Level 1
A Vision for All People
(Believers)
In Joppa, Peter climbed to a rooftop to pray, hungry and waiting for lunch. As he prayed, a vision unfolded: a sheet from heaven, filled with animals, and a voice saying, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter protested, “I’ve never eaten anything impure!” But the voice replied, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Three times, the vision came, shaking Peter’s understanding. Then, Cornelius’s men arrived, sent by a God-fearing Gentile. The Holy Spirit’s Role was clear, urging Peter to go without hesitation. This was The Great Commission at work—God calling His people to share His love with everyone, no exceptions. Like Peter, you can embrace The Great Commission. Step past your comfort zone—talk to someone different, share God’s love, or pray for openness. God’s heart is big; your small step can change a life.
Peter's Transformative Vision & Divine Imperative
(Scholars / Pastors)
The passage of Acts 10:9-23 details a pivotal divine encounter designed to dismantle Peter's deep-seated Jewish prejudices, directly preparing him for the universal scope of The Great Commission. While Peter was on the rooftop of Simon the tanner's house in Joppa, a coastal city, he experienced a profound trance during which he became very hungry and saw a vision. A large sheet, filled with all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds of the air—including those considered ritually unclean under Mosaic Law—descended from heaven. A voice commanded Peter, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" (Acts 10:13). Peter, staunchly adhering to Jewish dietary laws, refused three times, declaring he had never eaten anything unholy or unclean. Each time, the voice countered, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." (Acts 10:15). Immediately after the vision, while Peter pondered its meaning, The Holy Spirit's Role was explicitly revealed: He instructed Peter that three men were seeking him and that he should go with them without hesitation, for He had sent them. This miraculous synchronicity ensured Peter's obedience, leading him to welcome Cornelius's Gentile messengers, setting the stage for the Gospel to break through deeply ingrained cultural and religious barriers.
Level 2
Stepping Into God’s Mission
(Believers)
Cornelius was a man of Faith and Duty, a Roman centurion in Caesarea who led with strength but loved with humility. Though a Gentile, he prayed constantly and gave generously, his heart turned toward God. One afternoon, as he prayed, an angel broke through, radiant and clear: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Send to Joppa for Simon Peter, who is staying with Simon the tanner”. Cornelius didn’t question or delay. He called two servants and a devout soldier, shared the vision, and sent them to find Peter. This act of Obedience was a pivotal step in The Great Commission, Jesus’s call to “go and make disciples of all nations”.
Cornelius’s story shows how The Great Commission begins with a willing heart. He didn’t know Peter or the full plan, yet he trusted God. His Faith wasn’t perfect, but it was real, and God used it to bridge Jews and Gentiles, showing that His love crosses every divide. The Great Commission isn’t just for apostles—it’s for us all. Cornelius wasn’t a preacher, but his Obedience set the stage for the gospel to reach the nations. Think about your own life. You have influence—friends, family, coworkers. God’s calling you to share His love right where you are.
Humility marked Cornelius’s response. As a centurion, he could’ve dismissed the angel’s message, but he listened. This challenges us to stay open to God’s nudges, even when they surprise us. Maybe it’s a coworker who asks about your faith or a neighbor who needs hope. The Great Commission doesn’t require grand gestures; it starts with small acts of Faith. Cornelius’s prayers and generosity prepared him for this moment. Are you praying for opportunities? Are you ready to act when God speaks?
Here’s what you can do today: Pray with Faith, asking God to show you someone who needs His love. Share a kind word, offer help, or tell someone what God’s done for you. Cornelius’s simple act of sending for Peter changed history. Your small steps can too. The Great Commission is alive in you—embrace it with Obedience and watch God work.
The Divine Overturning of Ritual Boundaries
(Scholars / Pastors)
Acts 10:9-23 presents the direct divine intervention necessary to overcome deeply entrenched Jewish ceremonial laws and prejudices, thereby propelling Peter and the early church towards the full realization of The Great Commission among the Gentiles. While staying in Joppa at the house of Simon, a tanner (an occupation considered ritually unclean for a devout Jew), Peter went up to the rooftop to pray around the sixth hour (noon). This time, often associated with a meal, likely exacerbated Peter's hunger, but also prepared him for the reception of a spiritual vision while his physical appetite was heightened.
