I want to expand a little bit about my thoughts on Peter’s characteristics. Yesterday I said the following:
“(5) Lastly – but very important – is trying to understand why the Holy Spirit did not descend on the new converts in Samaria right away but that Peter and John had to lay hands on them for the Spirit to come. Well, we could argue about it … but here is what I think. Peter and John were fishermen. What does this have to do with anything, one might ask? Well, we already know that Peter has characteristics that parallel those of many people who do hard physical labor. In many instances, their thinking is very simple and direct. Now, that is not a bad thing! The Gospel is very simple and very direct. It is a good thing to hear God and just believe. Anyway, Peter and John were Jewish through and through. They didn’t want to go to Samaria. They didn’t want to believe that God would save these “dogs” even though they had seen Jesus do this before. God had to open their eyes to His mercy reaching beyond the Temple, beyond the court of the Gentiles and even to a place like Samaria. I believe that the laying on of hands by Peter and John was for Peter and John’s benefit so they might expand their vision. Sometimes God has to expand my vision to reach beyond my familiar place so that I might see His mighty hand at work.”
So what do I mean when I talk about Peter’s characteristics? Well, the best couple of parallels I can think of are seen in the reality shows “Deadliest Catch” and “Ax Men”. If you study the characters on these programs, you will find that they make straightforward decisions and don’t alter them. Why? Well, the work they do requires the person to think a certain way … stepping out of that thought pattern leads to danger and possibly death. So when they make up their minds, it is hard to change them.
Peter, James, John and Andrew were fishermen. They probably had been taught their trade by their fathers and grandfathers. They were also taught the Jewish ways and customs. In their mind there was no other way than the Jewish way. As I mentioned, Jews hated Samaritans because they were “half breeds”. For Peter and John to lay hands on these half breeds was more than just choosing to put their hands on them. It broke with custom. It broke with tradition. But when Peter and John recognized that Christ had come into the lives of these Samaritans, and the Holy Spirit had come upon them, they realized the power of God.
But there was another hurdle that Peter would face. That hurdle was accepting Gentiles into the Christian brotherhood. Let’s read that passage:
Acts 10 (English Standard Version)
Peter and Cornelius
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day[a] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." 4And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea." 7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour[b] to pray. 10And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." 16This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." 21And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?" 22And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say." 23So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man." 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."
30And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,[c] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' 33So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."
Gentiles Hear the Good News
34So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ ( he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. Footnotes:
a. Acts 10:3 That is, 3 p.m.
b. Acts 10:9 That is, noon
c. Acts 10:30 That is, 3 p.m.
A quick synopsis is that God moved in the lives of Cornelius (a Gentile) and in Peter make Peter aware that the Gospel was for everyone … not just the Jews and not just to those people who followed Jewish customs. Later we see Paul confronting Peter when Peter doesn’t take a stand against people who are attempting to say a person had to follow Jewish customs to be saved. And I am convinced that is because Peter was Jewish through and through and because he thought like a fisherman.
God has opened the floodgates of love to all who will believe. We do people a disservice when we try to attach our own denominational beliefs to the simple Gospel message that He who has the Son has life. Let us honor God by presenting the simple Gospel simply.
Agape’
Mr. Jim
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