Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
It is significant that Cornelius was a Gentile, devout to the Lord. Cornelius was not just any Gentile, he was devout, just, feared God and he blessed Israel (Acts 10:22). God said he would bless those who blessed the nation of Israel in Genesis 12:3. His prayers and alms came up to God as a memorial (Acts 10:4).
10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
Peter had a vision of the Lord and was told that what the Lord had said was clean should not be seen as otherwise. The Lord was talking of Gentiles, no longer being deemed as unclean.
10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
It could be assumed his kinsmen and friends were Gentiles.
10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Peter was not dispensing new revelation here, he was speaking what was in the law and prophets, he was speaking prophecy. Prophecy is not limited to foretelling the future, it also communicates revelations of the purposes and knowledge of God. Prophecy is not hidden knowledge, but can be searched within the law and the prophets.
It was already revealed in the prophetic scriptures that God was not a respecter of persons as can be read in Deuteronomy 1:17 Deuteronomy 10:17 and Proverbs 24:23.
10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
This was also according to prophecy as we can find this knowledge in Ecclesiastes 12:13 Psalm 147:11 and Luke 1:50.
10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all: )
Jesus is Lord of all, but he went first, to the house of Israel.
10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Here Peter is accusing Israel in slaying Jesus just as he did in Acts 2:23.
10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Peter is not preaching the cross here, he is preaching faith in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. Peter is not preaching mystery as Paul, but prophecy. Prophecy preached that Jesus would justify and forgive the sins of Israel as seen in Isaiah 53:11 Jeremiah 31:34 Daniel 9:24 Micah 7:18.
10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter's message was interrupted as the believing Gentiles received the Holy Ghost, just as the Jews had.
10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
These Gentiles spoke with tongues as a sign. Jesus said those who believed on the name of Jesus and the gospel of the kingdom on earth would speak with tongues in Mark 16:17. According to 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 tongues were to speak unto unbelieving Israel as a sign; Paul in this verse was manifesting Isaiah 28:11. Tongues was an evidence that Peter was still dealing with prophecy and not the mystery revealed to Paul.
10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Peter, preaching the gospel of the Circumcision, commanded baptism under the commandments given to Israel to believe and be baptized as seen in Luke 3:21 Luke 7:29 Acts 2:38 Acts 8:12 and Mark 16:16. Cornelius and the Gentiles were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus as prescribed for believing Israel, who believed on the name of Jesus. Israel was saved by believing on the name of the Lord Jesus, that he is Christ, the Son of God, as seen in John 20:31. Peter was not preaching the full revelation of the cross given to Paul, and Cornelius was not the first Gentile in the church, the body of Christ. Cornelius was a Gentile grafted into the good olive tree of believing Israel of Romans 11:24, to provoke Israel to jealousy as seen in Romans 11:11.
The book of Acts is a transitional book; it moves from the old economy of the law to the dispensation of Grace; it moves from the diminishing of Israel, toward the Gentiles. It moves from Peter to Paul.
To Peter it was revealed that God was moving in a new way with the Gentiles, however, Peter was not preaching the mystery, but rather prophecy, as witnessed by the law and the prophets. Peter was preaching the same message that he preached in Acts 2. Paul preached both mystery and Christ from the law and the prophets (Romans 16:25-26). Paul fully manifested the law and the prophets that witnessed Christ.