During a trance (ἔκστασις, ekstasis), Peter saw the heavens opened and a large sheet descending, holding "all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air" (Acts 10:12). Crucially, this collection explicitly included animals considered unclean under Mosaic dietary laws (Leviticus 11). A divine voice commanded Peter, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" (Acts 10:13). Peter's immediate and emphatic refusal—"By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy or unclean!" (Acts 10:14)—highlights the depth of his adherence to Jewish purity regulations and the profound shock this command presented to his worldview. This refusal, reiterated three times, underscores the stubbornness of his ingrained cultural and religious norms, and the radical nature of the divine teaching. Each refusal was met with the authoritative retort: "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." (Acts 10:15). The repetition emphasizes the divine insistence and the fundamental shift in understanding God's will regarding purity. The sheet was then immediately taken back into heaven, leaving Peter profoundly perplexed by the meaning of this vision.
While Peter was still deeply pondering the vision's significance, The Holy Spirit’s Role became explicitly manifest. The Spirit directly addressed Peter, instructing him that "three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself" (Acts 10:19-20). This immediate and direct divine word clarified the vision's spiritual, rather than merely dietary, meaning. The synchronicity of Cornelius's men arriving at Simon's house just as Peter concluded his vision is a powerful testament to God's meticulous orchestration of events. Peter then went down, confirmed the men's purpose, and welcomed them, inviting them to lodge with him for the night—an act that itself would have violated Jewish purity norms for uncircumcised Gentiles. The next day, Peter, accompanied by some brethren from Joppa (who would serve as vital witnesses), departed for Caesarea. This entire sequence demonstrates how God used a profound personal revelation, guided by The Holy Spirit's Role, to break down Peter's internal barriers, preparing him to engage with the Gentiles and thus fundamentally advancing The Great Commission beyond its Jewish confines, a crucial step for Connecting Acts to the Rest of the New Testament in the move toward a universal church.
Level 3
Living Out the Mission
(Believers)
In the vibrant port city of Caesarea, Cornelius stood as a man of Authority and Faith, a Roman centurion whose life defied expectations. Leading the Italian Cohort, he was a figure of power, yet his heart was drawn to God. Though a Gentile, he prayed daily, gave generously to the poor, and lived with Reverence that set him apart in a divided world. Around three in the afternoon, as he knelt in prayer, the ordinary gave way to the divine. An angel appeared, blazing with glory, and spoke: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back Simon, who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea”. Without hesitation, Cornelius summoned two trusted servants and a devout soldier, shared the vision, and sent them on a mission to find Peter. This act of Obedience was a spark that ignited The Great Commission, Jesus’s call to “go and make disciples of all nations”.
Cornelius’s story is a turning point in The Great Commission. Until this moment, the early church primarily shared the gospel with Jews. But God chose Cornelius, a Gentile, to show that His love transcends every boundary—cultural, religious, and social. His Faith and Generosity made him a vessel for God’s plan to reach the nations. This wasn’t just a personal encounter; it was a divine appointment that would reshape the church’s mission. Cornelius’s Obedience—sending for Peter without knowing the outcome—set the stage for the gospel to break into the Gentile world, fulfilling Jesus’s command to reach “all nations”.
Let’s step into Cornelius’s world. He was a man of Duty, leading soldiers with discipline, yet his heart was soft, marked by Humility. As a Gentile, he was an outsider in a Jewish land, yet he sought God with sincerity. His Faith wasn’t rooted in deep theological knowledge but in a genuine hunger for God. When the angel spoke, he didn’t demand details or cling to his status. He acted with Trust, sending his men on a journey that would bridge two worlds. This challenges us to rethink who God uses for The Great Commission. It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers; it’s about being available. Cornelius shows us that The Great Commission is for everyone—soldiers, teachers, parents, students—anyone with a heart open to God.
Now, let’s make this personal. The Great Commission isn’t a distant command; it’s a call to action in your everyday life. Cornelius’s story reminds us that God is already at work in people’s hearts, just as He was in Cornelius’s. Who are the “Gentiles” in your world? Maybe it’s a friend who’s never been to church, a coworker from a different culture, or a neighbor who feels far from God. The Great Commission invites you to meet them where they are, sharing God’s love through your words and actions. Cornelius didn’t preach; he obeyed. You don’t need a pulpit to make a difference—just a willing heart.
