Acts 10:17-23 (NIV)

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?" The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

The scriptures support that Peter was intrigued by the vision God had given him. It records that Peter was wondering and still thinking on it. Literally while he was meditating on it the Spirit tells him that there are men coming and to not hesitate in going with them. But Peter did hesitate. He hesitated by needing to know why? Sound familiar? Peter, here, is like us in too many ways. We often need to know the reason “why” to everything that God is doing. So we hesitate in doing what God wants. The Spirit said to not hesitate, but that is exactly what Peter did.

*“On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest; and in resting died. Governor Alai Stevenson of Illinois (1949)

Hesitate, means to slowly act or proceed forward. There are times when I think it is best to be cautious but Peter was just told by the Spirit that this wasn’t one of those times. Cornelius didn’t hesitate. However, this is Peter we are talking about or maybe it’s because there is something more underneath the surface of this event…like the fact that this is about the Gentiles receiving the Gospel. The Bible doesn’t let us into the emotional feelings of Peter at that moment, but it’s possible that in hesitating we see that there is still some heart issues being worked out in Peter.

This isn’t unfounded thinking. Paul wrote about a moment in which even after this event Peter still struggled with the Gentiles receiving the Gospel.

Galatians 2:11-13 (NIV)

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Peter had an issue with Gentiles. He probably had good reasons too. Still Christ commanded him to not hesitate and go. Peter hesitated with the asking of a question. Thankfully it wasn’t for too long because what is about to happen changes the direction of the church. What is about to happen changes the future of the church.