Acts 10:23b-33 - Peter and Cornelius met

When the night was over, Peter, the three messengers sent  by Cornelius and some believers whom Pater had chosen to accompany him, left for Caesarea. it took another day to reach their destination. Only in Acts 10:45-46 and 11:12 did Luke show us why Peter took these Jewish companions with him.

When they arrived at Caesarea, Cornelius was waiting for them. Together with him were his relatives and close friends. All of them doubtlessly must have heard about Cornelius' vision and were convinced by his sharing. They were probably aware that he had sent for Peter.  

When Peter entered the house, he was taken by surprise and possibly seized by embarrassment, when Cornelius treated him like some kind of a divine being. He fell on his knees in worship. Immediately Peter commanded him to get up, saying that he was an ordinary human just like them. He should not be worshiped.

Peter realized that every one was equal in the sight of God and should meet as such. This act of Peter shows his humility and indicates to us that there is only one, God Himself, who deserves worship.  

In verse 27, Peter and Cornelius had a conversation where the former told the latter why he was willing to come. There present with them, were Cornelius' whole household, family members and workers and friends whom he had invited to come.

Peter made reference to the vision God had shown him in Joppa. He said that it was the vision that dissolved his Jewish resistance, and made him willing to come. For it was unlawful for Jews to meet or visit Gentiles.

And had he not been foretold by God not to consider the Gentiles unclean or unholy, it would be impossible for him to be there with them. Now that he had come to them, Peter wanted to know why they had  summoned for him.

Peter now clearly understood his vision in that trance in Joppa. Those unclean reptiles and  birds of the air on the heavenly sheet that he saw, were symbols of the Gentiles. To the Jews, Gentiles were unclean. The laws of the Pharisees concerning food made it difficult for the Jews to associate with the Gentiles.

The long and short of what Peter was saying is this: The vision God sent him had prepared him and made him willing to come. And he was now eager to find out just why he was sent for.

So in verses 30-32 we see Cornelius gave a recap of his own encounter with God and the instruction that God gave him.  This was the third time he had  faithfully narrated what God had shown him. What Cornelius shared showed that he was faithful to God's leading.

It was good on Peter's part to respond positively to his God-given vision to come at the bidding of Cornelius. Here they were all ready and eager to hear what God had installed for them through His servant Peter.  

Cornelius shows us what could take place when a person is spiritually hungry. He could have maintained that as a Roman officer, he had the right to have Peter come to his home at his command. Instead, he humbled himself before Peter, and he demonstrated it before his family and friends. He desperately wanted to hear the truth. And God obliged.

For the Lord promises that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" and "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:3 &6)

How truly blessed Cornelius and his family were, and so can we! Our willingness to stay humble will definitely pave the way for our spiritual hunger to be satisfied.