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In Chapter 10 of the Book of Acts, we meet Cornelius, who lives in Caesarea. This stunning Roman city, built on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, bustled with life and culture. With around 50,000 residents, it served as the home of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.

Caesarea was truly a marvel of its time, featuring impressive aqueducts that brought in fresh water, sturdy walls for protection, a royal palace that symbolized Roman authority, and places like temples, a stadium, and a theater that showcased the vibrant life of the city. It was a place where different cultures mingled, and Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Regiment, was an important figure in the community.

The Romans had conquered and occupied Israel, often responding with brutal force to any attempted revolts. During this time, the Jewish people were beaten down and faced significant hardships; they were frequently pillaged, overworked, and heavily taxed. The tension between the Romans and the Jews was growing, and as a result, Jews typically avoided any interactions with Gentiles, let alone entering the homes of Romans. This created a cultural and social divide that was deeply ingrained in their daily lives.

Cornelius was a centurion in the Roman army, commanding about a hundred soldiers. To the Jewish people, he represented everything they despised: he symbolized the oppressive regime that occupied their land, living in a lavish city filled with palaces and indulgences. Cornelius was the very embodiment of the enemy, and for many Jews, his presence was a constant reminder of their struggles and suffering under Roman rule.

Yet, amazingly, the Lord felt entirely differently about Cornelius. One afternoon, while he was praying, an angel appeared to this Roman soldier and told him to send for the Apostle Peter:

(Acts 10:1–2 NKJV) 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.

(Acts 10:3–6 NKJV) 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."

Now, Peter was a Jew, and being summoned by the Romans to come to their seat of power wasn't going to be an easy sell. So, while Cornelius was sending men to fetch Peter, the Lord gave Peter a vision and caused him to fall into a trance. In the vision, Peter saw a sheet being let down from heaven filled with all sorts of creatures:

(Acts 10:9–12 NKJV) ... 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.

(Acts 10:13–16 NKJV) 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.

The Lord showed Peter the same vision three times and told him, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."

At about this time, the Romans showed up and asked for Peter's whereabouts. Now, keep in mind that the Romans had crucified Jesus, and James had been beheaded. So, all sorts of thoughts must have been rushing through Peter's mind when the Romans appeared. The Lord comforted him:

(Acts 10:19–20 NKJV) 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."

So Peter went with them to Caesarea and entered Cornelius' house. Cornelius had gathered all his friends and family together, and Peter began to tell them about his vision.

(Acts 10:27–28 NKJV) And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

The Holy Spirit is the Great Equalizer, and He raises the low and brings down the arrogant. To Him, all races are the same. He made it clear to Peter three times, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." Peter continues to tell them about Jesus Christ and a marvelous thing happens:

(Acts 10:43–45 NKJV) To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

As Peter spoke, the Romans listening were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. Then Peter had them baptized in water. It was amazing, and it was the first time something like this had occurred: Gentiles and Romans were filled with the Spirit. It was thought that non-Jewish people could not be saved.

The Holy Spirit was falling in Caesarea, but when Peter got back to Jerusalem, a different kind of spirit was speaking:

(Acts 11:2–3 NKJV) And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"

So Peter had to explain to them the vision the Lord had given him. The Lord told him, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." It took years for them to get past that. Even though the Romans had been baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in tongues, the old-time-religion crowd said they weren't saved at all because they weren't like them. The Apostle Paul was still dealing with it in Acts 15:

(Acts 15:1–2 NKJV) And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

The Jews wanted to add more requirements for the Gentiles to be saved, but Paul called it a perversion of the Gospel to make salvation require anything besides faith in Jesus Christ. For even though God had accepted them, they didn't. It was such a dispute that the elders had to meet in Jerusalem to settle it. They prayed and concluded with this letter:

(Acts 15:28–29 NKJV) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

We must always remember, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me see others through Your eyes. Help me notice when I am judging others, for I want to please You. Thank you for another day. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!