Crossing Cultural Barriers

May 21 2006

Acts 10:34-49 (+)

This chapter in Acts is a fascinating story about two very different men from very different cultures, and about how the love of God brought them together with life changing results for both of them.

Two Very Different Men

Cornelius was a Roman, and a soldier. He was wealthy and powerful, the commander of occupying soldiers in a land that was foreign to him. He was a Gentile, and certainly did not observe the many ritual observances of the Jews. But Cornelius was a sincere seeker after God, and a seeker after God's truth. He was a man who cared about people, and who prayed to God for light to find the way (10:2).

Peter was the acknowledged leader of the followers of Jesus. He was a great Christian- even though the actual word "Christian" had not yet been coined. People actually sought Peter's shadow as he passed so they could be healed. He had been imprisoned more than once by the Jewish authorities, but an angel had released him from Jerusalem's inner prison.

Peter was a strictly observant Jew, and had strictly kept all the rituals of his ancient faith all his life. He found no problem at all simply bringing his Jewish disciplines into his genuine faith in Jesus Christ. In fact he probably saw the new faith as an extension or continuation of his devout upbringing. And at the time of this story there had been no Gentile converts to Jesus. Jesus had told the disciples that his message was for the whole world (see Luke 24:46 and Matthew 28: 18-20.) But it was not easy for strictly observant Jews to reach outside their comfort zone. They were not sure but that Gentiles might have to become Jews before they could be good Christians. It would take clear and vivid directions from God to help cross the cultural barriers. God would have to work on both sides to build a bridge of communication.

Maybe when we read this passage the broad reach of God's love slips past us. Maybe we are sometimes so occupied with our own brand of Christian tradition that we miss the difference between acceptance and approval of the life styles of others who may be sincerely seeking after God. Sometimes it takes a breakthrough vision to see how to connect with people who seem very different from us. That is what happened in this story: not one vision, but two!

Two Visions from God

The first vision came to the Gentile Cornelius. (10: 3 - 6) As Cornelius was praying an angel appeared to him. It was a vision, but it was a direct answer to Cornelius' seeking. My "take" of the conversation is something like this:

Angel: Cornelius!

Cornelius: (understandably terrified) What do you want?

Angel: God knows you are seeking Him. God loves you a lot. Here's what you have to do: Send to Joppa. On the waterfront there is a tanner named Simon. Another man, Simon Peter, is staying at his house. Peter will come and tell you the next step.

The angel vanished. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and within the hour Cornelius had sent off two trustworthy servants and a Roman soldier whom he also trusted. They set out to go thirty miles to the south to look for this house by the sea and a man called Peter. They would arrive at their destination by early the next afternoon.

The second vision came to Peter. It was about noon the day after Cornelius had had his conversation with the angel. Actually, Peter was on the roof patio of the tanner's house, praying. Maybe he was praying for lunch, because the scripture tells us he was very hungry (10:10). While he was waiting for the call to dinner he drifted into a trance-like state. In a vision Peter saw a huge sheet held by its four corners like a big seine purse. In the net were all kinds of animals, kosher and non-kosher- pork chops, lobsters, ham sandwiches- a Jewish nightmare! The accompanying word from heaven was downright puzzling.

Peter heard, "Get up, Peter. You're hungry! So have a ham sandwich!"

But Peter immediately responded. In his dream he knew this was the Lord speaking. But Peter also remembered his strict upbringing. In all his life Peter had never tasted food that was not on the approved list.

"Lord, I will not! I have never had a non-kosher meal in all my life!"

But in his vision the word from God came back, "What I call clean is not for you to call unclean!" This happened three times.

This is the point where the two visions connect. Just as the sheet was disappearing from view in his vision there was a commotion at the front gate of the tanner's house. Exactly at that time the Holy Spirit said to Peter, "There are three Gentiles downstairs looking for you. Not to worry, I have sent them. Go with them."

And so three Gentiles came into an observant Jewish home and had a strictly kosher meal and rested the rest of the day, and spent the night together with Peter and Simon's family. That was a miracle in itself. Then the first thing next morning a group of strict kosher Jewish Christians and Gentile members of a Roman occupation officer's household started out on a day-and-a-half journey together. That had to be a first!

The next day, the fourth day since Cornelius first had his vision, the little group reached Caesarea. They had made the thirty miles in good time.

And that is where our scripture lesson for this lesson actually begins.

Two Prayers Being Answered

The story began with two very different people praying. The Bible does not give the content of their prayers. Maybe they were something like this: "Lord, I am a seeker after You. Show me how to draw nearer." And,"Lord, I am an 'old' believer. Show me how to tell others how much You love them." These are two prayers that God will always answer. Period.

God heard both prayers. God was working with willing hearts, and the results were spectacular.

Cornelius was ecstatic when the group from Joppa showed up. He was willing to almost worship Peter, but Peter stopped that. Peter had begun to learn a lesson that maybe he had to learn again and again. (See Galatians 2: 11 - 14) God had shown him, Peter said, that he should never, ever count anyone out as not being precious to God. God cares for everyone. That is a great lesson for every one of us to learn.

Then Peter began to preach. He told the household of Cornelius about Jesus and his grace and mercy. He told them of his atoning death on Calvary. He told them how Jesus carried our sins away. "Whoever believes in Jesus", Peter said, "will receive remission of sins." (10:43)

As Peter spoke the same manifestations of the Holy Spirit's power came on the household of Cornelius that had appeared on the Day of Pentecost (in Acts 2). It was as though God was making it plain that here was a Gentile Pentecost, even like the first time the Holy Spirit was poured out with power at the birth of the church at Jerusalem.

Two Lives Changed

Cornelius, Gentile and Romans citizen, became a baptized believer in Jesus Christ that very day. He became a Christian. Cornelius never did become a Jew. He never did embrace kosher ways, so far as we know. The powerful officer of the greatest government in world history bowed before a Jewish carpenter who had never been more than ninety miles from where he was born, and yet who was and is the Son of God come down from heaven.

Peter remained a Jewish Christian. He was more comfortable that way. The disciplines reminded him of all the promises of the Bible he knew. But from that moment in Cornelius' house a new day had begun in the church. The big fisherman got a new insight into just how much God loves all people, and not just those who know all the rules.

A wall had come down. God had been working on both ends of a relationship, the seeker and the speaker. He still does. That day old and new praised God together because of His great love.

The Jews stayed on in the house of Cornelius for a few days, and felt right at home.