A Bible Study on the Book of Acts Session 23
The Church of the Holy Apostles;
Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)
Study Guide – Acts 10.1.23, Homily 22
General Comment: Piety is important. This is the second NON-Jew to embrace the Gospel First, the Ethiopian Eunuch and now a Centurion. SJC “For the scripture mentions their dignified stations; is to show the greatness of their piety; since it is more wonderful when a person being in a position of wealth and power is such as those were.”
Chapter 10 v. 1-8 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
A full description of the Centurion is given for accuracy.
The Centurion was so pious, God sent the Chief Apostle. SJC “Both his doctrines and his life were right.”
9th Hour = 3pm This is “quitting time” leaving no space for distractions. This is not so late that he would be asleep
Fear can be used to make us pay attention. SJC “At the sight, there was fear, but a fear in moderation, just so far as served to fix his attention. Then also the words relieved him of his fear. The fear roused him: the praise mitigated what was unpleasant in the fear.”
Cornelius is not told WHY he should send for Peter, just to send for him = obedience and humility
Another providential encounter – Cornelius didn’t use his authority to send for Peter, but had his servants describe the entire encounter to him.
The details are sporadic in both visions to draw us (the reader/listener) into the story, and “apply their minds to what is said.”
Chapter 10 v. 9-23 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Trance? ‘εκστασις = spiritual out of body experience
Peter’s vision is of the whole world. SJC “The earth then, this is what the linen sheet denotes, and the wild beasts in it, are they of the Gentiles, and the command, ‘Kill and eat,’ denotes that he must go to them also; and that this thing is thrice done, denotes baptism.”
The vision is preparing Peter to embrace the Gentiles. Cornelius was uncircumcised, and would have been considered unclean.
The linen sheet contained ALL four-legged animals – clean AND unclean together to prepare Peter (and us) for a mixed Church.
Peter has doubt, but God provides clarity at just the right moment
Peter is so pious, even though he is very hungry, he is not tempted to eat the animals in the vision, BUT resolves his inner conflict by inviting the soldiers to eat.
There is always blessing when we obey the Holy Spirit. SJC “And he does not say, [speaking of the Lord], For to this end did the vision appear unto thee; but, ‘I have sent them. Then Peter went down.’ This is the way the Spirit must be obeyed, without demanding reasons. For it is sufficient for all assurance to be told by Him. ‘This do, this believe,’ nothing more is needed.”
Teaching on The Virtue of Alms – (see Homily 22, pp 146-148)
- Alms can deliver us from death
- Alms for the wrong reason is like a fountain of mud
- Don’t waste alms with unfruitful behavior
- In all things, excess is bad
Life Application – The greater your alms from a pure heart, the greater the blessing from God. (Homily 22, p 148)