p. 13 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 12.

The Sunday School

International Series.

Lesson II.—Sunday, April 11, 1897.

CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS.

Note.—The church of Jesus Christ, filled with the new wine of the Gospel, the life of God, continuing to grow, receives the Gentiles on equal footing with the Jews. One who is conversant with the history and customs of the Jews will readily understand what a great question was involved in this broadening of the church, and in putting away the traditional customs with which the history of the Jewish people was saturated. The Jewish narrowness was not of God but of men. He is no respecter of persons. Chapter 10 and chapter 11:1-18 should be read in connection with the lesson. Commit verses 36-38.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 10:30-44, R. V.

30 “And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 31 Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of one Simon a tanner, by the sea side. 32 Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord. 33 And Peter opened his mouth, and said, 34 “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. 35 The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)—that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 36 even Jesus of Nazareth, how that God anointed him 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. 37 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree. 38 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, 39 who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 40 And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 41 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins. 44 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”

Golden Text.—“Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) In answer to Peter’s question in verse 29, what did Cornelius say he had been doing? Verse 30, first part. (2) What appeared to him? Ib., last clause. (3) What assurance did the angel convey to Cornelius? Verse 31. Note 1. (4) What directions did he give to Cornelius? Verse 32, first part. (5) What part was Peter to have in answering the prayer of Cornelius? Ib., last clause. Note 2. (6) How did Cornelius show the earnestness of his petition? Verse 33, first part. (7) What showed the readiness of Cornelius and his company to hear and heed the Lord’s instruction? Ib., last part. Note 3. (8) What lesson had all these circumstances taught to Peter? Verse 34. Note 4. (9) What did this characteristic of God make possible for all? Verse 35. Note 5. (10) What word did Peter say God had sent to the children of Israel? Verse 36. (11) Where did that word begin? Verse 37. (12) From what did it date? Ib. (13) How well was it known? Ib. (14) What else did they know of Jesus Christ? Verse 38. (15) What reason did he give for the power Christ exercised? Ib., last clause. (16) What relation did he sustain to the work of Christ previous to the crucifixion? Verse 39, first part. (17) Notice Peter’s characteristic accusation of the slayers of his Lord in verse 39, last clause. (18) In what had God shown his acceptance of Christ’s work? Verse 40. (19) To whom was this resurrection made manifest? Verse 40, 41. (20) What command was Peter now fulfilling? Verse 42, first clause. (21) What testimony were the followers of Christ to give? Ib., last part. (22) How did Peter link Christ’s work with the scriptures with which his hearers were familiar? Verse 43, first clause. (23) Upon what condition is remission of sins granted? Ib., last part. (24) To how many is salvation offered? Ib. Note 5.

NOTES.

1. Thy prayer is heard.—Cornelius was a centurion, a captain of one hundred men; but unlike most men of his calling, he was devoutly religious, a worshiper of the true God, whom he served according to Jewish custom. His prayer was offered at the ninth hour, a regular hour for prayer among the Jews. That his religious duties were not secretly performed is shown by the fact that his kinsmen and near friends were assembled to hear the words of Peter; and his almsgiving was an outward token of his piety. Having lived up to the best light he had, and being anxious for greater light, the Lord answers his prayer in the remarkable manner here recorded.

2. Who . . . shall speak unto thee.—The angel could have told Cornelius all he wished to know; but God has given to mortals the glorious work of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This work has not been given into the hands of angels. The heavenly messenger’s part of the work was accomplished when he had put Cornelius in communication with Peter; and Peter’s work was to “preach” and to “testify.”

3. We are all here present before God.—There was nothing that Cornelius had left undone that he might receive the light which God had for him. It has often occurred that when prayers are answered, the petitioner is surprised, or has not acted as though he expected the prayer to be answered. Cornelius expected the word of the angel to be fulfilled, and would have been surprised if circumstances had not shaped themselves as they did. He did not wait for Peter to arrive and make an appointment, and then gather in his friends and relatives; but the appointment was made and the gathering of the congregation had taken place before Peter arrived, as is shown by verses 24 and 27.

4. God is no respecter of persons.—The vision of the sheet let down from heaven and the injunction accompanying that manifestation had revealed to Peter something that it seems he had not fully understood before,—God’s willingness to save all men everywhere; the fact that salvation was a free gift to others than the Jews. It would seem from the narrative that Peter saw something in the faces of Cornelius’ company which showed him that the blessing of God was abiding with them. This truth was contrary to the traditions of the Jews. It was one of the things which made Christ’s teachings obnoxious to them, and even the disciples had not learned it at the time of his crucifixion.

5. But in every nation.—The truth contained in this verse is an amplification of the statement that God is no respecter of persons. If he were, salvation could not be free. The door of salvation stands open for every one. Every one who, believing in Christ, enters that Door (Christ), abiding within the Door, “is accepted with him.” Those who do not accept the conditions will never receive the Christian’s reward.