This week I read about the experience of Cornelius and
Peter. Cornelius was a Gentile and centurion in the Italian Band, and Peter of
course was an Apostle.
While Cornelius was praying, an angel of the Lord appeared
to him. The angel told him that his prayers and alms were a memorial before
God. He then told him to send for Peter in Joppa and Peter would tell him what
to do.
Peter received a vision three times one night. His first
reaction to the vision of animals being lowered down from heaven in a great
sheet and being told to kill and eat, was one of disbelief because he had never
eaten an unclean beast before. He didn’t understand why he would be commanded
to do such a thing being a Jew. He didn’t understand what the vision meant. Just
as Joseph Smith received an angel three times in one night with the same
message, Peter likewise had this vision three times. I think it was so the
message would be driven deep into his heart and mind, and that he would understand
more fully the message the Lord was sending. Even though he still didn’t understand
the meaning, I’m sure he had an unforgettable recollection of the details of
the vision, so when he was able to understand he would be able to recall it
correctly. I know it takes me more than on viewing to get the details of
anything I’m watching or looking at.
When Peter had come to Cornelius and had been told of
Cornelius’s visit with the angel, Peter declared that “God is no respecter of
persons” (Acts 10:34). This means that he holds no one nation above the other,
and doesn’t withhold blessings from some because of their nationality, in this
case he was telling Peter to spread the word of Christ to the Gentile nation. Those
Jewish saints who were with Peter had a witness from the Holy Ghost that what
Peter was saying was true, and they also saw that the Holy Ghost was being
given to the Gentiles. When this happened none denied these people the waters
of baptism. How could they after the Holy Ghost had testified to all of them
that this should be done.
I love how Peter questions the Lord about why he would want him to eat these unclean animals and then the Lord points out that whatever he gives him is clean. The Lord makes it clean. The Lord makes it okay. This was to point out that the gentiles were okay to teach because the Lord said so.
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