Peter and the Gentiles

MEMORY VERSE: “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” —I Timothy 2:3,4

ACTS 11:1-18

THE people of the Jewish nation were, during the Jewish Age, exclusively God’s chosen people. Through one of his prophets God said to this people, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) They were still in this favored position before the Lord when Jesus came, and it was in keeping with this that in sending out his disciples into the ministry he said to them, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”—Matt. 10:5,6

When Jesus appeared to his disciples for the last time before returning to the heavenly courts, he instructed them to go to all nations and preach the Gospel; but these Jewish Christians did not find it easy to change their views with respect to Gentiles, and they were slow to accept the fact that Gentiles, in responding to the Gospel, were pleasing to God and should be accepted into their fellowship.

This was especially true of those described as “of the circumcision.” These were Jewish converts who had not yet come to see that faith in Christ, and full devotion to the messianic cause through him, released them fully from the necessity of observing the ceremonial features of the Mosaic Law. The news was received in Jerusalem that through the ministry of Peter “Gentiles had also received the Word of God”; and these contenders for the Law, particularly circumcision, argued with Peter when he returned to Jerusalem, saying, “Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.”

Then “Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them.” He explained that while he was on the roof of one Simon the tanner in Joppa the Lord had given him a special vision, in which he saw a sheet let down from heaven, filled with all sorts of ceremonially unclean animals and birds, and that he was bidden by the Lord to rise, kill and eat. Peter said that at first he had refused to eat, for nothing unclean had ever entered his mouth. Then the Lord explained that what he had cleansed was not to be considered unclean.

As Peter explained, following this vision men arrived from Caesarea, messengers who, by the Lord’s instructions, had been sent there by Cornelius, a Gentile. (Acts 10:5,6) Peter returned with these messengers to Cornelius. Arriving at his home, Peter found quite a gathering of family and friends waiting for him. Without doubt he felt somewhat strange, and he remarked to his host, Cornelius, that it was unlawful for him as 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.”

Upon his asking Cornelius why he had sent for him, this Gentile “centurion of the band” explained that he had also had a vision in which he was instructed to send for Peter, who would come and speak with him. Peter now realized fully that the Lord had brought him to the home of Cornelius, so he proceeded to give a wonderful witness to the group gathered there.

As he spoke the Holy Spirit came upon the audience, even as it had upon the Jewish disciples at Pentecost. Concluding his report of this unusual experience, Peter said, “Forasmuch then as God gave the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ: what was I, that I could withstand God?”

In Acts, chapter 10, verses 34-44, we are given a record of Peter’s sermon in the home of Cornelius. In opening his remarks he said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” After all, God’s promise to Abraham expressed his intention to bless all the families of the earth.—Gen. 12:3

Our memory verse reminds us of God’s plan for the blessing of all mankind. In this text God is spoken of as “Savior,” and he is the Author of the divine plan of salvation through Jesus the Redeemer. He is also spoken of as the One “who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

The great truth which all men are yet to learn is that “there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” It is God’s will that all be “saved” from death, that is, awakened from the dead, that this testimony concerning the Redeemer may be given to them.

QUESTIONS

Why was it difficult for the early Christians to accept Gentiles into their fellowship?

Relate Peter’s experience in connection with the conversion of Cornelius?

When will all be “saved” and come to a knowledge of the truth concerning Jesus?

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