Acts 10:10

Acts 10:10 says, And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  Peter became hungry while on the roof, but while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance.  Peter had come from a Jewish background, where there were many dietary restrictions on what meat could and couldn't be eaten. These restrictions had been set in place by God.  Verse eleven adds, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  In his trance, Peter saw a great vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners let down from heaven to earth.  Now, many people would likely say that since he was hungry and passed out that he saw this simply because food was on his mind, but we know it was God revealing a truth to him.  Verse twelve continues, Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  Peter saw a vision of a great sheet being let down from heaven that contained all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowl of the air.  We need to remember the dietary restrictions on the Jews as we consider this, as I am sure Peter did.  Verse thirteen states, And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  This would have been against Jewish dietary laws.  We need to be careful that we don’t allow manmade laws set limits on what we can do through the freedom of Christ. Verse fourteen adds, But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  All this occurred while Peter was in prayer, but he still questioned God.  Peter said no, I have never eaten anything common or unclean.  He stood on his own righteousness instead of listening to God.  We must be careful not to let our own goodness or tradition get in the way of what God tells us. Verse fifteen continues, And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  This occurred a second time, and a voice told Peter not to call what God had cleansed common.  We are cleansed through the blood of Christ if we are Christians, and nothing in and of itself can ever cause us not to be.  Verse sixteen concludes, This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  After three times, the sheet was withdrawn.  I hear a lot today about what we as Christians should or shouldn't eat, especially concerning meat, but we find that God Himself gave people animals for food, and when those of the world try to tell us differently, we need not listen.  This concerned more than just what was called clean to eat by God, but it did also mean what was allowed to be eaten.  Verse seventeen states, Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,  Peter was confused as to what the vision meant.  If we are confused about something God reveals to us, we can be sure He won't leave us in our confusion.  Even as Peter was attempting to understand the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at Simon's house looking for Peter and stood at the gate.  Verse eighteen adds, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.  They called and asked if Simon surnamed Peter lodged there.  God was already at work to answer the questions Peter had.  If we are called on to deliver a message to someone, we need to make sure we have the right person.  Verse nineteen continues, While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  As the men stood at the door, the Spirit revealed that the men were there calling for him.  Even before Peter knew that he was going to have questions, God was already at work answering them, just as He will be with us today if we live by faith in Him. 

Acts 10:1

Acts 10:1 says, There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  Cornelius is about to be given an assignment by God.  We are told several things about Cornelius. He was from Caesarea; a centurion of a band called the Italian band. He was a military man in a position of power.  We see that God can use people of all walks of life to do His will. Verse two adds, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.  More than being a military man, he was a devout man, who feared God along with all his house.  It is good for a person to fear God, but it is even more significant that his whole house fears God as well.  To fear God does not mean to cower in dread of what He will do to us, but to live in reverent awe for what He has done for us and simply because of Who He is. Cornelius gave alms to the poor and was in prayer to God always.  We as followers of Christ are called on to help those less fortunate than we are, and we definitely should be in prayer always.  Since prayer is simply talking with God, we can be in prayer continually.  Verse three continues, He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  About the ninth hour of the day, Cornelius saw a vision of an angel of God coming to him, calling his name.  We may never see a vision, but as followers of Christ, we should definitely hear Him call us by name.  Verse four states, And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God  When Cornelius saw him, he was afraid.  Even in his fear, he asked, "What is it Lord?"  Now, in this case, I think fear is being afraid.  We would likely be also.  Though he didn't do it for personal reward, in answer to his question, Cornelius was told that his prayers and his alms had come up as a memorial to God.  We can always be sure that God knows what we are doing.  Verse five continues, And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  Verse six concludes, He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.  Then Cornelius was told what to do.  He was to send men to Joppa to ask for one Simon, whose surname is Peter, lodging with Simon a tanner who lived by the sea.  There could be very little confusion in following the instructions.  God will not leave us confused when He calls us for a purpose.  The answer would come after he did what God told him to do.  Sometimes, we must simply act without knowing the result.  Verse seven says, And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  Cornelius sent two servants and a devout soldier to Joppa.  We need to send devout men to do the work of God today.  Verse eight adds, And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.  Cornealius told them what they were to do, which had been told to him by God.  We need to always make sure that when someone is sent to do God’s work that it is by His direction and that they know what they are to do.  Verse nine continues. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: The next day as they were on their journey to see Peter, he was on the roof top to pray about the sixth hour.  Even with everything going on in the world, Peter was not hiding away to pray.  We should never hide our faith from the world, but should instead share it with them, not from anger, but with love. 

