Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

While this is a little longer passage, the story is retold and it all goes together.

There are two important points here as I reflect on this passage: 1) Peter gave a detailed, eyewitness report of God’s work among the Gentiles. It might have been tempting for him to admonish these believers for not trusting him, or for their arrogance; but he did not do this. Instead he was as patient with them as God was with him, to show them God’s plan to reconcile them to the Gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. 2) The believers, after they heard the report and understood God’s hand was involved in it, saw the good in this and decided to follow God’s direction in treating the Gentiles converts as full-fledged followers of Jesus.

Salvation through Jesus Christ was granted for all who believe. This is the truth. God’s grace is available for the poor and the rich alike the politician and the tradesman, the truck driver and the bank president. So when we look at others … instead of grouping them into categories, we must look at them as God’s children first and foremost. Then we can love them with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

Lord, thank you for this example of a clear account and patience by Peter and of obedience to your call by the circumcised Jews. May I be humble and teachable as I teach with grace.