Was Peter Eating Bacon?

One of the worst things an observant Jewish boy could do was eat in the presence of Gentiles, especially Gentiles who ate bacon. What an uproar Peter caused when he was found in the company of Gentiles breaking bread:

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. ² But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. ³ “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said. Acts 11: 1-3 (NLT)

Peter had gone to Caesarea in obedience to the Word of the Lord to go to the house of a Roman officer named Cornelius. Cornelius had sent for Peter after receiving the Word to do so after prayer. While there something phenomenal happened:

⁴² And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. ⁴³ He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

⁴⁴ Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Acts 11:42-46 (NLT)

Peter came to the house of Cornelius and preached Jesus. While Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon the household of Cornelius. When Peter saw what was happening, he knew that God was no respecter of persons and that God was going to visit the Gentiles the same way He had visited the Jews.

When Peter returned to Jerusalem he was criticized by his Jewish brethren. They were shocked that he went to a Gentile home and even more shocked that Peter had sat and ate with them. While I am sure Peter had no bacon – his very presence there made him suspect to the brethren.

How many times do we, even today judge our brothers and sisters when they do something outside the realm of what we know is acceptable Christian conduct? Maybe they go to a secular event where there is drinking and carousing. Do we place that person in the same category Peter was placed in without knowing the facts. In a world where the world won’t go to church, somebody has to go to the world!

Maria