judaism to Christianity; they embraced the doctrine of Christ, and submitted to his ordinances, and turned themselves over to him to be ruled and taught and saved by him.7
Another miracle performed by Peter, for the confirming of the gospel, and which exceeded the former, was the raising of Tabitha to life when she had been dead for some time.
Tabitha lived at Joppa, a sea-port town in the tribe of Dan, where Jonah took a ship to go to Tarshish, now called Japho. Tabitha was a Hebrew name, the Greek for which is Dorcas, both signifying a doe, or hind, or deer, a pleasant creature. She was a disciple, one that had embraced the faith of Christ and was baptized; and not only so, but was eminent above many for works of charity. She showed her faith by her works, her good works, which she was full of, that is, in which she abounded. She was a caring person, always thinking of ways which she should do good. She devised liberal things. Her hands were full of good employment; she made it a business to do good. She was never idle, having learned to maintain good works, to keep up a constant course and method of them.
Her friends and those about her did not bury her, as usual, because they hoped Peter would come and raise her to life again; but they washed the dead body, according to the custom, which, it is said, was with warm water, which, if there were any life remaining in the body, would recover it; so that this was done to show that she was really and truly dead. They tried all the usual methods to bring her to life, and could not. They laid her out in her grave-clothes in an upper chamber, which Dr. Lightfoot thinks was probably the public meeting-room for the believers of that town; and they laid the body there, that Peter, if he would come, might raise her to life the more solemnly in that place.