The Transformation of Peter
Text: Acts 10
Core Idea: Nothing will stop the advance of the gospel because God is not done saving His people. For that reason, He’ll continue to transform us (our minds, hearts, and lives) so that the walls that divide people will be torn down. Then, let’s humbly allow the Spirit to work in us so that this life-giving truth can go out from us.
INTRODUCTION
Again, I want to welcome all of you, but especially our Tugboat and Anchor friends, as they will be joining us for the whole service today. Now, to help our children engage a little more, we’ll follow the curriculum that the Tugboat ministry is currently going through – so please open your Bibles to Acts 10. But before we read this, let me quickly give you the context so that we’ll better appreciate this story. Up until this point, the gospel has been confined to the Jewish communities despite what Jesus commanded His disciples in Acts 1:8 (just before He ascended into heaven), “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” – where the Gentiles (pagans) lived. Now, this was no accident – the Jewish Christians didn’t just forget to advance the gospel in Samaria. No, this most likely was intentional, considering there was great hostility between these two groups. Listen to how John Stott describes this tension: “It is difficult for us to grasp the impassable gulf which yawned in those days between the Jews on the one hand and the Gentiles on the other. Israel twisted the doctrine of election into one of favoritism, became filled with racial pride and hatred, despised the Gentiles as ‘dogs,’ and developed traditions that kept them apart. No orthodox Jew would ever enter the home of a Gentile, even a God-fearer. And no pious Jew would’ve sat down at the table of a Gentile. This, then, was the entrenched prejudice which had to be overcome before Gentiles would be admitted into the Christian community on equal terms with the Jews, and before the church could become truly a multi-racial, multi-cultural society.” No wonder these Jewish Christians were reluctant to share the gospel with the Gentiles. Then, we can’t help but ask, “How did God bridge this impassable gulf so that the gospel would advance to the Gentiles – to the ends of the earth?” Well, that’s what we’re about to find out. So, with that in mind, let me invite Grace up – and she will read the passage for us.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. 39 We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging Him on a cross, 40 but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Thank you, Grace, for reading the passage for us. And children, I hope the video helped you visualize and understand the story a little better. Now, at first glance, we may think that this story is about Cornelius and his conversion – signaling the mission to the Gentiles. Of course, that is true – that certainly happens. But as the story unfolds, you’ll realize that it actually focuses on the transformation of someone else – not Cornelius but Peter. Then, let me share three ways Peter was transformed:
· MIND
· HEART
· LIFE
1) MIND
Look at verse 9. Peter was praying on the rooftop – but he got distracted because he was hungry. All he could think about was food. So, Peter actually stopped praying and asked someone to prepare a meal for him. And while that was happening, he saw a vision of a large sheet coming down from heaven with all these animals on it – and a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat it.” But Peter responded, “Surely not, Lord!” Why? Because some of the animals on the sheet were ritualistically forbidden for the Jews to eat according to their dietary laws – which means that for Peter to eat these “unclean” animals wasn’t just about breaking rules but betraying his people and denying his national identity. No wonder Peter was so adamant. He was basically saying, “That’s not what my people do. My people don’t behave like that. We don’t eat that kind of thing. That’s disgusting. I will never be like them.” But the voice responded in verse 15, “Don’t call anything impure that God has made clean.” In fact, this happened three times before the vision ended.
What’s going on here? Peter was getting new information – or more precisely, he was seeing the old truth in a new way. It’s true that God gave these dietary laws to the Israelites in order to keep them holy and pure – to set them apart from their neighboring nations. But what they did was they took those laws and elevated them – twisting them in such a way that those laws didn’t merely distinguish them from other nations but became a basis for superiority. They used them as a reason to look down on the Gentiles – considering them unfit to be part of God’s Kingdom. The Jews believed that they were better than others because they were the chosen people – they thought God favored them over other nations. But listen to what Peter said in verse 34, after seeing how hungry Cornelius was for the gospel: “I now realize that God does not show favoritism.” The word “favoritism” in Greek literally means “lifting up the face.” And this phrase has its roots in an ancient idiom that refers to showing partiality or judging based on outward appearance – to treat someone differently because of their status, appearance, or social standing. So, to show favoritism was to give people special honor and attention based on surface-level things. Now, who is Peter? He was one of the Twelve disciples – someone who did life with Jesus for three years. He was the leader of the first church. He preached the first sermon in the history of Christianity – and God used that message to save thousands of people. More than that, he knew the OT inside out – he grew up memorizing and studying these passages. This is important to point out because the OT is filled with passages that say God doesn’t play favorites. Let me give you some examples. Deuteronomy 10:17, “The LORD your God is God of gods and LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” 2 Chronicles 19:7, “Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” Lastly, Proverbs 28:21, “To show partiality is not good.” I don’t think it can get any clearer than that. In fact, Jesus Himself made this very clear in Mark 7:18-19 – “‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.’ (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)” Peter knew this truth, but he didn’t really know it. He didn’t understand the full implications of this truth – as a result, it didn’t change who he ate with, who he did life with. Even though he knew God didn’t play favorites, he still did. His life was yet to be shaped by God’s truth. So, God took him on a journey so that he could change – and that journey began with his mind. Peter needed to understand the truth in a new way – and that’s exactly what happened. As Peter reflected on the vision, it must have dawned on him – “if these animals are clean, it must mean that the people who eat these animals must also be considered clean as well.” God was challenging what Peter knew – stretching his mind. And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect because while Peter was still pondering the meaning of this vision, three men from Cornelius arrived. The fact that this vision took place three times and that there were three Gentiles at his door was no accident. The message was clear: the people he had regarded as impure and unclean, and separated from his fellowship, are not to be viewed that way anymore. So, Peter went with them without hesitation.