Acts 9:36

Acts 9:36 says, Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.  We learn about Tabitha, which we are told by interpretation means Dorcas. She lived in Joppa and was full of good works and alms and deeds.  Hopefully, when people speak of us, especially as Christ's representatives here on earth, they can say that we are full of good works and helping others. Verse thirty-seven adds, And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.  Tabitha became sick.  Though she was a good woman, there was no miracle healing.  She died.  After the women washed her, they laid her in an upper room.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.  The disciples at Joppa heard that Peter was at Lydda and sent for him to come quickly.  Now, it would seem to me that what they could have done was call on God to raise her from death, but sometimes people don't have enough belief in the power of their own faith.  Verse thirty-nine states, Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.  Peter came and when he got there, they took him to where Dorcas lay.  Now many widows were there and showed him all the coats and garments she had made.  When we die, will people be able to show or even tell of the good works we have done?   Verse forty adds, But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  Peter sent everyone out of the room and knelt down by the body and prayed, and said, Tabitha, arise.  She opened her eyes and saw Peter and sat up. Verse forty-one continues, And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.  Then, Peter gave her his hand and she stood.  The widows and saints there were called,  and she was presented alive. What miraculous thing did Peter do?  He prayed, believing.  We sometimes hear the expression, "All I can do is pray," as if it is something of little value.  Yet, when all Peter did was pray, God raised a woman from the dead, and many people believed in Christ.  In some religious views, a person must "perform" two miracles to achieve sainthood.  This, being seen as Peter's second miracle, would have qualified him, but again, it wasn't his miracle.  If Peter had begun to see himself as the giver of miracles, he would have been of no use to God.  If we get to puffed up in our own spiritual power, thinking that it is about us and not God, we are of no use to Him. Verse forty-two says, And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. This miracle was known of throughout all of Joppa and many people believed, not in Peter, but in Jesus Christ.  We must always make certain that God get the credit for any good that we do. Verse forty-three adds, And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.  How did Peter react to what happened?  He resided many days with Simon the tanner.  We aren't told why, but it could have been to take the focus off himself.  We must always keep the focus on God. 

After Saul left Damacus, he wanted to go visit the disciples in Jerusalem.  Often when we are traveling, we will visit a church where we are.  Saul wanted to join with other believers when he got to Jerusalem.  He didn't go demanding that they allow him to join them.  He wasn't there to promote his standing as a Christian, but simply to identify with the disciples and to get to know them as they worshipped together I believe.  Saul's reputation preceded him, though,and the disciples were afraid of him and didn't believe that he had changed.  How often do we question a person who had been so against Christ and now proclaims themself to be a follower of Christ.  Sometimes a person's reputation makes us question whether or not they have really been saved.  What we need to acknowledge is that salvation is free to all, even to the chiefest of sinners, as Saul, by then Paul, would later identify himself.  Saul found a friend in Barnabas, who brought him to the apostles and told them all that had happened to Saul since his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.  We sometimes simply need one person to stand with us.  Saul was with them many days, going about preaching the gospel.  He found himself disputing with the Grecians.  We aren't told what they were disputing about, but since Saul was preaching the gospel, we can assume that was what they were disputing about.  Whatever it was, it made the Grecians angry enough to want to kill Saul.  Sometimes the truth makes people angry enough to kill, but we, as God's people, can never allow the anger of others to keep us from proclaiming the gospel.  When the brethren knew of the plot to kill Saul, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.  After his conversion, Saul had now twice had a group of people want to kill him, but he continued to preach.  If we found our life threatened, not once but twice, for preaching Christ, would we give up?  Sometimes it seems we boldly proclaim Christ in the church building, but stay almost silent in the world.  Threats never silenced Saul, and neither can we allow them to silence us.  This falls under my simple own
observation, which I have spent time in prayer about, but it seems that the more we see what we feel is a threat to Christianity, the more we withdrawn from the world.  We are called to go into the world and proclaim Christ, not withdraw because we fear the world will change us.