David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 10:17-33

Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, ¹⁸ they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. ²⁰ Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

²¹ So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

²² They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” ²³ So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

²⁴ They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” ²⁷ So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

²⁸ Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. ²⁹ So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. ³¹ He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! ³² Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ ³³ So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” 

I’m pretty good at closing loops of conversation. Just ask my wife! Most often I’m correct when I intuitively figure out what someone is going to say, or what they mean. Except when I’m not. I can close the loop incorrectly, and think I understand before all has been explained when in fact the point is entirely different. It’s been called, going to MSU – Making Stuff Up!

In that manner I’m like Peter. He was the first to confess that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God. He was the first of the men to the tomb on Easter morning. He was among the first of the disciples Jesus called. In so many ways he got it. And in some ways he got it wrong. He rebuked Jesus (!) when Jesus said he was going to be crucified. He saw the threat to Jesus on the night of his arrest and cut off the ear of the slave Malcus. He also confidently said, “Though they all fall away from you, I will never fall away from you.” Ugh. When he was right he was very right. But when he was wrong…

That’s why it’s so remarkable to me that Peter goes to such lengths to determine just what is going on in this encounter with Cornelius. Why did you ask me here? What do you have to say? What do you want from me? He’s not jumping to any conclusions here. He’s probing carefully to discern what is happening and how he is to be part of it.

Is it because Jesus is gone now? He’s ascended to the right hand of God. He’s not right there in the flesh to guide, correct, encourage, or challenge Peter. Is it because he sees that the Gospel message is passing into new areas and peoples? That’s certainly going to happen. But is there maybe another reason?

There is one big difference between impulsive Peter before and careful, deliberate, and measured Peter we see here. Could it be the Holy Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience… (Galatians 5). There it is! Patience!

Ugh. I think I need a strong dose of the Holy Spirit and the gift of patience he gives. It’s not so much a matter of waiting for a future event for which I need patience. It’s a matter of being patient and deliberate in seeking to understand others – giving them a chance to speak and explain themselves.

I once was interviewed by an FBI agent regarding a man I knew who was to have a high level cabinet post in the George W. Bush administration. That agent didn’t jump to any conclusions. He asked insightful questions and never assumed he knew the conclusion until all the questions had been asked and answered. Peter is no FBI agent, but he will make certain he understands what Cornelius wants and discerns that the door is open for him to share the Good News of Jesus.

There’s no conclusion jumping here!