Peter hesitated because he was still a Law-keeping Jew, and the Law of Moses made it unlawful for a Jew to keep company with or come unto a Gentile.
In Acts 10:28 Peter himself states that it was an unlawful thing for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation. Les Feldick emphasizes that Peter was a good law-keeping Jew with a lot of trepidation about entering a Gentile home, and that God had to make it so evident that Peter didn't dare say no. Even at the door, Peter announced the legal barrier before acknowledging God's direction.
Acts 10:28 — Peter himself gives the reason for his hesitation — the Law made it unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile.
Peter's hesitation is explained by his own words once he stood in Cornelius's house. Acts 10:28 records, "And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." The Book of Acts also shows that Peter did not act on his own. After the vision of a great sheet let down from heaven with all manner of living things in it (Acts 10:11-12), the Spirit directed Peter directly. Acts 11:12 records Peter's testimony: "And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house."
Les Feldick teaches that Peter hesitated because he was "still a good law-keeping Jew" who had "a lot of trepidation" about going to a Gentile household. The Mosaic Law forbade a Jew from keeping company with or coming unto someone of another nation, and Peter's own words at Cornelius's door — "it is an unlawful thing for me, a Jew, to keep company with someone of another nation" — show he was governed by that Law (Clips 1, 3, 5, 7). Les highlights that the word Peter uses is "unlawful" and asks, "What is Peter coming back to? The law." Les repeatedly emphasizes that Peter would never have made the trip on his own. God had to "force the issue" through a vision and the Spirit's explicit command. As Les puts it, "there were heel prints in the sand from Joppa to Caesarea" — Peter went reluctantly, fully convinced only because God made it so evident (Clips 2, 4, 5). Les also notes that Peter brought fellow Jewish believers with him from Joppa, and that this encounter was a one-time event in Peter's ministry: years later, Peter himself acknowledged that it had been twelve years since he entered the house of a Gentile, and he had not approached another Gentile in all that time (Clips 1, 6).
Peter said to Cornelius, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for him that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation" (Acts 10:28). Les Feldick highlights Peter's exact word, "unlawful," and points out that Peter is "coming back to the law." The barrier Peter felt was the Law of Moses, which separated Jews from Gentiles.
Les states plainly that "Peter would have never gone up to that Gentile home had God not taken drastic measures." God prepared Peter with a vision of a great sheet containing all manner of living things, and then the Spirit said, "go with them, nothing doubting" (Acts 11:12). Les pictures Peter's reluctance with an unforgettable image: "there were heel prints in the sand from Joppa to Caesarea."
No. Les notes that Peter took several fellow Jewish believers with him from Joppa to Caesarea because of his trepidation, and years later Peter had still not approached another Gentile. Reminded at the Jerusalem council of what had happened "a good while ago," Peter acknowledged it had been twelve years since the Cornelius visit — and he had not repeated it since. This shows how deep the Law's barrier ran, even for an apostle.
Jewish Believers Still Under the Law
Les explains that at this time Jewish believers were still under the Law, which is why Peter, a Law-keeping Jew, would consider associating with Gentiles unlawful.
Peter's Trepidation as a Law-Keeping Jew
Peter was still a good law-keeping Jew with a lot of trepidation about entering a Gentile home, and he took fellow Jewish believers with him for this reason.
The Spirit Made It Evident
Peter would never have gone up to Caesarea on his own; the Spirit made it so evident that he didn't dare say no.
The Unlawful Barrier and Divine Purpose
Peter announced that it was unlawful for a Jew to come into the house of another nation, yet God had a distinct divine purpose in sending him.
Heel Prints From Joppa to Caesarea
God gave Peter a vision to prepare him, and there were heel prints in the sand from Joppa to Caesarea because Peter didn't want to go.
Peter's Hard Time Comprehending
Peter had a hard time comprehending that God was going to deal with a Gentile, yet he had to recognize that God was doing something totally different.
Twelve Years Without Repeating the Visit
Twelve years passed and Peter had not approached another Gentile since the Cornelius visit, revealing how deep his hesitation ran.
The Word 'Unlawful' Points to the Law
Peter's word "unlawful" points back to the Law of Moses — that legal barrier is the root of his hesitation.
Acts 10:28: And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Peter's own explanation of why visiting a Gentile was unlawful for a Jew under the Law.
Acts 10:11-12: And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
The vision God gave Peter to prepare him — without it, Les says Peter would never have gone.
Acts 11:12: And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
Peter's rehearsal of how the Spirit compelled him to go and the brethren who accompanied him.
Les says God gave Peter a vision of a sheet with all manner of living things to prepare him, and then the Spirit bade him go with Cornelius's men 'nothing doubting' (Acts 11:12). Peter would never have gone otherwise — God forced the issue.
According to Les, Peter did not approach another Gentile in the twelve years following the Cornelius visit. At the Jerusalem council, God reminded Peter of what had happened 'a good while ago' — twelve years earlier — in the house of Cornelius.
Les explains that because of Peter's trepidation about entering a Gentile household, he took several fellow Jewish believers with him from Joppa to Caesarea. Acts 11:12 confirms six brethren accompanied him.
Peter uses the word 'unlawful' to describe a Jew keeping company or coming unto one of another nation. Les emphasizes that Peter is 'coming back to the law' — the Law of Moses was the barrier that made Peter hesitate.
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