1. GIBC (16 Nov 2025). 2.
1. Intro: 2 Visions
The Only Name, Part III: The Case of Cornelius — Conciliar Post
1.1 The angel and Cornelius
1.2. Peter’s vision on the rooftop while at prayer
1.3. Cornelius: We have a story of 2 visions or divine visitation at about the same time in Acts 10. The 1st is to a Roman centurion. What is unusual about this centurion is that although he had great power over the local people, he did not abuse that power but instead chose to adopt their belief in God; he prayed continually to God; and gave generously to the people. This takes place in Caesaria. He gets visited by an angel and what is noteworthy is what the angel says to him namely, that his prayers have been heard. The exact words used by the angel are: “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). These words are so important to us because they tell us that our prayers are important and while we may not see or be aware of the spiritual world, it is real and God, who we pray to, receives our prayers and it comes to him as a memorial. Our prayers are taken seriously and mean something by Yahweh. He also looks at our hearts when we give. But, the angel wants him to seek out Peter who’s at the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa.
Read: Acts 10: 19-23, 28-35, 44-48
2. The Breaking Down of Barriers: a historical event!
2.1. It is Time for the Gentiles: So, what we have are 2 divinely- inspired visions signalling the end of a phase of history and with that, the end of prejudice and practices that discriminate against people. Here, God is going to use Cornelius to break down the barrier of exclusion and extend salvation to the Gentiles.
2.2. The 2nd Vision: Lifting Dietary Restrictions: Similarly, its time for a breaking of conventions and practices that were part of Jewish life. It was time for the Jews to be released from the strict set of dietary restrictions that are specified in Leviticus. This paves the way for the Jews to have table fellowship with Gentiles as well as for them to see the Gentiles were no longer deemed to be unclean and here we see Peter welcoming the 3 men that were sent by Cornelius, into the home he was staying at. This is quite unusual and unconventional. The house belonged to a tanner - a job that people had no respect for. He handled the skins of animals. What is happening there in Acts 10 is the coming of the kingdom of God. When God’s kingdom comes, change happens. Gentiles and Jews begin to have fellowship: Paul would later write,
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28)
Kingdom of God people don’t discriminate because of race or occupation or social standing. That’s’ what the world does. It treats people according to race, job, social standing and money. What makes us kingdom people is we love people because they are created in the image of God and so we break down the barriers.
2.3. The Gentiles Hear the Good News: Poor Peter now has to get used to this fundamental change and narrates the story to Cornelius of how Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and went about bringing healing all those who were oppressed by the devil. For this, Jesus was put to death by hanging but he was raised on the third day he rose again. Here, Peter’s words are important. One day, Jesus will be the judge of all humanity, he will judge all those who had died and those who will still be alive. But the simple thing is all those who believe in Jesus and accept that his death brings atonement will be forgiven. It’s as simple as that. No 101 steps to salvation. Just believe in Jesus as the Son of God whose blood bought forgiveness from sins. It satisfies the need for justice just as the blood of animals used to bring forgiveness.
3. The Holy Spirit Falls
3.1. The Holy Spirit Falls on the People: what we see in 10:44 is a demonstration of Holy Spirit power. The word used is “fall.” This is defined in 11:15 onwards by Peter ****who recalls the words “John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When there is this phenom called the baptism of the Spirit, there is an effect on the people. They are not the same. It means God comes among his people with power! Here in 10:46, we see the people speaking in tongues and praising God. That means that in God’s presence, they experienced great joy and assurance so much so that they felt the need to praise! Something happened that made them forget their inhibitions and they spontaneously praised God. The word baptism means drenching, immerse. Spiritually, it also means wash and cleanse, and signifies a moving from the old and an acceptance of the new order of things. There is an additional benefit that comes from the baptism of the Spirit.
3.2. “Clothed with Power from on high” (Lk 24:49): Luke will repeat this in Acts 1:8 when he writes: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What this all means is that in Acts 10, we see barriers in the form of cultural practices that used to keep people apart are now being broken because Jesus brings to the people, the principle of the Kingdom of God and this in-breaking tears down the barriers. This breaking of barriers is a spiritual dynamic and the Spirit also empowers the people for the task of witnessing for Christ. WE must bear in mind very carefully, that power comes the work of the Spirit. The Spirit is a gentle but powerful Spirit, a loving Spirit.
3.3. Baptism in the Spirit and with Water: Jesus got baptized by water as well as baptized by the Spirt ****at the River Jordan. In fact, John the B hesitated to baptize him but Jesus puts him at ease and says “it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness” (Mt 3:15). That means Jesus was obedient. The discipline of obedience is something that Jesus practiced and was faithful until death. Obedience means we do it whether we like it or not. I invite you to place your trust in Jesus and accept him as your Lord and savior, and he will baptize you to fulfil all righteousness!