The truth is that some of us are no different from Peter, in that we don’t really understand the implications of what we know – therefore, it hasn’t transformed our lives. So, for example, we know that all believers are one in Christ (Gal. 3:28), but we still carry prejudices or avoid fellowship with people of different races or cultures because of pride or fear in our hearts. We know that God shows no favoritism between the rich and poor (Jam. 2), but in practice, we pay closer attention to those who have more money, power, and influence. We know that all have sinned and are in need of God’s mercy (Rom. 3:23), but we still look down on those struggling with certain issues that don’t affect us personally (like addiction, mental illness, or past criminal behavior) and choose to keep them at arm’s length instead of offering grace and welcome. We know that we ought to love one another (Jn. 13:34), but we still pick and choose who we do life with – putting up walls against those who don’t share the same values, same lifestyle, same life stage, same political views, same worship styles, same culture, same economic status, same education background, and so on. We may know these truths, but it’s possible that we actually don’t know these truths – the full implications of these truths and how they ought to transform our lives. Then, this passage should keep us humble – we should never think that we’ve arrived, that we know everything we need to know, because it could be that we don’t really know the truth. Our understanding may be narrower than we think – which means that we may need a kind of transformation that Peter went through, a journey that would lead to the transformation of our minds. If Peter needed this, how much more would we need it? Then, here’s a practical way of doing this. When you read the Word, don’t skip it because you think you know it already – don’t skim it because you’re familiar with it. Instead, ask yourself, “Do I truly believe this? Do I know what this truth really means? Is this truth truly evident in my life today? How am I not being obedient to this truth? What kind of barriers must come down in order for me to live this out daily?” Wrestle with it until you begin to see how this truth can transform the way you think about yourself, others, or life – let your mind be transformed by the truth.
2) HEART
Look at verse 3. An angel comes to Cornelius to tell him that he needs to get Peter from Joppa so that he can hear what Peter has to say. Now, isn’t that a bit strange? Why couldn’t the angel just share the gospel directly with Cornelius? He was already there. It would’ve saved a lot more time. In fact, the angel would’ve done a much better job than Peter in explaining the gospel. Then, why go through the trouble? Or how about this? Why didn’t the angel just say to Cornelius, “Pack up your things and go to Peter yourself – he will tell you all about Jesus”? Why did Peter have to come to Cornelius? Because Peter had to personally experience what he knew in order to be transformed. Peter was beginning to understand what it meant for God to truly accept the Gentiles – now, he had to see it for himself to allow the truth to change him. Think with me. If Cornelius went to Peter, Peter could’ve had some kind of control over the situation – for example, he could’ve met outside the house, prepared the right meal, or offered another table for Cornelius to eat from. There were things that Peter could’ve done to avoid directly engaging with Cornelius. But by going to Cornelius, Peter had to make himself vulnerable. He had no control over anything. But even then, God had everything under control – and He was about to do something amazing.
Look at verse 27. Upon arriving at Cornelius’ house, Peter saw a large assembly of Gentiles waiting to hear the gospel – and it was at that moment his heart was changed. Listen to his words in verse 28, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.” He was basically saying, “I’ve never done this before. All of my life as a Jew, it’s been drilled in me that I should never walk into a house of Gentiles – let alone eat with them because we consider them unclean.” Verse 28, “But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean” – referring to the vision that changed the way of his thinking. And verse 34, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.” He was basically saying, “I get it now. It finally makes sense to me. I knew God doesn’t play favorites. But because God put me here, I can clearly see that this is true.” It wasn’t enough for God to challenge Peter’s mind – God wanted Peter’s heart to be moved to experience and embrace this truth for himself. And when Peter saw how desperate these Gentiles were for the gospel, when he saw their genuine hearts, when he saw the Holy Spirit come down on them, the walls in his heart began to crumble down. In other words, knowing was not enough – Peter had to experience the truth for himself to be transformed by it. And what used to be just an abstract principle has now become a life-changing reality because it has gone from his head down to his heart.
