Have you ever felt that God is exclusive for a certain religious group? Are there people that you are excluding from God’s grace?
The encounter between Peter and Cornelius is one of the most important turning points in the early Church. It marked the moment when the Gospel fully opened to the Gentiles.
Before this, the Jewish Christians still assumed that salvation was primarily for the Jews. But God intervened through visions, obedience, and divine timing to tear down barriers of culture, race, and religion.
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea. He was a Gentile, a military man, and a devout God-fearer. Though he worshiped the God of Israel, he was not a Jew.
Peter, on the other hand, was a Jewish apostle, staying in Joppa, upholding Jewish traditions including not associating with Gentiles. Yet in Acts 10, God gives Peter a vision, tells him not to call unclean what God has made clean, and sends him to Cornelius’ house. This encounter becomes the beginning of the Gentile mission of the Church.
First, obey God’s prompting.
In both Roman and Jewish cultures, it was highly unusual for people of opposing nations and religions to interact on spiritual matters. Cornelius was a military officer, yet he humbled himself to seek God. Peter had to overcome centuries of religious tradition.
Peter struggled with the meaning of the vision but obeyed when the Spirit told him to go. True faith means listening and responding to God’s voice, even when we do not understand everything.
Is God prompting you to do something uncomfortable? Listen and obey. Obedience to God sometimes requires breaking our traditions. Remember that delayed obedience is disobedience in disguise.
Second, break down the barriers.
Jews believed Gentiles were ceremonially unclean. Entering a Gentile’s house would make them impure. Yet Peter declares he will not call anyone impure or unclean anymore. This is a radical declaration in the first century.
Peter broke religious barriers to enter Cornelius’ house.
Today, there are still walls like racism, denomination, social class, and pride. But the gospel breaks down every dividing wall.
Look at people through God’s eyes, not through human categories. Jesus tore the veil so we must not rebuild the walls.
Third, share the Gospel boldly.
For the first time, Peter publicly preaches Jesus to a Gentile audience. This was revolutionary. It was risky. Yet he declared the full Gospel which is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Never assume someone is too far, too different, or too hard to reach. God is already working in their lives. We just need to speak.
The Gospel is not limited by culture or background. Acts 10:34-35 —says “God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.” | NWI
