哥尼流是罗马军队中的一位百夫长，他“敬畏神”，又慷慨地周济穷人。他并没有完全皈依犹太教，所以对于所有遵守犹太律法的人来说，他是个外邦人。这就意味着他不能和任何犹太人来往。
我们今天的经文宣告的信息，是整本旧约圣经都在低声诉说的。神曾告诉亚伯拉罕，他的后裔将成为“万民”的祝福（创 12:3）。现在，神呼召彼得来把这祝福给出去，因为神也会透过哥尼流来工作。
犹太人自古以来就被教导，有些食物以及非犹太人（外邦人）是“不洁净”的。但现在神在给彼得的异象中改变了这一切。一块布从天而降，里面有各种动物，有个声音让彼得起来吃。尽管彼得很饿，他还是说自己不会吃任何“不洁”的东西。但那个声音说，神所洁净的，人不可当作俗物。
这个异象一连出现三次，接着就有人邀请彼得去哥尼流家里。彼得明白，神的灵要改变一些事，他需要跟随圣灵的引导。在这个圣灵降临节主日，我们要记得，圣灵依然在作工，在塑造教会。
天地的神，我们承认，我们还在把这个世界分成“我们”和“他们”。请帮助我们看见，所有人都是蒙你所爱，值得接受你恩典的人。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
使徒行传 10:1-23
1在恺撒利亚有一个人名叫哥尼流，是“意大利营”的百夫长。
2他是个虔诚人，他和全家都敬畏神，多多赒济百姓，常常祷告神。
3有一天，约在申初，他在异象中明明看见神的一个使者进去，到他那里，说：“哥尼流！”
4哥尼流定睛看他，惊怕说：“主啊，什么事呢？”天使说：“你的祷告和你的赒济达到神面前，已蒙记念了。
5现在你当打发人往约帕去，请那称呼彼得的西门来。
6他住在海边一个硝皮匠西门的家里，房子在海边上。”
7向他说话的天使去后，哥尼流叫了两个家人和常伺候他的一个虔诚兵来，
8把这事都述说给他们听，就打发他们往约帕去。
9第二天，他们行路将近那城，彼得约在午正上房顶去祷告。
10觉得饿了，想要吃。那家的人正预备饭的时候，彼得魂游象外，
11看见天开了，有一物降下，好像一块大布，系着四角，缒在地上，
12里面有地上各样四足的走兽和昆虫，并天上的飞鸟。
13又有声音向他说：“彼得，起来，宰了吃！”
14彼得却说：“主啊，这是不可的！凡俗物和不洁净的物，我从来没有吃过。”
15第二次有声音向他说：“神所洁净的，你不可当做俗物。”
16这样一连三次，那物随即收回天上去了。
17彼得心里正在猜疑之间，不知所看见的异象是什么意思，哥尼流所差来的人已经访问到西门的家，站在门外，
18喊着问：“有称呼彼得的西门住在这里没有？”
19彼得还思想那异象的时候，圣灵向他说：“有三个人来找你。
20起来，下去，和他们同往，不要疑惑，因为是我差他们来的。”
21于是彼得下去见那些人，说：“我就是你们所找的人。你们来是为什么缘故？”
22他们说：“百夫长哥尼流是个义人，敬畏神，为犹太通国所称赞。他蒙一位圣天使指示，叫他请你到他家里去，听你的话。”
23彼得就请他们进去，住了一宿。
“The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’” — Acts 10:15
Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army, was “God-fearing” and gave generously to people in need. He was not a full convert to the Jewish faith, so he was considered a Gentile by all who followed the laws of the Jewish community. This meant he could not associate with anyone who was Jewish.
Our Scripture for today declares a message that was whispered throughout the Old Testament. God had told Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing to “all peoples” (Genesis 12:3). And now God called Peter to participate in bringing that blessing as God also worked through Cornelius.
For centuries the Jews were taught that certain foods, as well as people who were non-Jews (Gentiles), were “unclean,” but now God changed all that in a vision he gave to Peter. A sheet coming down from heaven had all kinds of animals on it, and a voice told Peter to eat. Though Peter was hungry, he said he would not eat anything that was “unclean.” But the voice said that if God had made it all clean, no one should call it unclean.
The vision came three times, and then Peter was invited to visit Cornelius. Peter understood that the Spirit of God was changing things and that he needed to follow where the Spirit would lead. On this Pentecost Sunday, we remember that the Spirit is still at work to shape and mold the church.
God of heaven and earth, we confess that we still divide this world into “us” and “them.” Help us to see all people as loved by you and worthy of your grace. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
