5/19

Acts 10:19-20

¹⁹And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."

Peter had just seen a vision of a great sheet filled with unclean animals let down from heaven. A voice from heaven had told him to kill and eat them. Peter replied that he would not eat the unclean. The voice told him that what God had cleansed Peter should not call common. It happened three times. The disciples had only brought the gospel to the Jews and Samaritans. God was showing Peter that the gospel was for the whole world.

At the same time, a Roman centurion had been praying and seeking the truth. God sent an angel to tell him to invite Peter to come to his home. The centurion sent the three men mentioned in our verse for today to find Peter. The Spirit told Peter to not hesitate to go with them. The result was that all the Gentiles in the centurion's home were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. The church began to get the message.

Did you notice that God spoke to these people in multiple ways? He put Peter into a trance and caused him to hear a voice. He inspired Peter's thoughts as Peter pondered the vision. The Holy Spirit spoke to Peter's mind to go with the men. In the case of the centurion, he allowed him to see an angelic messenger and hear his voice. The church heard of the events and recognized they were revelations from God (Acts 11:18).

God has not changed. He still speaks to men and women. What He speaks must be consistent with His Word, for God will not contradict Himself. What Peter heard was consistent with the prophet's writings. The Messiah was to be a light for the nations (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6).

Consider: God speaks to us through His Word, but He has many other ways to speak to those who seek Him. We must know the Word to discern if the messages we receive are from God or from another source.