24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” 

Acts 10:24-29 (ESV) 中文

The meeting

“He’s here! He’s here! Everyone, get together. The teacher of the highest God, Peter, is coming up the street. Hurry, Quintos, go tell Master Cornelius. Talus, go get the meal ready! Tell everyone he’s here!” This may have been the scene at Peter’s arrival. Peter, whom Cornelius the Centurion of Caesarea had sent for after an angel visited him, was finally arriving from Joppa. He also had heard a message from God. His was through a vision that instructed him to seek God’s understanding of what is holy vs. unclean.

Wrong worship

Cornelius is so excited and honored that this great man – known even by God – was at his home. He meets him at the door and bows down before Peter as if he were a heavenly being. Peter immediately corrected his wrong worship saying he himself is also just a man. Peter could have capitalized on this and set up his own religion (as Paul had opportunity later in Acts) but flat-out rejected it, as Paul did.

Addressing the bias

As he enters the house, he finds it packed with Cornelius’ friends and relatives…all gentiles. And he knows for certain why God gave him the vision a few days prior. God was clarifying a new definition of unclean and holy – based not on the physical but the spiritual. Peter, as a leader of the early church, needed to have this understanding so he could take it back to the other leaders.

Prior to studying this passage, I had wondered, “Why didn’t Jesus directly save Cornelius and his household? Why did he use Peter?” This explains it.

RЯeflection

• Who do we have a bias against? Peter had a valid one – based on his culture and the law of God. I doubt ours has any justification. Consider the source of the bias and ask God to forgive you and to remove it.
• I wonder if any of us followers of Christ direct our worship to the wrong destination. Even good things can steal worship that is due only to the Lord. Spend some time thinking about what a mighty God we serve and worshiping him. Let worship of Him and delighting in Him and His word re-direct our heart of worship.