In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” Acts 10:1-3

Devout man of God but not of the Jewish faith, Cornelius (in Caesarea) meets a vision of an angel of God who tells him to send messengers to Joppa asking Peter to come. Joppa is where Tabitha has been raised from the dead. At noon the next day Peter is praying on a Joppa rooftop where he falls into a trance and sees ritually impure animals, reptiles, and birds lowered to him in something like a large sheet.

Three times a Voice tells Peter to take and eat. Peter has never eaten these and at first refuses but then realizes it is the Lord when spoken three times. He sees the will of God on this important point. Nothing but what is pure can come down from heaven and this makes an important impression on Peter.

When Cornelius’ men appear and request that he go to Joppa with them he accepts. During this, Cornelius does not engage in business but stays with this intention that Peter is to come. Now, Peter speaks sparingly to the men. He does not reveal the whole vision that the Lord has revealed to him. Peter states, “… God has shown me to call no person common or unclean.” Nor we. Christ is available to all.