Explain the story of Peter and Cornelius in the book of Acts (35)

by kaston552 (student)

AS and A Level Religious Studies & Philosophy

Karen Aston 13a Explain the story of Peter and Cornelius in the book of Acts (35)

The story of Peter and Cornelius is the story of Gentiles being allowed in to the church and Peter’s conversion of his mind set. Peter was staying at the house of a tanner, a tanner is someone who processes animal hides into finished leather, this would have been ‘unclean’ to Peter according to kosher, and Peter was staying here as God was preparing his mind for what was to come, he was slowly coming around the idea of Gentiles being allowed in the church. Cornelius was a Roman centurion and a Gentile. He was a generous, righteous and God-fearing man, who prayed every day. One afternoon he had a vision in which a Holy angel told him to send men to bring Peter back to his home. So Cornelius sent two servants and a soldier to go and bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter to him.

The next day Peter was hungry and went the roof to pray when he fell into a trance. He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” Many of these animals would have been considered unclean according to Jewish kosher, they thought that it was against God to eat animals such as shellfish, pigs, reptiles and insects. The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. This dream is significant as it represents Gentiles, if God makes food clean, he can make the Gentiles clean too. It challenged the basic distinction between clean and unclean people and to stop making it. It happens three times so the message can truly sink into Peter.

Whilst Peter was pondering this the three men arrived to bring him to Cornelius. The Spirit said to Peter, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” The men told Peter that they had come from Cornelius and that a Holy angel told them to bring Peter back.

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The next day Peter went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along too. The following day he arrived in Caesarea, Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered the house Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence; Peter made him get up as he refused to accept such respect which should only be offered to God.

Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He firstly channelled why he was there and his unwillingness to go to the house of Gentiles. It is against Jewish law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile as they saw Gentiles as unclean. Peter then goes on to interprete his vision God was telling him not to call anyone impure or unclean. He asked why he was sent for. Cornelius then told Peter about the angel who told him to send for Peter. Then Cornelius encouraged Peter to tell them what the Lord has commanded Peter to say. Then Peter expresses his realisation that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Peter’s speech is different to his previous speeches as he is addressing a non-Jewish crowd. He therefore focus’ on the historical Jesus, his death, his resurrection and subsequent appearances, finally Peter declares that everyone, including Gentiles, who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins, this shows universalism. He doesn’t talk about old scripture or prophets as Gentiles would be unfamiliar with them. Whilst Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit came on all who heard his message, we know this as they started to speak in tongues and praising God. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, the thought that the messiah was sent for them and that they were God’s chosen people. This was seen as the Gentiles Pentecost as this was the first time the Holy Spirit had been received by Gentiles. Peter said “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.” He ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This shows that Peter has been converted into believing that God’s message should be for everyone who believes and is righteous, not just the Jews. The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went to Jerusalem, the circumcised men criticised him for breaking Jewish laws. Peter then tells everything that had happened to defend himself. He then challenged them by asking ‘who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?’ When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” The fact that the story is told twice is shows how Luke wants to emphasize that God had welcomed Gentiles into his family on equal terms with believing Jews.

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