And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. (2) And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, (3) Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. (4) But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, (5) I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: (6) Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. (7) And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. (8) But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. (9) But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (10) And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. (11) And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. (12) And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: (13) And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; (14) Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (15) And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. (16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (17) Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (18) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
It will not be necessary to detain the Reader long over these verses, seeing they are but a recapitulation of what passed on the occasion of Cornelius's conversion, and are contained in the preceding Chapter, What I would chiefly request might be noticed, is, the conduct of the Church, in reproving Peter; and the very gracious behavior of the Apostle, in his modest defense of himself, in answer. Both are very instructive. The Apostles and Brethren which were in Judea, seem to have manifested a different conduct, upon a former occasion, when tidings was brought to them, that Samaria had received the word of God: for they sent upon that account, Peter and John to them, by way of comfort and confirmation. See Acts 8:14-15. But here the reverse seems to have actuated them. It serves to teach us, how improper all hasty judgments are. The best of men, and the best of Churches, and in the best of times, are but men of like passions with ourselves. It is blessed to know it. And it is blessed to be humbled under a sense of it. Nothing more sweetly and powerfully preacheth Christ, than when taught our nothingness without him.
What a beautiful example Peter holds forth, both to ministers and people, in the quietness and meekness of mind, he manifested to the reproaches, with which he was first received by the Church, on his return. Caesarea from Jerusalem was little short of seventy-five miles. And it was a sad reception, which they gave him in their reproof when he went up from the house of Cornelius to Jerusalem, to inform the Church of what had happened. Peter knew who had sent him. And he was conscious of the Lord's blessing upon his labors. These things, no doubt, fortified his mind, and enabled him to bear all their reproaches. The Lord's faithful people may, and ought to learn from hence, that God's services, when they are employed in them by Him, and blessed in them by Him, will be sure to call forth the displeasure of men; yea, even the Lord's own people, (as was the case here), shall sometimes be prompted by the enemy, to afflict their brethren, ignorant of what they do. Sometimes our false misconception of things, sometimes our judging by report too hastily; and sometimes, and perhaps not unfrequently, from the remains of indwelling corruption, jealousies creep in our hearts, and we feel somewhat which ought not to be, rising there. The Church complained of it, when she said; my mother's children were angry with me, Song of Solomon 1:6. Reader! if you and I know with Paul, the plague of our own hearts; and that even in ourselves corruptions arise, which war against the soul and are bringing us into captivity, into the law of sin which is in our members; how can we wonder that others, who neither know our motives of conduct, nor the leadings of them, should sometimes reproach us?
And while such views of the common infirmity of nature, will, under grace, tend to soften the minds of the Lord's people, and suppress anger at any of their little unkind misconstruction of conduct when we are conscious we have not merited their displeasure; such will in an eminent degree under the Lord, preserve faithful ministers of Jesus, as Peter, in the instance before us, in patience to possess their souls, when the world, or still more the mistaken men in the Church, come forth to reprove them. To shew displeasure because we know ourselves to be right, is not the plan to correct them that are wrong. It is rather turning that which is lame out of the way. How much better, like the Apostle, in brotherly affection to submit as he did, the point to their cool decision: and how soon were their tempers changed, and the Lord glorified! This is what the Apostle Paul called, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. For, said he, the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men: and an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity, 1 Timothy 4:12.