Acts 10:24-48
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
A Turning Point
Acts 10:24-48 is an important moment in the New Testament that shows how the Gospel breaks cultural barriers. It demonstrates how God removed the division between Jews and Gentiles, making salvation available to all people.
The passage begins with Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion. Although he is not a Jew, he is a man who fears God, gives generously and prays regularly (10:2). Despite his Gentile background, his heart opens to God, showing genuine desire for Him. In a vision, an angel appears and instructs him to send for Peter (10:3-6). This is a turning point, revealing that God is seeking those who are open to Him, regardless of their ethnicity or background.
Meanwhile, Peter has his own vision where he sees a sheet descending from heaven filled with unclean animals. God tells him to kill and eat them (10:10-13). On the surface, the vision is about food, but it carries a deeper spiritual message: God’s salvation is not limited to the Jews; even Gentiles can receive salvation. Initially Peter is confused, because Jewish law clearly forbids eating certain unclean animals (Leviticus 11). But God emphasizes three times, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (10:15), which not only refers to food, but also a change in Peter’s view of Gentiles.
When Cornelius’s messengers arrive, Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, agrees to go with them to Cornelius’s house (10:19-23). For Peter, entering a Gentile’s home is a significant step. According to Jewish customs of that day, Jews should not associate or eat with Gentiles (10:28). However, God reveals to Peter that the gospel should not be confined by cultural or racial boundaries. Peter acknowledges, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism” (10:34). This powerful statement highlights the universal nature of the Gospel. Peter understands that God’s salvation is not just for the Jews, but also for every Gentile who would believe.
Peter then shares the message of the Gospel with Cornelius and his household: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that He is the Savior of all people (10:36-43). Peter emphasizes Jesus’ ministry of doing good and healing as evidence of God’s presence with Him (10:38). He also testifies that Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day, proving He is the Son of God and the Savior. Peter’s message makes clear that both Jews and Gentiles can receive forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit comes upon all those who hear the message (10:44). This is a significant spiritual moment because the Holy Spirit’s arrival on the Gentiles confirms they are accepted into God’s family, just as He did with the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter and the Jewish believers are amazed that the Holy Spirit is poured out even on the Gentiles (10:45). This further confirms that God’s salvation knows no racial boundaries. Peter then instructs them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, symbolizing that they had become followers of Christ (10:48).
This passage marks a deeply significant shift. The Gospel moves from being primarily for Jews to being available to the entire world. Peter’s transformation reflects the early church’s breakthrough, where the Christian faith became a cross-cultural movement, no longer divided by race, culture, or social status.
God does not show favoritism. His love and salvation are for everyone. This passage challenges all Christians to embrace the mission of sharing the Gospel across cultures, reaching out to those who have not yet heard the good news, and trusting that the Holy Spirit can break down every barrier to accomplish God’s plan for salvation.
Reflections:
Have you ever had biases toward certain people or groups, thinking they were not worthy of hearing the Gospel? How does this passage challenge those biases?
Through Peter, God shows that the gospel is for all nations. What barriers still exist that keep us from sharing the gospel cross-culturally.
The work of the Holy Spirit broke down cultural barriers and brought Peter and Cornelius together. Are you willing to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, crossing cultural and language barriers to share the Gospel with people from different cultural backgrounds?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for showing us through the story of Peter and Cornelius that the gospel is not limited to one nation but is intended for the whole world. Help us break down the biases and barriers in our hearts, so we may share Your love with those who have not yet heard the good news. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strength to be witnesses for You, wherever we go, that Your name may be glorified. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Author Bio
Rev. Alice Ho serves as the Director of Cross-Cultural Missions Engagement at CCACA. She has mobilized Canadian Chinese churches for cross-cultural missions for over a decade. Alice also volunteers as a Mission Pastor at Burnaby Alliance Church.
You can find more about my ministry at: https://english.ccaca.org/cross-cultural-missions-engagement/
Luke and Acts taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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