And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
The report that the Gentiles had also received the word of God marked the arrival of an entirely new phase of the Christian church, in which the door that many Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles was to be manifestly thrown open. Gentiles who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ had received the word of God and were to be regarded as standing on perfect equality with the Jewish disciples, without the necessity of circumcision. This was God breaking down the prejudice that had kept many Jewish converts from accepting Gentiles. He carries forward His work in His own way, planning for heavenly messengers to cooperate with men on earth, and setting a man of decidedly prejudiced sentiments to do a work that will break down those prejudices. Peter being sent to Cornelius shows how He works to enlighten all who love and fear Him even though they do not know all the truth, sending a heavenly messenger to bring about the work needed to bring many Gentiles to the truth.
When the apostles and brethren in Judea heard the news their response was contentious, for they struggled to believe that God was removing the division between Jews and Gentiles and sending the gospel to all people. Peter had to report his experience with Cornelius to the leaders in Jerusalem before they would believe that God had given the Holy Spirit to the uncircumcised. Every true believer is therefore to stand ready to be taught by God, yielding personal ideas and having prejudices broken down, for if men hold to their own ideas and are unwilling to yield God cannot use them but will pass them by and take those willing to walk in His ways.
The report that the Gentiles had also received the word of God marked the arrival of an entirely new phase of the Christian church, in which the door that many Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles was to be manifestly thrown open. Gentiles who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ had received the word of God and were to be regarded as standing on perfect equality with the Jewish disciples, without the necessity of circumcision. This was God breaking down the prejudice that had kept many Jewish converts from accepting Gentiles. He carries forward His work in His own way, planning for heavenly messengers to cooperate with men on earth, and setting a man of decidedly prejudiced sentiments to do a work that will break down those prejudices. Peter being sent to Cornelius shows how He works to enlighten all who love and fear Him even though they do not know all the truth, sending a heavenly messenger to bring about the work needed to bring many Gentiles to the truth.
When the apostles and brethren in Judea heard the news their response was contentious, for they struggled to believe that God was removing the division between Jews and Gentiles and sending the gospel to all people. Peter had to report his experience with Cornelius to the leaders in Jerusalem before they would believe that God had given the Holy Spirit to the uncircumcised. Every true believer is therefore to stand ready to be taught by God, yielding personal ideas and having prejudices broken down, for if men hold to their own ideas and are unwilling to yield God cannot use them but will pass them by and take those willing to walk in His ways.