初代教會第一樁會眾之間的爭議，是說希臘語和說希伯來語的寡婦之間，所得接濟不均的問題。第一樁教會領袖之間的爭議，則在於是否接納大數人掃羅為同工。但真正產生危機的，則是教會史上第一樁神學爭議。

        這個問題簡單的說，就是猶太傳道人該不該向外邦人傳講有關猶太人彌賽亞的福音。不潔淨的外邦人不是在恩典之外嗎﹖

        問題的複雜處就在猶太人與外邦人長久以來的隔離。希伯來人長久沉緬於十分講求潔淨的律法（看看利未記就知道了！）他們對區分潔淨和不潔淨的事物很敏感。不用說，一個猶太人是絕不會與外邦人一起吃飯的。向外邦人講道包含了團契和交通──共餐。這是令猶太人反感的事。

        這就是為什麼主要讓彼得在異象中看那一布袋不潔淨的動物，否則彼得是絕不會到哥尼流家的。耶路撒冷教會領袖對福音的視野應該要更寬大，而有誰比彼得自己更適合做突破福音界限的先鋒呢﹖經過哥尼流事件，大數人掃羅在其他使徒眼中，看起來也順眼多了──因為正是因他大膽向外邦人傳道而遭受懷疑。

        不過，彼得還是必須對他的行為作許多解釋（十一章），其他使徒才接受了上帝所啟示的信息：上帝接納各國各方的人。所有呼求主名的人都必得救。

        親愛的上帝，謝謝您聽哥尼流的禱告，派遣彼得去告訴他您兒子耶穌基督的事，哥尼流全家和他的鄰舍因此得救。我們謙卑的求您也使救恩臨到我們所有的家人和鄰舍身上。奉耶穌的的名，阿們。

English

        The first major social controversy in the early church concerned the equal distribution of assistance to both Greek – and Hebrew-speaking windows (ch.6). The first major leadership controversy dealt with the acceptance of Saul of Tarsus as a fellow preacher. The first major theological controversy was, perhaps, the first crisis of magnitude.

        The issue, simply stated, related to the preaching of a Jewish gospel, by Jewish preachers, of a Jewish Messiah, to Gentiles. What was the point? Weren’t the unwashed Gentiles beyond the reach of Grace?

        Complicating the issue was a long tradition of separation. The Hebrews were steeped in cleanliness laws (just read Leviticus!) and keenly tuned to the clean/unclean division o\in the world. Some, of course, were more “kosher” than others, but it went without saying that a Jew never ate with a Gentile. Preaching to Gentiles would entail fellowship and communion – sharing the table. Top them this was repugnant!

        That’s why the Lord had to drop that sheet of unclean animals into Peter’s vision (10:9-23). There was no way Peter ever would have gone to Cornelius’ house otherwise. The Jerusalem Council’s view of the parameters of the Gospel message had to be stretched, and who better to be the spark than Peter himself. After this event, even Saul of Tarsus looked a bit better – part of the suspicion surrounding him had been his untoward openness to preaching to Gentiles.

        Nevertheless, Peter had a lot of explaining to do (see Ch.11), but in the end, the apostles accepted the revealed message: God accepts people from every nation. All who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved.

        Dear God, thank You for Cornelius, the Gentile who prayed to You and gave generously. Thank You that just as his prayers and giving came up before our throne, so do ours. You responded by sending Peter to tell them of Jesus Your Son. Cornelius’ entire family and his neighbors were saved. We humbly ask You for the salvation of all our family and our neighbors. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.