Humility is key to living out The Great Commission. Cornelius could’ve dismissed the angel’s message as beneath his rank, but he embraced it. Are we open to God’s nudges, even when they push us out of our comfort zones? Maybe you feel unqualified to share your faith, but Cornelius wasn’t a scholar—he was a seeker. His Prayers and Generosity prepared him for God’s call. Are you cultivating a life of Faith? Prayer aligns your heart with God’s mission. Generosity opens your eyes to others’ needs, making you ready to act when God speaks.
Let’s get practical. The Great Commission starts where you stand. Like Cornelius, you can take small steps that ripple outward. Begin with Prayer: ask God to show you someone who needs His love. It might be a family member, a stranger at the store, or someone you’ve overlooked. Share your story—what has God done in your life? It doesn’t need to be polished. A simple conversation, a kind gesture, or an invitation to church can plant a seed. Cornelius’s act of sending for Peter was small but world-changing. Your actions can be too.
Consider the power of Community in The Great Commission. Cornelius didn’t act alone; he involved his servants and soldier, who shared his Faith. Who’s on your team? Maybe it’s your church, a small group, or a friend who prays with you. Lean on them, share your heart, and work together to spread God’s love. Prayer is your foundation—Cornelius’s prayers moved God’s heart, and yours can too. Pray for courage, for opportunities, for the people God’s placed in your life.
The ripple effect of Cornelius’s Obedience is staggering. His simple act led to a meeting that broke down barriers, bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. Your steps of Faith can have a similar impact. Maybe your kindness inspires someone to seek God. Maybe your story gives a friend hope. The Great Commission isn’t about instant results; it’s about trusting God with the outcome. Every conversation, every act of love, is a seed God can grow.
So, what’s your next step? Embrace The Great Commission with Courage. Pray for someone specific today—ask God how to reach them. Share a meal, listen to their story, or tell them what Jesus means to you. If you feel stuck, start small: smile at a stranger, help a neighbor, or pray for boldness. Cornelius didn’t know the full plan, but he trusted God. You can too. Who’s your “Peter”? Who’s God calling you to reach? Step out in Faith, live with Humility, and let The Great Commission unfold through you.
Peter's Epistemological and Ritual Revolution:
A Paradigm Shift for the Great Commission
(Scholars / Pastors)
Acts 10:9-23 intricately details a pivotal revelatory experience for Peter, meticulously orchestrated by God to dismantle his deeply ingrained Jewish prejudices and prepare him for the groundbreaking expansion of The Great Commission to the Gentiles. This pericope, interwoven with Cornelius's vision (Acts 10:1-8), underscores God's sovereign initiative, The Holy Spirit's Role in overcoming human resistance, and the theological paradigm shift necessary for the Gospel's universal reach.
I. The Vision's Setting: Joppa and the Hour of Prayer (Acts 10:9-12)
The narrative unfolds in Joppa, a diverse coastal city that served as a significant port and a symbolic gateway to the wider Gentile world. This setting contrasts sharply with Jerusalem, hinting at the imminent breaking of boundaries.
A. Time and Place of Revelation: "On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour." (Acts 10:9). The "next day" directly links this vision to Cornelius's dispatch of messengers. The "sixth hour" (noon) was a customary time for Jewish prayer, reinforcing Peter's devout adherence to Jewish spiritual disciplines. The housetop provided solitude and a vantage point, an apt physical space for a spiritual encounter that would broaden his horizons. His hunger, "he got hungry and was desiring to eat" (Acts 10:10), is a natural human state that becomes intertwined with the divine message, making the vision highly relatable and personal.
B. The Trance and the Descending Sheet: Peter falls into an "ekstasis" (ἔκστασις), a divinely induced trance or ecstatic state, signifying a direct, supernatural communication from God. He sees "heaven opened up and an object like a great sheet descending, lowered by four corners to the ground, and on it there were all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air." The "great sheet" (skypodē megala) is symbolically inclusive, representing the entire non-human creation. The "four corners" suggest universality, encompassing all directions and perhaps all peoples. The presence of both clean (kosher) and "unclean" (non-kosher) animals (according to Mosaic dietary laws in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14) immediately establishes the central conflict of the vision: the challenge to Jewish purity regulations and ethnic distinctions.
II. The Divine Command and Peter's Defiance (Acts 10:13-16)
The core message of the vision directly confronts Peter's deeply ingrained religious identity and practice.
A. The Command to "Kill and Eat!": "A voice came to him: 'Get up, Peter, kill and eat!'" (Acts 10:13). This imperative directly challenges Peter's lifelong adherence to Mosaic dietary laws. The voice's authoritative tone demands immediate obedience.
