The importance that Luke ascribed to the story of Peter and Cornelius can be measured by the space that he gave to it. The story is told in detail in chapter 10, retold in chapter 11, and touched on again in chapter 15. The issue it raised was a critical one. To date the gospel had been well established in Jerusalem and was extending throughout the Jewish territory (9:31). It was only a matter of time, therefore, before the limits of that territory would be reached (both geographically and demographically), and the problem of Gentile eligibility would have to be faced. What was needed was a test case—something to show clearly what God’s will was in the matter—and the case of Cornelius met that need. Of course, Luke had the advantage of hindsight. He saw a far greater significance in the a…