0650. 635. Peter’s Experiences
635. Peter’s Experiences
As Recorded in Acts 10
His experience may be summarised in connection with the uses of his name.
1. “Peter Went Up” (Act_10:9). Peter had a definite object in going to the housetop; it was to pray. Prayer to God preceded his vision from God. All good is ever born of prayer, and no good is enjoyed without it.
2. “Peter Doubted” (Act_10:17). He was not sure what the clean and unclean things meant which he saw in the sheet let down, and, being a Jew, he would not eat anything that was unclean; but he had to learn that what was ceremonially unclean becomes clean when God sanctifies it. Ruskin, in his “Ethics of the Dust,” calls our attention to the silent forces of nature, which never appear so grand as when they transmute baser materials into higher forms. We see the pool of slime transformed by the action of light and heat, repose and quiet, so that the clay hardens into blue sapphire, the sand into burning opal, the soot into flashing diamond. And even Jesus never appears so glorious in loveliness as when we see Him transforming the very filth and slime of society into gems fit to burn and shine in an immortal crown.
3. “Peter Thought” (Act_10:19). Thoughtlessness ever breeds a host of evils, while thoughtfulness is like the dawn of the morning, it illuminates and blesses. To think of the consequences of a given action will often prevent us from taking it. To think on the unevenness of our ways is the first step towards mending them.
4. “Peter Went Down” (Act_10:21). Peter’s going down showed he obeyed the Divine direction of “get thee down” (Act_10:20); and happily he went as he was bidden, “doubting nothing.” Sir Isaac Newton once said: “It is very difficult to light a candle with the extinguisher on it,” and used the simile to denote a man who is blinded by prejudice. Peter had to remove the extinguisher of Jewish prejudice, and we do well to do the same when selfish interests hinder us from doing beneficent actions.
5. “Peter Went Away with Them” (Act_10:23). Being directed by the Lord, he knew he could do some good by going with the three men. When we act under the Lord’s direction we are always sure of doing some good to others.
6. “Peter Took Him Up” (Act_10:26). Cornelius was wrong in worshipping Peter, and Peter would have been wrong if he had allowed him to do so. We should not give to those who bring us blessing what belongs to the Lord. We thank God for His servants, but we must not put His servants in the place of Himself. A lot of young people once clustered round an evangelist who had been the means of great blessing to them, and said, “What shall we do when you go away?” Whereupon he replied, “If you tie your religion to my coat-tail I shall take it away with me.”
7. “Peter Opened His Mouth” (Act_10:34). The message which Peter delivered may be summarised under the following points, all of which centre in Christ:
(1) The word of peace which Christ brought—Act_10:36, Act_10:37.
(2) The work of Christ which He performed through God’s anointing in the power of the Spirit—Act_10:39.
(3) The walk of Christ in His healing ministry as He went about doing good, and the cause of it—for God was with Him—Act_10:38.
(4) The wonder of Christ’s Cross, for while men in their wickedness slew and hanged Him on a tree, that very tree has become a beacon light telling of salvation to all—Act_10:39; Deu_21:23; Gal_3:10.
(5) The witness of God in raising Christ from the dead, and in showing Him openly to those who were afterwards co-witnesses of the fact—Act_10:40, Act_10:41.
(6). The ordination of God setting apart Christ to be the Judge of the living and the dead—Act_10:42.
(7) And the offer of remission of sins to all who will believe in Christ—Act_10:43.
By: DR. F. E. MARSH