In Saul of Tarsus and Cornelius, the church had evangelistic prospects that stretched the limits of the early church’s tolerance. As a member of the very Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus and prosecuted the disciples and as one who had murdered believers, Saul of Tarsus would be a challenging addition to any first-century Christian congregation. As a Roman centurion, like the man who crucified Jesus, and a Gentile, Cornelius’ entry into the church would also involve significant adjustments on the part of the church.

What is interesting about these stories (Acts 9:11; 10:7-8, 24-25) is that both Saul and Cornelius were quite willing in their response to their heavenly visions. This is in contrast with the difficulties God had in convincing both Ananias and Peter to overcome their fears and prejudices. Ananias is quite willing to respond to whatever the Lord might ask him (Acts 9:10) until he learns what the mission is (Acts 9:11-12). Instead of trusting that God knows what he is doing, Ananias argues with God (Acts 9:13-14) on the basis of Saul’s reputation. Only when God gives him a forceful command along with some explanation does he obey (Acts 9:15-16).

In Acts 10:9-20 the Lord had to startle Peter with a shocking vision, while carefully arranging the timing of that vision with the arrival of the envoys from Cornelius and the Spirit’s insistence that Peter go and meet with them. Only then was Peter convinced to comply with the request. Although Peter does not seem to have raised an objection to going with Cornelius’ men (Acts 9:29), he is clearly out of his comfort zone (Acts 10:28) and only went because God had intervened.

In both cases the new believers, Saul and Cornelius, were more willing to connect with the church than the church leaders were to connect with them. The apostles did not expect that God would ask them to relate differently to Gentiles than their Israelite ancestors had done, they needed a special revelation to grasp that (Acts 10:28; 11:1-18), and even then it took time to sink in.

In the Seventh-day Adventist Roadmap for Mission (Available online at http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other-documents/roadmap.html), workers are advised to set a timetable for bringing "special affinity groups" into traditional churches. This is wise counsel in general, but Acts 9 and 10 illustrate how problematic such a plan can prove in some circumstances, particularly on the side of the church. Four direct revelations from the Lord were needed to accomplish that task in Acts. And the two apostles were more reluctant to receive those revelations than were the new believers. Rather than setting timetables to bring murderers and Gentiles into the church, the apostles needed divine intervention to even begin to take up the challenge. So unless the idea of timetables is handled with great wisdom and flexibility today (being sensitive to the Lord’s timing) it could cause us to lag behind the Lord.