Thursday, August 14, 2025
“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).
What can we really learn from this Bible passage?
Acts 10:28 is Peter’s first words to all the Gentiles assembled with Cornelius: “…Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” In what sense is it “unlawful” (forbidden, illicit, prohibited; Greek translated “abominable” in 1 Peter 4:3) for Peter to be with these non-Jews?
Gentile salvation was not a secret in prophecy. God would save and bless Gentiles through Israel as per the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Redeemed national Israel would subsequently rise to kingdom glory, a kingdom of priests preaching God’s words to Gentiles (Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20). Peter knew the order in prophecy was Israel converted first, as in his original apostolic commission: “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, 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. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:5-7).
In early Acts, post-resurrection, Christ expands that commission: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). By the time of chapter 10 though, Jerusalem has not been fully converted, neither is Judaea (southern Israel) nor Samaria (northern Israel). Thus, Peter recognizes it is too early for him to go to Gentiles (“uttermost part of the earth”)… yet, strangely, there he was ministering to them (Cornelius and company) in Caesarea!
Peter is coming to greater awareness about a striking dispensational change that has already transpired….
333 Words of Grace 