Back for a lil
more study from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, I see. Awesome ... So
many people choose to read many other different kinds of literature, when
the Word of God, is the best book ever written, AND, you can read it over
and over again, and you’ll understand something new every time.
Our study begins
with a man in Cæsarea called Cornelius,
a centurion of the band called the Italian band. Now let’s stop here for two
tiny little Daily Bread Crumbs. The first one is a review of a previous
Crumb. A centurion is a captain of 100 soldiers. The second one is the
definition of the word band. A band in this case, is a troop. So,
from this we can assume that Cornelius is a Roman (Gentile) officer living
in Cæsarea, who is in charge of 100
soldiers.
Cornelius was a
man devoted to the Lord. He and his family feared God, gave much alms to the
people, and prayed to God always. One day at about 3 p.m. he had an open
vision of an Angel of God coming in to him, and saying, Cornelius.
Time for a Daily
Bread Stick! What is an open vision? It’s a vision that occurs when a
person is conscious and an evident message is given to them from God. It’s
like a dream, only the person receiving the vision is awake. In the Old
Testament it’s described as being in a trance with your eyes open.
When Cornelius
looked at the Angel, he was afraid and said, What is it, Lord? The Angel
said to him, Your prayers and your alms have been noticed by God. Now, send
men to Joppa, and ask for Peter, who lodges with Simon the tanner, whose
house is by the seaside. He’ll tell you what you should do.
When the Angel
left, Cornelius called two of his household servants, and a godly soldier of
those who served him continually. He told them about the vision and sent
them to Joppa. The next day, as they traveled and came near to the city,
Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. He became very hungry,
and would have eaten, but while they prepared food, he fell into a trance.
He saw heaven
opened, and a certain vessel coming down upon him, like a great sheet, drawn
together at the four corners, and let down to the earth. There were all
kinds of four footed beasts of the earth and wild animals, and creeping
things and birds of the air in it. And a voice came to him saying, Get up
Peter. Kill and eat.
But, Peter said,
Oh no, Lord, I’ve never eaten anything that’s common (ordinary) or
unclean. The voice spoke to him again a second time, What God has cleansed,
do not call common. This was done three times and the vessel was taken up
again into heaven.
While Peter
wondered in his heart what this vision meant, the men who were sent from
Cornelius had asked for directions to Simon’s house and stood outside the
gate, asking whether Peter was there. While Peter thought about the vision,
the Spirit said to him, Look, three men are looking for you. Get down from
the roof and go with them, doubting nothing, because I sent them. Peter went
down to the men and said, I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?
They said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one who fears God, and
of good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by
a holy Angel to send for you at this house and to listen to you.
You can sense that
the Gentiles still feel that the Jewish people think of them as inferior,
the way they felt like they had to justify Cornelius’ worthiness of Peter to
go see him. He called them in and gave them accommodations, and the next
day, Peter went away with them with certain friends from Joppa accompanying.
The next day they entered into Cæsarea,
and Cornelius waited for them, and had invited his relatives and neighboring
friends.
As Peter was
coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshipped him.
Put Peter lifted him up, and said, Stand up, I myself am also a man. And as
he talked with him, he went inside, and found that many were gathered
together. Peter said to them, You know how it is an unlawful thing for a man
that is Jewish to keep company or go to the home of someone from another
nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man common or
unclean. So I came to you without argument, as soon as I was sent for. Now I
ask you, for what reason you have sent for me?
Cornelius answered, Four
days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at 3 p.m. I prayed in my house
and suddenly a man stood in front of me in bright clothing and said,
Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your alms have been noticed by God. Send
to Joppa and call Peter here, and when he arrives, he’ll speak to you. So I
immediately sent for you and it was good of you to come. We’re all present
here before God now, to hear all the things that are commanded to you, of
God.
Remember here,
that Peter is used to the concept of spreading the Good News to the Jewish
people ONLY, because when Jesus was with the apostles, Jesus said that He
was there for the lost sheep of Israel. But the Lord has just opened
Peter’s eyes to the fact that it is now the
Time of the Gentiles and there is
no impartiality of nations, He wants everyone to be saved. Peter said,
Of a truth, I perceive that God has no favoritism in
people, but in every nation, whoever fears Him, and works righteousness, is
accepted with Him. The word that God sent to the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (He is Lord of all) that word, I say, you
know, which was published throughout all Judæa
and began from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached, how God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Ghost
and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
And we are witnesses of all things that He did both in the land of the Jews,
and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: God raised Him up the
third day, and showed Him openly; not to all the people, but to witnesses
chosen before God. To us He appeared, who did eat and drink with Him after
He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to
testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick
(living) and dead. All the prophets witnessed about Him, that through His
name, whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.
While Peter was still
speaking, the Holy Ghost fell on all those who heard the word. These are
gentiles and they had not been baptized with water but the Holy Spirit came
upon them anyway. The Jewish people who believed (those who came with Peter)
were surprised, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was also poured out on
the Gentiles.
They heard them speak
with tongues, and magnify God. Then Peter asked, Can any man forbid water,
that these shouldn’t be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well
as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
And they asked Peter to stay with them for awhile.
The Lord works in
mysterious ways alright! Sometimes you may receive a message from God in a
dream or in a vision, and you may not know the meaning of it until a later
time. The important thing is to open your heart to Him, because you never
know if He’s guiding you in the way to saving a soul for Him.
Here’s another
great thing to note. Peter spoke to Cornelius and his friends and family for
the space of about one minute, and they believed and received the Holy
Spirit within that time. He can work through you that quickly too. Open your
heart to Him.
Come back soon for
another Daily Bread and we’ll find out about more adventures, and
accomplishments of the apostles as we continue our study of the book of
Acts. See you again!
