Double Vision Agreement

Scripture: Acts 10:3,11-17

About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" [Acts 10:3] and he [Peter] saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"[Acts 10:11].

But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate;

Background:
It is a turn very new and remarkable which the story of this chapter gives to the Acts of the apostles; hitherto, both at Jerusalem and every where else where the ministers of Christ came, they preached the gospel only to the Jews, or those Greeks that were circumcised and proselyted to the Jews’ religion; but now, "Lo, we turn to the Gentiles;’’ and to them the door of faith is here opened: good news indeed to us sinners of the Gentiles. The apostle Peter is the man that is first employed to admit uncircumcised Gentiles into the Christian church; and Cornelius, a Roman centurion or colonel, is the first that with his family and friends is so admitted. Now here we are told, I. How Cornelius was directed by a vision to send for Peter, and did send for him accordingly (v. 1-8). II. How Peter was directed by a vision to go to Cornelius, though he was a Gentile, without making any scruple of it, and did go accordingly (v. 9–23). III. The happy interview between Peter and Cornelius at Cesarea (v. 24–33). IV. The sermon Peter preached in the house of Cornelius to him and to his friends (v. 34–43). V. The baptizing of Cornelius and his friends with the Holy Ghost first, and then with water (v. 44–48).

Commentary:
Peter was at Simon the tanners house and he fell into a trance. During the time he was caught up, he had vision of all types of animals, and creeping things. God told Peter to kill and eat, but Peter rejected what God was saying. God continued to show this vision to Peter a total of three times. When Peter came out of the trance, he doubted the vision and was perplexed. That's when God sent three men from Corneilus' house in search of Peter; who also had a vision prior to the vision of Peter. God told Peter not to doubt and to go with the three men because He had sent them. Even though Peter was perplexed, and doubted in his heart the meaning and the purpose of the vision, God persisted with giving him the same vision with no revision. God also sent the answer to the vision while Peter was still in his doubtful state, because his doubt did not determine the answer that God had already provided pertaining to Corneilus. Let us remember the importance of fulfilling our part of the vision that God gives us, and not to doubt what He has spoken to us.

Reflection:
When the three men arrived in front of the house of where Peter was staying; they were separated by a gate.

1. What stands between you and the gate?
2. What in your life represents the gate?
3. What blocks you from accepting the answer that God has already provided?
4. What vision does God keep giving you, that you continually reject?

Even though we don't see the whole picture and possibly we become perplexed about what is going on in our life, this is a perfecy example of ttrusting God even though we don't necessarily understand what is happening. The main thing is to trust God because He loves us and only desires the best for us; and has already prepared the way for us.

Blue Letter Bible Definitions: Acts 10:17

Peter: 4074 - A rock or a stone - one of the 12 disciples.

Was Greatly: 1280 - To be entirely at a loss, to be in perplexity.

In mind: 1438 - Himself

The Vision: 3705 - A sight divinely granted in an ecstacy or in a sleep,
a vision.

Might Be, Behold: 2400 - See, lo

Who had been sent: 649 - To order one to go to a place appointed.

By Corneilius: 2883 - Of a horn, a Roman Centurion of the Italian Cohort stationed in Caesarea who converted to Christianity.

Having asked direction: 1331 - To find out by asking inquire.

Appeared: 2186 - Coming upon one suddenly. To be at hand.

At the Gate: 4440 - A large gate of a palace. The front part of a house, into which one enters through a gate, porch.

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Acts of the Apostles 10 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 2 Jul 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&c=10&t=NASB >

Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Acts 10." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 2 Jul 2010.
< http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm? AuthorID=4&contentID=1698&commInfo=5&topic=Acts&ar=Act_10_1 >

Higgins, S. (2010). Double Vision Agreement. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.higginspublishing.com.