The Great Commission given by the Lord was to preach the gospel to all nations and they shall be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the corners of the world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) Yet, Lord had to nudge Peter to go out to reach Gentiles.
1) Vision or trance: Peter was staying in Joppa along with Simon the Tanner. As he was praying on the rooftop, he saw a sheet descending from the sky, with all kinds of animals placed on it. A voice was heard asking Peter to kill and eat. Peter refused stating that he will not be defiled by non-kosher meat. the Lord said that Peter cannot call anything common that has been sanctified by Him. It happened thrice. Lord impressed that he cannot call any human being as common and exclude them from fellowship. (Acts 10:9-16)
2) Angelic appearance: An angel appeared to Cornelius when he was praying at his home, who asked him to invite Peter to his home. Cornelius sent two of his personal servants and a loyal soldier to invite Peter. (Acts 10:22) If an angel could enter the home of a Gentile, why can’t he?
3) From Joppa – Gentile mission: Jonah the prophet who was sent to Nineveh, boarded a ship to Tarshish from Joppa. (Jonah 1:3) God is sending Peter with the gospel on a Gentile mission. Will he be disobedient not to go to Caesarea, choose to go back home to Jerusalem? Peter obeyed and went along with six believers from Joppa to Caesarea.
4) Roman Centurion: Lord Jesus Christ’s first ministry to Gentiles was the healing of a servant of a Roman Centurion. (Luke 7:1-10) Now, Peter also will go to Gentiles, by ministering to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion.
5) Holy Spirit: When Peter was preaching in the home of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit fell on all the hearers. This resembles what had happened to the 120 in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 10: 44; Acts 2)
Am I grateful for the gospel that includes me also?