B. Peter's Emphatic Refusal: "But Peter said, 'By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy or unclean.'" (Acts 10:14). Peter's response—"By no means, Lord" (Mēdamōs, Kyrie)—is a vehement refusal, rooted in his sincere piety and his faithful observance of the Torah. This highlights the magnitude of the Christianity Accepted and Opposed from within; his deeply held religious convictions unintentionally resist God's new, inclusive revelation. Peter's loyalty to the Law, while commendable in itself, here acts as a barrier to God's progressive redemptive plan.
C. The Revolutionary Principle Reiterated: The voice speaks a second and third time, each time reinforcing the revolutionary theological principle: "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." (Acts 10:15). The repetition underscores the gravity and divine authority of this declaration. This statement fundamentally redefines purity, shifting its source from Mosaic ceremonial law to God's sovereign pronouncement. It implies that God Himself has now declared certain things (and by extension, certain people) "clean" in a way that transcends previous distinctions. This is the divine lesson in Teaching About Jesus and the Gospel that Peter needs to grasp before engaging with Gentiles. The sheet is then immediately taken up to heaven, signifying the conclusion of the revelatory experience.
III. Peter's Perplexity and the Spirit's Direct Guidance (Acts 10:17-21)
Peter's struggle to understand the vision is quickly resolved by the timely arrival of Cornelius's men and the explicit intervention of The Holy Spirit's Role.
A. Peter's Deep Perplexity: "Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what this vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate." (Acts 10:17). Peter's "great perplexity" (diaporōn) reveals his genuine struggle to reconcile God's command with his understanding of the Law. This intellectual and spiritual wrestling is a crucial part of his transformation, making his subsequent obedience more profound. The simultaneous arrival of Cornelius's men, just as Peter is pondering, underscores the meticulous divine orchestration of events.
B. The Spirit's Explicit Intervention: The Holy Spirit's Role cuts through Peter's mental confusion with direct, unambiguous instruction: "The Spirit said to him, 'Behold, three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.'" (Acts 10:19-20). The phrase "without misgivings" (mēden diakrinomenos) is crucial. It means "without hesitation, without doubting, without making distinctions." This direct command from The Holy Spirit's Role overrides Peter's internal doubts and deeply ingrained Jewish prejudices, compelling him to act in faith and obedience beyond his cultural comfort zone. It confirms that this mission to Gentiles is directly from God.
IV. Obedient Departure: A Step Towards Universal Mission (Acts 10:21-23)
Peter's immediate and unreserved obedience to the Spirit's command signifies his readiness to engage in The Great Commission's expansion.
A. Confirmation of the Mission: Peter goes downstairs and speaks with the men, who explain Cornelius's angelic vision and his divine instruction to send for Peter: "He was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you." (Acts 10:22). This mutual corroboration of visions (Cornelius's and Peter's) leaves no doubt about the divine authenticity of the mission, strengthening Peter's resolve.
B. Breaking Barriers in Hospitality: Peter then invites the Gentile messengers in to lodge for the night. This seemingly simple act is profoundly significant. It is a direct transgression of the very Jewish purity customs Peter had just struggled with in his vision, demonstrating his immediate obedience to the vision's implied message of Gentile inclusion. This act of hospitality marks his tangible acceptance of the Gentiles' cleanness in God's eyes.
C. Preparation for Broader Witness: "On the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him." (Acts 10:23). The inclusion of these Jewish witnesses from Joppa is strategically important for Connecting Acts to the Rest of the NT. They will serve as eyewitnesses and corroborators for Peter's actions, providing crucial testimony to the skeptical Jerusalem church when Peter later reports on these events in Acts 11. This proactive gathering of witnesses ensures that the momentous shift to Gentile inclusion is verified by multiple Jewish believers, lending credibility to this revolutionary step in The Great Commission.
Acts 10:9-23 is therefore a masterclass in divine preparation and overcoming prejudice. It reveals a God who actively orchestrates encounters, patiently re-educates His chosen instruments, and directly intervenes through The Holy Spirit's Role to dismantle human-made barriers. Peter's vision, his subsequent obedience, and the confirmation by the Spirit's direct word fundamentally prepare him to preach Teaching About Jesus and the Gospel to those previously considered "unclean," thereby setting the stage for the definitive Gentile breakthrough and irrevocably propelling The Great Commission towards its universal fulfillment, as promised in Prophecy Fulfillment (e.g., God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3).
