Big Ideas

1. Dreams, visions, and angels
The primary way God speaks to his people is through his Word. However, at times, God uses dreams, visions, and angels to communicate with and instruct individuals. God used the angel Gabriel to announce the coming birth of Jesus to Mary. God used an angel in a vision to instruct Joseph not to leave his pregnant virgin fiancé. In this story, God uses both visions and angels to help Peter and Cornelius learn about the blessings of the Gospel.

2. Divine appointments
One of the things that stands out in this text is how God was at work in both Peter and Cornelius, arranging for their introduction and fellowship. God spoke to Peter three times in a dream. He also gave Cornelius a vision in which an angel appeared to him. Both of these unique experiences brought Peter and Cornelius together for a divine appointment which would prove transformative for the early Church.

3. God shows no partiality among those who trust in Christ
The encounter between Peter and Cornelius accomplished two important things. First, Peter brought the Gospel to Cornelius and, as a result, numerous Gentiles at Caesarea believed and were baptized. Second, God demonstrated to Peter that the ethnic divisions that had been part of Israel’s past history had been demolished in and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16). Believing Jews and Gentiles were now equals in Christ. Neither Peter nor anyone else could reject those to whom God had given his Spirit.

Study Questions
1. What is the significance of Peter’s vision? What did it mean for God to instruct Peter to kill and eat any animal?
2. Has God ever spoken to you or given you encouragement through a dream or a vision? What is the danger of trusting in dreams or visions?
3. The early Church, which was primarily made up of believing Jews, struggled to accept believing Gentiles as equals in Christ. Are there any believing groups or individuals that you struggle to see and accept as equals in Christ?