God had been preparing Peter to go to a Gentile's house (something strict Jews would refuse to do) in order to preach the gospel. A vision of ceremonially unclean animals, accompanied by the Lord's voice telling Peter not to treat anything as unclean any more (Acts 10:9-16), came just before the three men arrived from Caesarea (Acts 10:4-8) asking that he go with them to the home of a Roman centurion.

Peter was given no time to work out what he thought he should do. Instead the Holy Spirit commanded him to get up to meet Cornelius' messengers and not to hesitate to go with them because the Lord said that He had sent them. It was His plan to send Peter to a Gentile's house; and it was important that he did not waste time. Normally, visitors would have been treated to lengthy greetings and extensive hospitality for up to three days. But the Lord wanted to send Peter on the mission sooner. He had been prepared, now he needed to obey.

The hospitality was cut short to a meal and an overnight stay. But that was also significant; a Jew had intentionally invited Gentiles into the home. God's message to Peter was getting through. Early the next morning the four men were on the road. They were also accompanied by other believers in Joppa – to be witnesses of what the Lord was going to do, as well as being willing to support Peter in the first Gentile mission of the church.

When God wants us to serve Him in a way which we have not been used to, He will prepare us in ways He knows will best intrigue and command us to obey Him when the opportunity comes. If you know that the Lord has been preparing you for some personal change which you are reluctant to do, do not be surprised if He expects you to grasp a new opportunity sooner than you might have liked, and commands you to obey (John 2:5). If that happens, you know what to do … do it, obediently despite your prejudices to the contrary.