“Then Peter began to speak: “‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”
– Acts 10:34
Hi James and Ellen,
Have you ever gone into a trance? Have you ever had a vision? Have you ever had a dream come true? Peter goes into a trance. Cornelius is given a vision. Guys and gals in an Iranian village have a dream. Peter’s spiritual life coach is Jesus. Cornelius is a Roman centurion. An Iranian guy, gal or kid is expected to adhere to the teachings of Mohammad. Peter’s ministry call is to Jews. Cornelius is a Gentile. Iranian guys, gals and kids are indoctrinated to abhor Judaism. When Peter was alive nearly 2000 years ago and living in the country of Israel, it is against the Judeo law for a Jew – which is Peter’s ethnicity, to talk to or associate with a guy or gal who is a Gentile. When Cornelius was alive nearly 2000 years ago, a new belief paradigm that is subscribing to the teachings of and about Jesus is resonating among the guys and gals who are Gentiles. If an Iranian guy, gal or kid is discovered today with a Bible in his or her home, he or she is guaranteed to endure a recrimination that may result in he or she being killed. Peter is on his way to the city of Joppa where he goes into a trance. Cornelius is a centurion in an Italian Regiment that is based in the town of Caesarea when he is given a vision. Iranian guys, gals and kids are living in a remote, mountain village someplace in Iran when they have a dream. A physically hungry Peter is praying at about noon on a house rooftop when he goes into a trance. A spiritually hungry Cornelius is praying at about three in the afternoon when he has a vision. Iranian guys, gals and kids have the same dream. Peter sees in his trance a large sheet being lowered down from heaven by its four corners. Cornelius sees in his vision an angel of God. Iranian guys, gals and kids see in their dream a ‘book’. Peter sees once impure animals, reptiles and birds on the sheet that is being lowered down from heaven. Cornelius is told by the angel of God to send three guys to the city of Joppa to find a guy by the name of Peter who will be staying in Simon the tanner’s house. Iranian guys, gals and kids spend two months waiting for someone to bring them the ‘book’. Peter equates meeting with Cornelius with now being able to eat the once impure animals, reptiles and birds that he sees in his trance. Cornelius is already a God-fearing Christ-follower who prays faithfully to God and who generously gives to the poor. Peter travels with the three guys to the town of Caesarea. Cornelius is waiting in the town of Caesarea for Peter to arrive. Iranian guys, gals and kids are told in their dream that the ‘book’ will help them know Who is the way, the truth and the life. A clandestine trip by a couple of guys taking Bibles in a truck into Iran . . .
Acts 10 details Peter’s trance and his two day visit with Cornelius in the town of Caesarea. When Peter arrives at Cornelius’ house, Peter finds out that Cornelius has invited a large group of guys and gals to meet him to hear the Jesus story. Before Peter begins to relate the life story of Jesus, Peter starts out with the latest chapter in his own life. Peter tells the guys and gals who are listening to him in Cornelius’ house about the trance that he fell into four days earlier while he is praying on a house rooftop. Peter says in verse 34, “Then Peter began to speak: “‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism” Peter goes on to say that he now knows through the trance that God is now accepting guys, gals and kids who are Gentiles who fear Him and who do what is right. Peter then tells the guys and gals who are listening to him in Cornelius’ house that Jesus Christ presented a Good News message of peace to the Jew people group – that Jesus Christ – after He being anointed by God – as God the Father, through God – as God the Holy Spirit, was empowered to heal and to release guys, gals and kids who are living under the devil’s bondage. Peter concludes his personal testimony with his own eyewitness account of the life of Jesus Christ by telling his listeners that he first saw Jesus killed by Jews by having Him hung on a cross but then three days later, Jesus was seen alive by credible eyewitnesses – followed by other guys who in succeeding days interacted, ate and drank with Jesus. As Peter finishes his sharing, God – as God the Holy Spirit, manifests Himself on the guys and gals who are listening to Peter resulting in signs manifested, God’s holy names praised and requests to be baptized by water made to identify with the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ – as God the Son.
A couple of guys who are smuggling Bibles into Iran at night have the truck that they are in stop suddenly on the rugged mountain road on which they are traveling. Willie Crew – a Call2All leader, recounts this incident in a plenary message that is forwarded on to your grandpaa via e-mail. Per the two guys – who knew that they are in serious trouble if Iranian authorities show up and discover that they are carrying Bibles, an old guy begins knocking on one of the truck’s windows almost immediately after their truck suddenly, inexplicably comes to an abrupt stop. The two guys are finally able to comprehend that the old guy is asking over and over that he wants the ‘book’. What is told to the two guys later is that the old guy was asking to who he believes to be who God was sending the ‘book’ that night to his village. When the old guy hears the truck stop below his village, he knew that his prayer has been answered. When the guys go to start up their truck the next morning, they find that there is nothing wrong with their truck. There is never a moment when Jesus is not prepared to help a guy, gal or kid who is asking Him for His help.
Acts 10 (1035)