Commentary on Acts 10:9-23

By Bob Myhan

⁹The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

Luke does not give any details of the trip, probably because it was relatively uneventful. It has been about twenty-one hours or a little less since leaving Caesarea, depending on how much time was consumed in preparations. We are not told how close they are to the home of Simon the tanner.

 It is about noon, one of several designated hours of prayer. Housetops of the day were flat rather than gabled and served secondarily as terraces or patios.

¹⁰Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

We are not told what Peter had been doing since rising but he was most likely involved in spiritual activity. Nor are we told how long he had been on the rooftop at the time the men approached the house. But the implication is that he had been up there praying for some time. As he was forming the intent to go down into the house to eat, “he fell into a trance, meaning he became suddenly unaware of his surroundings. Apparently the Holy Spirit had taken control of his mind and of his physical senses. This was no doubt done in order to focus his attention on what he was about to “see” and “hear.” Something like a sheet or blanket was lowered to the ground in his mind’s eye; it contained beasts whose meat the Jews were forbidden to eat. (See Lev. 11:2-25)

¹³And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." ¹⁴But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." ¹⁵And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." ¹⁶This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

The owner of the voice is unidentified by Luke but it was likely one of the Godhead but it could also have been an angel. The address, “Lord,” simply indicates that Peter recognized the voice as belonging to someone deserving of Peter’s respect. It is equivalent to “Sir.” The voice gives Peter three commands: rise, kill and eat. It is Peter’s reaction to these commands that tells us the beasts are unfit to eat, according to the Law of Moses, which had already been done away. “Old habits die hard,” as they say.

The fact that the law had been done away implies that the dietary restrictions of the law had also been taken away. In short, God had cleansed all of those animals that were previously designated as unclean for both sacrifice and consumption. The apostles were seemingly slow to realize this.

¹⁷Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

It was not immediately apparent to Peter what the vision meant but he is giving it some serious thought as he knows that it must be important.

¹⁹While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."

The Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with the men “for I have sent them.” The careless reader might think that Luke can’t keep his facts straight, since it was Cornelius who sent them to fetch Peter. But the angel told Cornelius to send them and it is certain the Holy Spirit sent the angel. And remember, the Holy Spirit did not speak on His own but spoke what the Father and Son told Him to speak. Therefore, it may be said that each member of the Godhead sent the men.

²¹Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?" ²²And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you."

The men briefly rehearse the appearance of the angel to Cornelius, as well as the angel’s instructions to sent for Peter who will speak to Cornelius. Whether the men know the nature of the words Cornelius is expecting to hear, is not clear.

 (To be continued)

Prepare to Meet Thy God

By Bobby Robinson

Every person needs to be brought to a realization of the need to prepare to meet God. Many of us, I think, already know to a degree the need for preparation, but of that number many are doing nothing about it, seemingly thinking that they have plenty of time. Others seem to think that some way they are going to escape standing before Jesus Christ to give an account of their life. Paul said in writing to Rome in chapter 14:10 "for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ". Later in verse 12 he said "so then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

In Amos 4:12 Israel was told to "prepare to meet thy God". God had done many things to try to get Israel to open their eyes and serve Him. None of these things seemed to have any effect upon them. They continued to do the things that pleased them, instead of the things that God had given them the authority to do. Israel had gone astray from God and would not return unto him.

How many people have gone astray from God today and will not return unto Him. Many things may have been done to try to get them to open their eyes and come to the Lord while there is still time. Many of these efforts have failed just like God's efforts toward turning Israel back to him.

One day the Lord will call upon us to leave this earth and then we must stand judgment before his Son (Heb. 9:27). We may not have a lot of warning before this day comes upon us. It could be very sudden without any warning. Or the Lord could return in the clouds to claim those who are his through obedience to his commands in the New Testament. Peter tells us that this too will come without any warning. (II Pet. 3:10, 11) Peter compares it with the coming of a thief in the night.

Either of these will put the person who is unprepared in a dangerous and horrifying position. Here they shall realize that they have spent their life and had opportunity after opportunity to obey the gospel and thus be prepared, and have failed to do so. Now they must stand before the very Son of God who loved them enough to give his life for them on the cross and tell him they did not have enough love and respect for Him to be obedient to the simple things he commanded in his word. Can you think of any more horrifying experience than that? Did you know that many people will be faced with that very thing? Many may even be like those discussed in Rev. 6:16 and cry for the mountains and rocks to fall on us to hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

What about you? Are you prepared to meet the Son of God who died for you? If your answer is no, or if there is some doubt in your mind, you had better do something about it today. May God help you to have the courage to do so! (Via The Somerset Sower, Vol. 8, Number 18, July 15, 1982) &

It’s a Serious Matter

By A. C. Grider

If a married man spent a night at home and then spent two else­where doing whatever he wanted to do, would you consider him a faithful father and husband?

If an employee worked at his job one day and then did not show up on the job for a couple of days, would he be considered a faithful worker by his boss?

If a student attended a class and then missed two of his next as­signments, would the teacher consider him faithful in his school work?

When you attend a service of the congregation, and then miss two services, when you could have been present, do you consider your­self faithful? Do you think Christ considers you faithful?

This is a serious matter for Christians to ponder for it has to do with saving the soul. The mother serves THREE meals and the child eats one and fails to put in an appearance for the others. The child is ungrateful. But what about eating ONE spiritual meal and missing two? It is serious! (Via The Somerset Sower, Vol. 8, Number 9, March 1, 1982) &