The First Non-Jewish Christian (Acts 10)

Luke uses repetition to emphasize the importance of the issues involved, as with Paul and Cornelius' conversion. Luke repeats Paul's and Cornelius' conversion 3 times each [or even 4 times with Cornelius' story between Acts 10 and 15]. Why? Saul is not your "typical" Jewish convert to Christianity, nor Cornelius your typical Gentile convert. Yet Luke places special stress on them, because they serve as the catalyst to change the character and general direction of the early church. Luke presents this important story of Gentile synagogue adherents--those at the fringes of Judaism--who become Christians, and also those with some social standing and status--the Ethiopian eunuch and Cornelius. Saul's call to go to the Gentiles and Cornelius' response to the heavenly vision and reception of the Holy Spirit brought about a crisis--which was resolved in some measure at the "apostolic council" recorded in Acts 15. Acts 9-10 are a turning point leading to the Jerusalem church endorsing an outright mission to the Gentiles--which is what God had always intended (Gen 12:3; Exo 19:6; Isa 49:6).

Fulfilling divine will toward a universal religion--both in its geographical and social scope (Acts 10:1-11:18)--requires human action. The move in a Gentile direction comes directly from God, as the visions and messengers--divine and human--are employed to confront, convict, convince and even convert Saul and Cornelius. God's divine plan of universal salvation is worked out AND requires humans to respond to it and carry out their part in the drama. The visions and messages Peter and Cornelius receive are divinely ordained, but they are incomplete without human reflection and action. The human action and response is not viewed as either automatic or coerced. There are 7 scenes as follows:

1. Cornelius' vision (10:1-8). Send for Simon. Peter is sent for by Cornelius.
2. Peter's vision (10:9-16). Food for thought. Kill and eat.
3. Peter's puzzlement--meeting with messengers and the journey to Cornelius' house (10:17-23).
4. Peter's dialogue with Cornelius about the visions (10:24-33). Journeying to the Gentiles.
5. Peter's sermon (10:34-43). Peter preaches to Cornelius' household. By word.
6. Divine intervention and Cornelius' baptism (10:44-48). And the Spirit.
7. Recapitulation by Peter of what happened in scenes 1-6 to the Jerusalem church (11:1-18). Peter justifies his actions. Justification in Jerusalem. Compare Ac 11:1; 8:14.
1. Peter is called to account (11:1-3).
2. Peter recalls God's direction and control (11:4-17).
3. The church acknowledges God's leading (11:18).

How the gospel spread out from Jerusalem (Ac 1:8). A reason Luke wrote Acts was to show people like Theophilus (Ac 1:1; Lk 1:1-4) how a religious phenomenon which began as a Jewish messianic movement spread not only geographically but also spread across ethnic barriers and social boundaries. Acts 8:4-9:43 shows step by step how the gospel fulfilled the promise of Pentecost (Ac 2:38-39) and became universal:

1. from the persecution after the martyrdom of Stephen (Ac 8:1, 3; 9:1-2; 11:19),
2. to the gospel in Samaria (Ac 8:4-7, 12, 17, 23),
3. to the Ethiopian eunuch (Ac 8:27ff),
4. to the conversion and call of Saul, the missionary to the Gentiles (Ac 9:3-5, 17-19),
5. to the gospel moving upward along the coast [Lydda and Joppa] (Ac 9:32-42), and then
6. to the pure Gentile--Cornelius (Acts 10)--whose conversion will force the church 
7. to accept God's will to take the gospel to the Gentiles and is ready
8. to break out into Antioch (Acts 11), the 1st Gentile church in Acts, and then
9. to the missionary journeys of Paul (Acts 13-28).

References:

1. Osborne, Grant. Acts. Verse by Verse. 2019. Cornelius: The Gospel goes to the Gentiles (10:1-48).
1. Cornelius and Paul see preparatory visions (10:1-16).
2. Peter encounters Cornelius (10:17-33).
3. Peter gives a sermon in Cornelius' house (10:34-43).
4. The Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit (10:44-48).
2. Witherington III, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles. A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. 1998. The Petrine Passages (9:32-11:18).
   
1. Peter the Healer (9:32-43).
2. Peter's Vision and Missionary Ventures (10:1-11:18).
3. Stott, John. The Message of Acts. 1990. Through the Bible through the year, Daily reflections from Genesis to Revelation. 2006. 
4. Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar NT commentary. 2009. The Word Advances in Judea and Syria (9:32-12:25). Peter's Role in the Evangelisation of the Gentiles (10:1-48).
1. 2 significant visions (10:1-16).
2. 2 significant journeys (10:17-29).
3. Salvation for Gentiles in the Fellowship of the Spirit (10:30-48).
5. Marshall, I. Howard. Acts. Tyndale NT commentaries (TNTC). 1980. The Beginning of the Gentile Mission (9:32-12:25).
1. Peter's mighty works (9:32-43).
2. The conversion of Cornelius (10:1-11:18).
3. The church at Antioch (11:19-30).
4. The imprisonment and escape of Peter (12:1-25).
6. Wright, N.T. Acts for Everyone, Part 1. Chapters 1-12. 2008.
7. Fernando, Ajith. The Message of Jesus in Action. 2010.