Acts 10:9-17 & 34-36: Lord of All

 

Acts 10:9-17 & 34-36: Lord of All

Acts 10:34-36 says so much.  It shows that God does not favor one race over another.  "He is Lord of all."  It shows us also that we are His children when we "feareth him, and worketh righteousness."  Again, Peter reminds us that we are to fear the Lord and show Him reverence.  And, yes, we must work to be righteous.  Then we can be called God's children if we follow the ways of holy living and live a life of fear and awe of God.

A few verses before these scriptures (Acts 10:9-17), Peter has a vision of God offering him different kinds of animals to eat.  As a Jew, Peter refused to eat anything he considered "unclean."  God tells Peter, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." 

Although the dietary laws are no longer relevant for today (see Matthew 15:10-11 & 16-18), in this case, God was not referring to animals, but to people.  He was telling Peter to quit being a spiritual bigot and to preach to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews.  God reminded Peter that He loves all souls and wants everyone to have an opportunity to hear the gospel message and be saved.

Peter humbly listened and obeyed God.  It is safe to say this message stayed with him the rest of his days for he later writes in 2 Peter 3:9 that "The Lord is... longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance."  

May we also see receive this message from God and never refuse to teach God's Truths to anyone.

(Acts 10:9-17) 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: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 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: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."

But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

(Acts 10:34-35) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)."