Peter at Cornelius’s House

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 with out 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 through out 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[b] 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.

Today’s text is about an encounter of two very different men, a Roman commander and a former fisherman. One was a conqueror and the other one was a conquered man. One was a gentile and the other one was a Jew. They were like oil and water. They were unlikely brothers in God’s kingdom. However, in today’s text they are brought together. And surprisingly in verse 25 the Roman commander knelt down before Peter the fisherman.

What was going on? It should have been the reverse. Clearly, Cornelius was a humble man who feared God. He prayed three times daily. And since, he considered Peter to be a man of God, he showed great respect to Peter. More than that, Cornelius practiced charity to the poor. He is a wonderful man socially, ethically, and spiritually. So why was it necessary for Cornelius to meet Peter? Why did God arrange the meeting between Peter and Cornelius? What can we learn from it?

First, Cornelius was a very religious man, but that was not enough to be in God’s kingdom. Cornelius’ religious practices of praying, practicing charity, and going to his synagogue was not enough. It is not by merits that one enters God’s kingdom.

He needed to hear the Gospel about Jesus who died on the cross and risen from the dead. Essentially, from 34-43, Peter shares the Good news of everyone’s peace with God through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and risen from the dead. And he concludes in verse 43, “That everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

We cannot make peace with God through good deeds. Cornelius could not make peace with God through his good religious and charity practices. It is through belief in the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. It is by grace. It is the gift of God to those who believe and accept what Jesus has done.

In our time, there are too many people who thinks that they are Christians when they do not believe that they have peace with God by what Jesus has done, and not by what they have done. It is completely by grace. We become citizens of God’s kingdom through the works of Jesus Christ. It is not earned by our behaviors. Of course, God’s people must live lives worthy of Jesus’ saving grace and love. We need to love our neighbors like God loves us. We need to use God given talents to bless one another.

Cornelius was a God fearing, prayerful, charitable man, but he needed to know and believe in the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ and be baptized into new life in relationship with God. This was done through baptism. In verse 48, Peter ordered that they be baptized.

Dr. Kye is an anesthesiologist, who lived in America over 40 years, pays taxes, and goes to third world countries for about three weeks every year to provide free medical care in mission trips. I highly respect him. He is a good man. However, he cannot vote in America. He does not have that privilege, because he is not a US citizen. He is good man, pays taxes, but he does not have a U.S. citizenship. Cornelius was a good man, but he could not be the citizen of God’s kingdom until he accepted the Good News, accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior.

God does not show favoritism in that his gift of salvation into God’s kingdom is not based on who we are and not on what we have accomplished. God’s gift of salvation is completely based on who and what Jesus Christ has done.

Second, Cornelius and Peter needed to come together to mark the official proclamation that God does not show favoritism between Jews and gentiles. In verses 34-35, Peter says, “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.” We learn from John’s gospel 3:16 that God does not show favoritism. It says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loves the world. Not just Africa, Israel, Asia, Europe, or America.

Now, how many of you like to be the favorite child, student, friend, pastor, or the favorite employee, or church member? We all probably wants to be the favorite at times. It’s because we all know how good it feels to be the favorite, but also how terrible it is to feel not to be the favorite one.

Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel.”

Fortunately, as we mature we are okay with not being the number one or being the favorite.

Then, on the other hand, we have favorites, favorite friends, teachers, pastors, and etc. In our world we have rankings, comparison charts, competitions, and so on. It is almost impossible to avoid being evaluated in terms of being favored versus not favored. We know that favoritisms can destroy families and communities. In the Bible, we have a story of Esau and Jacob. Rebecca’s favoritism over her son Jacob over Esau almost led to Jacob’s death. Jacob had to flee from his home. Jacob favored Joseph and what happened to Joseph? He was sold off by his own brothers as a slave to Egyptian merchant. Favoritism can bring conflicts. Nations favoring one ethic group over others or a religion over others can cause fatal consequences. It is a dangerous thing. It happens in churches. In the book of Acts chapter 6, Hellenistic Jews felt that church charity favored Jewish widows over Hellenistic Jewish widows. So favoritism happens in churches. The disciple James also wrote about favoritism in the churches in his day, favoring rich people over poor people.

However, in God’s kingdom, God does not show favoritism. God loves everyone. It does not matter whether you have one talent, two talents, or five talents. They are valued and loved equally and fairly. Praise God! This is God’s grace.

Cornelius need to hear the Good News and baptized into committed relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be thankful that we have peace with God and have relationship with God who does not show favoritism. Let us also love others equally and fairly and share the Good news.