Acts 11:13
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
This verse is Peter's rehearsal of what happened at Caesarea when he defended himself before the brethren in Judea who censured him for going in to uncircumcised men and eating with them. Three men sent from Caesarea had come for him, and the Spirit had told him to go with them, nothing doubting, and he then entered Cornelius's house accompanied by six brethren. His taking six disciples with him showed his caution to have witnesses of all he said and did there.
In the house Cornelius told how he had seen an angel standing in his house directing him to send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter. That Peter would speak to him words, the message by which he and all his house and household would be saved.
The visit therefore began with God's direction, for God Himself commanded, initiated and directed the encounter. It was part of His divine plan and work to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to bring Peter to them. The message that brought Peter to Cornelius began with God.
The events proved that the ceremonial distinction between circumcision and uncircumcision was ended. Gentiles were no longer to be looked upon as unclean, for God did not regard them as unclean or exclude them from the gospel, because God is no respecter of persons.
The episode marks a new phase in the Christian church in which Gentile believers were to be treated as equals of Jewish disciples. The church was opened to them without requiring circumcision.
The experience supported Peter's testimony that God was sending the gospel and the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. It helped break down Jewish prejudice against associating with them, including Peter's own prejudice, despite the censure of the Jewish believers and their difficulty in accepting that the gospel was for the uncircumcised.
God used heavenly messengers working with human cooperation to enlighten people who love and fear Him but did not yet know the whole truth. Those who cling to their own ideas and refuse to be taught may be passed by in favor of those willing to follow God's leading.