As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. (26) But Peter lifted him up, saying “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” (34) Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. (35) But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, (45) “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke, historian, physician and frequent companion of the apostle Paul. The verses we study today deal with the conversion of the first Gentiles; the Lord had given the apostles the great commission to preach the gospel to all nations in all the known world and according to Acts, we realize years had gone by since the death and resurrection of Christ and this command had not been carried out. We do not read of any apostle going to the Gentiles until one of them (Cornelius), prompted by a vision, actually sent for Peter and asked him to come. Cornelius was a captain of a Roman cohort of 100 men of Israel’s occupying army. We are told he was a devout, God fearing man and a Gentile, stationed in Caesarea which was the Roman provincial capital of Israel – the Jews despised the Roman occupation.
At the same time God sent a vision to Peter breaking down his cultural and religious prejudices. In his vision Peter was shown that what God had cleansed was no longer unholy: that there is no longer any difference between Gentile and Jew and all men are equal in the eye of God. Peter was told to meet the men (even then) at the gate and go with them to Cornelius. We read that as Peter went in to Cornelius, this proud Gentile centurion of the Roman army bowed down at a Jewish man’s feet. I love Peters response as he raised Cornelius – that he (Peter) was also a man. Many were assembled to hear Peter who had not even finished his preaching the gospel when the second recorded gifts of fire and tongues occurred; God had set his seal on these Gentiles. Spiritual salvation had come to the Gentiles. Paul was the primary agent to the Gentiles but Luke makes it clear that Peter is now in full sympathy to this position.
Our verses today tell us of a turning point in God’s plan of salvation; salvation is not based on national identity nor based on good works. God took the initiative here in sending the gospel. Jesus Christ is Lord of ALL whether we acknowledge Him or not.