Levend Water
The Apostle of the Reconciliation - Charles H. Welch
Index - Page 45 of 159
THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION 45
of the new converts, both tell us that they received the gift of holy spirit, but there is a notable emphasis upon
baptism in water in Peter's ministry, which is just as noticeably absent in Paul's (Acts 2:38-47; 13:48-52).
We must now turn our attention to the second sub-division of Acts proposed at the head of chapter 4, viz.,
Reconciliation, and to this we will devote a separate chapter.
CHAPTER 7
The Dispensation of the Reconciliation
It is impossible to read Acts 10 and 11:1-18 without realizing that all the stir and agitation and questioning that
arose over the conversion of Cornelius indicate that the church at Jerusalem was facing a new phase of God's
purpose - the salvation of a Gentile:
`... when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou
wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning ...
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life' (Acts 11:2-4,18).
`To the Gentiles!'- Imagine these words being uttered in all solemnity, if the tradition were truth that `the church
began at Pentecost!' Peter's attitude in Acts 10 and that of the circumcision in Acts 11 show that up till that point the
inclusion of the Gentiles in the company of `the saved ones' was entirely absent from their thoughts. Peter goes to
Cornelius in response to a vision. The visions of the Acts mark important steps onward. What did Peter's vision
indicate? He saw a great sheet let down from heaven:
`Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of
the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never
eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath
cleansed, that call not thou common' (Acts 10:12-15).
While it is most certainly true that the animals indicated by God as clean and proper for Israel's diet are classified
according to most hygienic principles, nevertheless a deeper meaning than that connected with physical fitness is
intended. It is explained for us in Leviticus 20:24,25,26 :
`I am the LORD your God, which have SEPARATED YOU FROM OTHER PEOPLE. 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 ... I ... have SEVERED YOU FROM OTHER PEOPLE ... '.
The vision of Joppa intimated to Peter that Israel's exclusive position was waning, and that a new era was
approaching. The words of Peter's reply `common or unclean' are expressive. The word translated `common' occurs
in Mark 7:2 :
`And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled (margin common), that is to say, with
unwashen, hands, they found fault'.
`I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean (margin common) of itself' (Rom.
14:14).
so Acts 21:28 :
`... and further brought GREEKS also into the temple, and hath polluted (made common) this holy place'.
When Peter therefore approached Cornelius, he said (and one can feel the diffidence of his manner, so strange
was this), `Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing (that is, Peter had been up till this time under the law of
Leviticus 20:24, and all who had continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine had been the same) for a man that is
a Jew (Peter the apostle, the one to whom the keys of the kingdom of heaven had been entrusted, Peter, endued with