Acts 10

This is an important enough incident in the church that two chapters are given to it. This is the first time that a gentile has come into the church that had not become a Jew first. Hundreds of years of obedience to a doctrine is now ending and this is a strong witness that the Law of Moses is fulfilled and all previous commandments and revelations regarding this are no longer in effect. To me, this also shows that the church at certain times, according to God's plan, can change doctrine and practices.

Cornelius is a Roman officer in charge of 100 men. He is fasting and praying and at 3 pm, an angel appears to him and tells him to send men for Peter. At noon the next day, Peter, being the presiding authority of the church, has a vision that is repeated three times. In this vision, all of the animals that are considered unclean in the Law of Moses appear on a sheet. Some say this sheet could be a Jewish prayer shawl. A Jewish prayer shawl wrapped around unclean animals would make an even stronger impression on Peter .

Peter leaves Joppa with the men sent from Cornelius and they walk the 11 hours it takes to get to Caesaria. Ceasaria is the Roman capital in Judea and has temples of Roman gods there that were built by Herod the Great. This would have been an offensive place for Peter to enter. Cornelius gathers all of his people, the Holy Ghost testifies to them as Peter teaches and bears witness of Christ and they are all baptized. Undoubtedly, after being baptized they all receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

When the Holy Ghost fell on the gentiles, the Jewish converts were astonished. That would be the natural reaction for them at that time. The big lesson for them and now for us is that God is not a respecter of persons, but accepts all who are righteous. He hears the prayers of every person. He grants forgiveness to every person that repents. It tells me I should do the same. We should never consider a person of another race or religion to be inferior or lacking in any way.