We looked at the story of Peter's vision and Cornelius' conversion from two perspectives:

Peter's Perspective: The Holy Spirit was on the move to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. God, though a vision, taught Peter to go beyond the food laws and share his life and love with Gentiles. He came to realize that God is not calling him to exclude people in the name of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Cornelius Perspective: (1) He came to realize his need for conversion. He was a good man, prayed regularly, gave generously, and feared God. Yet, God called him to convert because conversion is much more radical than moral living; (2) he was converted through believing the good news that Jesus is Lord and that he died for our sins; and (3) he was then baptized with the Holy Spirit.