What does this mean for us? It means that God will, at times, put us in situations so that we can experience the truth of God and be shaped by it in our hearts. For example, in order to teach us the truth of Romans 8:28, which says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose,” God may put us in situations where we feel like everything is out of control. In order to teach us the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9, which says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness,” God may put us in situations where we feel weak and discouraged. In order to teach us the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight,” God may put us in situations where we feel lost and confused. In order to teach us the truth of Psalm 23:1, which says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing,” God may put us in situations where we feel incomplete, inadequate, and unfulfilled. And in order to teach us how to share the gospel, God may surround us with people who are suffering, lost, and broken, but without Christ. In order to teach us how to love sacrificially, God may surround us with difficult people – those who don’t deserve our love. All that to say, where you are and what you’re experiencing today may not be a coincidence – God may be using that situation and opportunity to make a particular truth come alive in your heart. Then, ask God to open your eyes and teach you so that you’ll also have a moment like Peter and say, “I now realize why God let me go through this situation or season.” It’s one thing to know the truth and its implications – but when you experience the power of the truth in life, it will change you.
3) LIFE
Look at verse 48. After Peter preached and baptized them, Peter could’ve gone home. But when Cornelius and his family asked Peter to stay with them for a few days, he did – we know this because Peter gets in trouble for this in Chapter 11. Again, this was unbelievably shocking, considering the tension that existed between the Jews and the Gentiles. Peter stayed and dined with them. Peter received hospitality from those he thought were unclean – people who could make him unclean. But that didn’t stop him from doing life with them, embracing them, and eating with them. If you haven’t noticed, this story is intertwined with food. Peter gets hungry during prayer. Peter’s vision is about eating these “unclean” animals. And it ends by implying that Peter ate and drank with Cornelius’ family. This was no coincidence. It was intentional because God is asking all of us through this story, “Who sits at your table?” Literally, who do you eat with after church, at work, on your free day? Are you always with the same people, or is your table growing in size? But more importantly, who sits at the table of your life? Who is doing life with you? Who is speaking into your life? Who is influencing your perspectives? Or how about this? Who is not allowed to do life with you?” Peter has taken his customs, and laws to put a barrier between others so that they wouldn’t be able to dine with him. What about you? What has been used to create a wall that prevents you from sharing the gospel and life – race, gender, personality, social status, or political views? Well, let me share just two passages that will hopefully break these divisive walls down. Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them.” Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Brothers and sisters, have you wrestled with this truth? Are you convicted by this truth? If so, we cannot, should not leave anyone out of our table.
But let’s be honest – we’re selfish. We don’t really want to be with people who make us feel awkward, who are different from us – we want to be with those we like, those who share our values. Then, how can anyone possibly do this when our natural tendency is to divide, discriminate, and judge according to superficial things? Listen to the message that Peter shares in verse 36, “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Verse 39, “They killed Him by hanging Him on a cross, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.” The first thing Jesus did after the resurrection wasn’t to blame His disciples for His death – “How could you betray Me? How could you run away when I was suffering all by Myself? How could you do this after all that I’ve done for you?” No, He dined with them. Do you see that? He didn’t reject them – He desired a deeper, more intimate relationship with them. He invited them to His table – and, brothers and sisters, that’s exactly what He’s doing with us right now. He’s inviting us to His table – to eat with us, to do life with us, even though we don’t deserve it. In a few moments, we’re going to take the Lord’s Supper together – and this is God is saying to us, “Come and sit at My table. You’re welcome here.” We who were despised and hell-bound are now loved and embraced as His children – enjoying this intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. Now, if this is what He has done for us, if His love for us is not just something we know but something we taste and experience every single day in all our life circumstances, how can we not be transformed to become a community that breaks down the walls that divide people? How can we not invite others to our tables and our lives? In fact, this is why we don’t practice the Lord’s Supper alone – no, we’re called to do it together. It’s a family meal. Acts 10 gives us a vision of this unusual, surprising, but beautiful community – and if we meditate on this, if we soak ourselves in this passage, if we let this truth transform our mind, heart, and lives, with God’s help, we can be this kind of community too. Then, let’s make ourselves vulnerable to love, serve, and faithfully proclaim the gospel so that this good news of peace can advance to the ends of the earth.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, nothing will stop the advance of the gospel because God is not done saving His people. And for that reason, He will continue to transform us (our minds, hearts, and lives) so that the walls that divide people will be torn down. Then, let’s humble ourselves and allow the Spirit to work in us so that this life-giving, life-transforming message will go out from us to the world.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Peter knew God didn’t show favoritism, yet he still acted with bias. In what ways might we also “know” biblical truths without letting them fully shape how we live? What is one biblical truth you feel God is challenging you to see with fresh eyes right now?
2) God orchestrated real-life experiences to move Peter’s heart, not just his mind. Can you share a time when God used a difficult or unexpected situation to make a truth come alive in your heart?
3) Peter didn’t just visit Cornelius – he stayed with him and ate with him. Who in your life might God be prompting you to invite to your “table” (literally or figuratively)? What is one practical step you can take this week to break down a barrier – whether it's reaching out to someone different, confessing a hidden prejudice, or building an unexpected friendship?