The Vision of Cornelius • vs1-8 A Note in v.4 that Cornelius addressed this “angel of God” as “Lord”  

  B Note that God heard his “prayers,” eliminating the belief that God only hears the prayer for salvation.

Num 24:4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

Peter’s Vision • vs9-16 C This object lesson for Peter was to help him understand, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (v.15).  

  D In this case it included the Gentiles in the Kingdom of God, whom the Jews considered to be “common and unclean” (v.28).

  E According to Old Testament law (Lev. 20:25; Deut. 14:1- 29), Jews were to avoid eating certain kinds of animals—specifically, animals that God Himself called “unclean.”

Lev 20:25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.

  F God is trying to let Peter know that He is transitioning from Israel to the Church by using unclean animals as a metaphor for the Gentiles.

  G Before we’re too harsh on Peter, how many of us have said in our hearts, “Not so, Lord,” especially when we have read His Word and see what is required of us?

  H It is interesting to note that when Balaam (who also fell into a trance) tried to curse Israel for the Gentile king of Moab three times (Numbers 24:4, 10), God caused him to bless Israel instead!

Num 24:10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

Peter Receives the Men Sent by Cornelius • vs17-23 I You will notice in v.17 that Peter “doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,” but he would soon come to understand that God was bringing the Gentiles into His Kingdom, as was prophesied many times in the Old Testament  

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

  J Notice here in v.20 that “the Spirit” told Peter to “doubt nothing,” something v.17 notes he was already doing. And by saying, “I have sent them,” the Holy Spirit was showing His Deity.