In chapter 10 of Acts, we read about a family of "God-fearers", or God-worshippers". Thus may we translate the Greek term theophoboumenoi. The expression refers to non-Jews who became affiliated with synagogues and were active, contributing members of the community, though without actually going through conversion and being bound to requirements like circumcision and the dietary laws. It was inevitable that the Jesus movement within Judaism would be in contact with these God-fearers, who could become full members of a Christian synagogue without strict adherence to Jewish law.
This family were headed by Cornelius, who was a Roman centurion, a soldier in charge of a hundred troops. In what is depicted as a double vision scenario, Cornelius is moved to send for Saint Peter. Peter, in turn has a vision, which he interprets as meaning that to God no person or thing is ritually unclean, and he is sent to find Cornelius. He explains his unusual experience to these gentiles and then preaches to them. Afterwards they catch on ("receive the Holy Spirit") and their whole lot are baptised by Peter.
That brings us up to today's reading. Peter soon takes a trip to headquarters in Jerusalem, where he is accosted for his new insight about inclusion. It would seem that the rancour develops, not because Paul has preached, or even baptised, but because he has maintained table fellowship. To be at table implies a certain equality, mutual-respect, and relationship. This does not sit well with mainstream Jews, who are afraid of assimilation into the greater culture and, thus, must maintain separation. Peter cannot resort to Scripture or to Jewish teaching but must make his defence grounded in direct revelation from the Spirit.
In the Anglican Tradition we speak of the "three-legged stool," meaning that revelation comes to us through Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. The last means that we believe that God's revelation is ongoing, unbound by time -- that from age to age the Spirit tells us that God is doing a new thing and spurs us in a different, perhaps uncomfortable, direction. We have had to answer the calls to accept modern science, to abolish slavery, to fight for racial equality and justice, to ordain women, and to embrace gay people. Like Peter, in none of those cases could we resort to biblical proof-texts or any established religious doctrines or laws. We too had to appeal to direct revelation. One might ask if there is some litmus test of legitimacy for such discernment. I would answer that wherever fear and ignorance, hatred and bigotry, are being vanquished, God is at work. Wherever barriers to human development are torn down and loving relationships established, the Spirit is on the move.
There is a Jewish story about a rabbi who asked his disciples how one can tell when night is past and daytime has arrived. One said, when you can distinguish a sycamore tree from a fig tree. Another opined, when you can tell a goat from a sheep, Still another proffered, when you can determine that someone is male or female at a distance, by their motion. No, said the rabbi, until you can gaze upon any human being and there see the face of your brother or sister, then no matter what time it is, it's still night. Thank God that we have been called to be people of the light.
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