Peter hesitated because he was a law-keeping Jew who knew it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with Gentiles, and he went only because God forced the issue.
Les Feldick shows that Peter's hesitation was rooted in his continued commitment to Jewish law. Even at Cornelius's threshold, Peter said it was an unlawful thing for a Jew to enter a Gentile's home, and he added that God had shown him otherwise. Peter would never have gone up to Caesarea if God had not made the purpose so evident that he didn't dare say no.
Acts 10:28 — Peter's own words at Cornelius's door reveal the legal barrier that made the visit feel unlawful.
Acts 10:14 — Peter's refusal to eat unclean animals shows his continued law-keeping mindset before the vision.
When Peter was on the rooftop in Joppa, he saw a sheet let down from heaven containing animals that Jewish law classified as common or unclean. A voice told him to rise, kill, and eat, but Peter answered, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean (Acts 10:14). Later, after arriving at Cornelius's house, Peter acknowledged, 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 (Acts 10:28). These words show the legal barrier that made the visit problematic. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, the believers of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them (Acts 11:3). Peter answered by recounting that the Spirit bade him go with them, nothing doubting, and that six brethren accompanied him into the man's house (Acts 11:12).
Les Feldick frequently points out that Peter remained a careful law-keeping Jew. He was not about to break the law by eating something that was not kosher, and he was uncomfortable entering a house filled with Gentiles even though God had made sure this was what he was going to do. Les emphasizes that Peter would never have gone up to Caesarea had God not forced the issue. Peter went contrary to his own desires, and as he walked in the door he still said it was an unlawful thing for a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation. Les says Peter had no idea that God was about to move to the Gentile world, and that this was not a general Gentile commission: Peter was sent only to the house of Cornelius for a specific purpose. Even after the salvation of Cornelius's household, Les notes, Peter showed no indication that his eyes were opened to going to Gentiles. Twelve years later, in Acts 15, Peter defended Paul's ministry by reminding the Jewish leadership that God had by his mouth taken the gospel to the Gentiles long ago.
When Peter reached the threshold of Cornelius's house, he said to the Gentiles gathered there, 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 (Acts 10:28). Les sees Peter's language as evidence that Peter kept coming back to the law. Even as he walked across the threshold, Peter was saying, I'm not supposed to be here, and the only reason he went was that God had forced the issue.
Les says Peter went contrary to his own desires. God forced him to go up to the house of Cornelius, and Peter would never have gone there had God not made the purpose so evident that he didn't dare say no. In Acts 11:12 Peter himself reports that the Spirit bade him go with them, nothing doubting. Les stresses that this was a distinct divine purpose, not something Peter naturally wanted to do.
In Acts 11:12 Peter says, Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. Les identifies these as fellow Jewish believers. The text records their presence but does not give Peter's stated reason; the same verse also records that the Spirit bade Peter go with them, nothing doubting.
When Peter returned to Jerusalem, the believing Jews who were of the circumcision argued with him because he had gone into men uncircumcised and eaten with them (Acts 11:3). Les says the mentality of these believers was still law: you cannot sit down and eat Gentile food; it's not kosher; you can't go in and visit with Gentiles.
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Peter's Uncomfortable Entry
Les highlights that Peter, a law-keeping Jew, was uncomfortable entering a house full of Gentiles and only went because God forced the issue.
God Forced the Visit
Les says Peter went contrary to his own desires; God forced him to the house of Cornelius, and Peter had no idea God was about to turn to the Gentile world.
No General Gentile Commission
Les explains that Peter was not commissioned to go to the Gentiles in general, only to the house of Cornelius, and that Jerusalem's believing Jews still had a law mentality.
Peter's Law Language
Les shows Peter again returning to the law, saying it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation.
A Law-Keeping Jew
Les states Peter was a law-keeping Jew who would not break kosher laws, and that at Cornelius's threshold he still called the visit unlawful but acknowledged God had shown him.
Aftermath in Acts 15
Les notes that even after Acts 10, Peter showed no indication he was opening up to Gentile ministry; twelve years later he defended Paul based on what God did at Cornelius's house.
The Spirit's Compelling
Les emphasizes Peter would never have gone to Caesarea unless God made it so evident he didn't dare say no, and he notes the six Jewish brethren who accompanied him.
Acts 10:14: But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Peter's response to the heavenly vision shows his continued law-keeping mindset.
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 words at Cornelius's house state the legal barrier and the divine correction.
Acts 11:2: And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
The Jerusalem believers argued with Peter about his visit to uncircumcised men.
Acts 11:3: Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
The specific complaint against Peter was that he entered and ate with Gentiles.
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 explains that the Spirit compelled him to go and that six Jewish brethren accompanied him.
No. Les Feldick says Peter went contrary to his own desires. He would never have gone up to Caesarea had God not forced the issue, and Peter himself said it was an unlawful thing for a Jew to keep company with another nation.
Because he was a law-keeping Jew. Under the law, a Jew was not to keep company or come unto one of another nation. Peter used that language at the threshold of Cornelius's house, but added that God had shown him not to call any man common or unclean.
Les says Peter was not commissioned to go to the Gentiles in general; he was sent only to the house of Cornelius for a specific purpose. Even after the events of Acts 10, Peter showed no indication that he now planned to go to Gentiles.
The Bible records six brethren accompanied him (Acts 11:12). Les identifies them as fellow Jewish believers.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross