The Book of Acts ~ Study Thirty-Eight

"Reconciliation"


Acts 10:23b-33 (NLT) 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.
   They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
   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. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
   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. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 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.’ 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.”


Cornelius stood in awe of Peter. He knelt before him in fact. Peter quickly corrected him and told him that he was a human being just like him. Peter didn't want to be worshiped and rightly so. Wanting recognition and honor is wanting what belongs to Jesus. Giving honor to others above Jesus is giving the honor that belongs to Jesus to.


Giving the honor that belongs to God to someone or something else is idolatry. What does God say about idolatry? 


Exodus 20:4 (NLT) You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.


Deuteronomy 4:15-18 (NLT) But be very careful! You did not see the Lord’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai. So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman, an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky, a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea.


Exodus 34:14 (NLT) You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.


Idolatry isn't just bowing to something that we carved out of stone or wood. It is worshiping something that we've created in our minds to be more precious than God. It's hard to recognize sometimes because we don't really think that what we are so enthralled with is blurring our vision of God. Somethings that we think are important obscures our vision and focus. Our focus should always be on Jesus first. What is important to Him should be important to us.


Peter knew that he wasn't to be worshiped but he also knew that as a Jew it was wrong to be in a home of a Gentile. They were considered "unclean" and were not to be associated with. But, because of the vision that Cornelius had and knowing it was Jesus Himself who had spoken to him, Peter knew that associating with Gentiles was no longer an issue. In fact, Jesus was calling him to reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles. 


Ephesians 2:13-17 (NLT) But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
   For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
   He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.


Jesus came to the world to provide a way to God. God wanted man to be reconciled to Himself and Jesus accomplished this through His death and resurrection. Now He wanted Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled with one another. Peter and Cornelius were the start of reconciliation between the two.


Who do you need to be reconciled with? Are there people in your life that you may be angry with or prejudice toward? God created all of us in His image and wants us all to part of His family. Who do you need to reconcile with? What do you need to lay down before God and to allow His healing power to take place? Are you willing? He is able.


We see from this meeting with Peter and Cornelius that many lives will be changed for the sake of the Good News. As we are changed so too can the Good News about Jesus be spread to others. Let's open our hearts to His will of reconciliation and removal of all we place in honor before Him.