Peter goes to great lengths to determine just what is going on in this encounter with Cornelius. Why did you ask me here? What do you have to say? What do you want from me? He's not jumping to any conclusions here. He's probing carefully to discern what is happening and how he is to be part of it.
Is it because Jesus is gone now? He's ascended to the right hand of God. He's not right there in the flesh to guide, correct, encourage, or challenge Peter. Is it because he sees that the Gospel message is passing into new areas and peoples? That's certainly going to happen. But is there maybe another reason?
There is one big difference between impulsive Peter before and careful, deliberate, and measured Peter we see here. Could it be the Holy Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience... (Galatians 5). There it is! Patience!
