The CRoss
...." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him again the 2nd time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. It’s important to know that this was the beginning of the gospel being shared with the Gentiles. Understand the difference: Gentiles were non Jews. Up until this time, only Jews could come to God for they were his chosen people. But the cross ushered in a new dispensation – the grace or Gentile dispensation. Let me stop here & explain a bit more about dispensations. I’m not a student of dispensations but I do recognize these seasons in time: (1) the "dispensation of innocence," which covered the time before the fall when Adam and Eve were in the Garden, in fellowship with God; (2) the "dispensation of conscience," which followed the fall and extended to the time of Noah, when men lived according to their consciences; (3) the "dispensation of human government," which came in after the flood and went from Noah's time until that of Abraham; (4) the "dispensation of promise," which began when Abraham was given various great promises of God by which men were to live, as Dr. Scofield saw it, until the time when Moses brought the Law. (5) the "dispensation of law" ran on through many centuries until the coming of Jesus Christ, who introduced (6) the "dispensation of grace" in which we all live, and which is yet to be followed by & we await… (7) the "dispensation of the kingdom," which many call "the millennium," the thousand years of Christ's rule on earth which is yet to come. So we read in Ac 9:15 about the dispensation of Grace - the Lord chose Saul or Paul to instruct Ananias Go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, & kings, and the children of Israel: But where Paul was to be the evangelist to the Gentiles, Simon Peter was to open the door. Remember it was Simon Peter that did receive the keys to the kingdom as we read: Mat 16:18 & I say also unto thee that thou art Peter & upon this rock I will build my church; & the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 & I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: & whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: & whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. So Peter is basically opening the door to the Gentiles here in Acts 10: 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 & called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Why were these 3 men there? Look back up in vrs 1. 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man & one who feared God with all his household who gave alms generously to the people, & prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 when he observed him he was afraid & said, What is it, lord? He said to him, Your prayers & your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, & send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. 7 & when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. Cornelius had been instructed that there was more for them to do. It reminds me of the question was asked there on the Day of Pentecost. Might remember: Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, & said to Peter and the rest of the apostles Men & brethren what shall we do 38 Peter said to them, Repent, & let every one of you be bapti...