How can Acts 10:13 inspire us to overcome cultural barriers in evangelism today? Setting the Scene Peter was a devout Jew who kept the dietary laws God had given Israel. While praying on a rooftop in Joppa, he fell into a trance and saw a sheet lowered from heaven filled with animals considered unclean under Mosaic law. Key Verse “Then a voice said to him: ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat!’” (Acts 10:13) What God Taught Peter • The command came directly from heaven, carrying divine authority. • God declared previously forbidden animals acceptable, signaling that the wall separating Jew and Gentile was coming down. • Peter’s obedience opened the door for the gospel to reach Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, showing that salvation is for “everyone who believes” (Acts 10:43). Lessons for Today • God’s Word overrides cultural prejudices. If He calls something clean, we must not call it unclean. • Evangelism must follow God’s initiative, not our comfort zones. • The gospel is meant for every ethnic group; any reluctance on our part opposes God’s revealed will. • Personal transformation often precedes corporate breakthrough; Peter’s vision changed the church’s trajectory. Practical Steps to Cross Cultural Barriers • Examine our hearts for hidden biases and submit them to Scripture. • Seek and accept divine appointments with people unlike us, just as Peter went to Cornelius. • Learn other cultures humbly—listen first, speak later—so the message does not get tangled in unnecessary offense. • Present the gospel in clear, faithful terms while affirming the equal worth of every hearer. • Remember that the Holy Spirit, not cultural similarity, is the true bond of fellowship (Acts 10:44–45). Supporting Scriptures • Ephesians 2:14—“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility.” • Galatians 3:28—“There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” • Matthew 28:19—“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” • 1 Corinthians 9:22—“I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some.” • Revelation 7:9—“A great multitude … from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue.” Closing Thoughts Acts 10:13 reminds us that God’s command to reach the nations is bigger than our traditions, bigger than our fears, and backed by His own authority. When He says “Get up,” we rise; when He says “eat,” we accept fellowship with people we once avoided. By obeying, we participate in His unfolding plan to gather a people for Himself from every corner of the earth. |
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