There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
The verse introduces Cornelius as a Roman centurion of the Italian band, stationed and living at Caesarea. Though born a heathen he had learned the true God, renounced idolatry, feared God with all his house, prayed always, gave much alms to the poor, and obeyed the moral law as far as he knew it. His prayers and almsgiving came up as a memorial before God and were accepted and well pleasing, yet they could not earn heaven or take the place of Christ in whom alone all are complete. His conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles, when the gospel door was opened to the Gentiles on equal terms with Jews, with no distinction of circumcision and with the same gift of the Holy Spirit upon belief. God sent him an angel to direct him to Peter at Joppa, for His way is to join person to person, and Cornelius is the pattern for sincere seekers today who live up to all the light they have and are led into clearer light through connection with one already enlightened.
Cornelius's Identity and Setting
The man introduced here was a Roman centurion of the Italian band, stationed and living at Caesarea. The name by which he is called is Cornelius, and the place named with him is the city where he lived and served.
He was a man of wealth, of noble birth and noble character, holding a high position of trust and honor as an officer of the Roman army. His rank and its responsibilities had not corrupted his moral qualities, but he remained faithful in his duties and uncorrupted in character.
He had been born and raised a heathen, yet through contact with the Jews he had learned about God and had come to know the true God. Having renounced idolatry and turned from it, he worshiped the one Creator who made heaven and earth with a true and sincere heart.
He had not been circumcised, took no part in the Jewish sacrificial offerings, and had not joined himself to the Jews. For that reason the Jews counted him as ceremonially unclean, and the rabbis regarded him as unclean and outside the Jewish church.
Character and Devout Life
He was devout and feared God with all his house, and his household followed his example of integrity. He was sincere and truthful, faithful in home and public duties, seeking God's counsel in his work and praying earnestly for divine help. His faith showed in his actions, for he asked God for wisdom and walked in all the light he had received.
He prayed to God always and continually, and gave much alms generously to the people and to the poor. He upheld the Jewish cause by generous gifts and was known far and near for charity and benevolence. His devout piety, prayers and deeds of charity showed he was walking in the light to the best of his ability and knowledge.
He had come to know the true God, renounced idolatry, and worshiped the one Creator with a true and sincere heart. He knew and obeyed the moral law and respected God's authority. His righteous life, pure conduct, charity and uprightness gave him a good name and made him of good repute among both Jews and Gentiles.
He believed the Word of God and the prophecies and looked for the promised Messiah. Yet he did not yet have an understanding faith in Christ, nor did he know the gospel as revealed through Christ's life and death, and he needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise intelligently through Christ. His love and obedience to God prepared him to receive the Saviour when revealed.
He lived in obedience to the Old Testament Scriptures and to the instruction he had received, walking strictly and with integrity in accordance with the light given him. Though a Gentile without theoretical understanding of truth, he lived the true principles of Christianity. He was living more closely in accordance with its principles than the Jewish leaders were, and his course was far more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant.
Standing Before God
The Lord knew Cornelius personally by name and knew where he lived in Caesarea, and He knew his spirit, every act of his life, his talents and ability, and what work and responsibility to entrust to him. As He knew Abraham, so He knew Cornelius because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him, maintaining integrity and religious experience by walking strictly in accordance with that light. God had His eye upon him for acting according to that light, passing by the self-righteous to call him by name and give him instruction for receiving greater knowledge through acquaintance with the disciples of Christ. In providence God directed him exactly, telling him where Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner in Joppa, and working it all out to bring him into connection with a human agent through whom he might receive greater light. Ministering angels still pass through the churches noting faithfulness in each individual line of duty, for the Lord knows every person in the same way.
His prayers and almsgiving were fruits of love and gratitude produced by grace, not payments intended to earn heaven nor acts that by themselves make a sinner acceptable to God. They were acceptable as far as his knowledge went and came up as a memorial before God, and prayers united with alms and self-denying, self-sacrificing work, even in poverty, still come up before God as a memorial. To pray and watch and patiently and perseveringly work, doing as well as praying, is watching unto prayer, and the One who knows the situation and sees the great need responds to such prayers and alms and honors faith. Yet neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, and all can only be complete in Him.
His pure actions, sincere worship, obedience and generosity were well pleasing to God, accepted and commended by Him, although he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ but lived in accordance with the instruction of the Old Testament Scriptures. He had turned from idolatry, knew and obeyed the moral law, worshiped the one Creator with a sincere heart, feared God with his household, gave generously to the people, prayed regularly, and his charity and righteous conduct earned him a good name. His love and obedience prepared him to receive the Saviour when revealed, his rank and responsibilities did not corrupt his character, and God regarded his pure conduct and generosity and drew near to him. His course, walking in all the light he had received, was far more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant. God saw him as a man in a position of responsibility and stewardship whose sympathies were with God's people and whom He wanted connected with the church, to unite with the newly formed church and become a useful and influential laborer together with God.
God does not leave in darkness those who follow all the light given them, so He prepared Cornelius's heart in prayer, answered him by sending an angel to communicate with him, and led him to greater light. Though he believed the Word of God promising a Messiah, he needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise and to do his work intelligently through Christ. Because he was living up to all the light he had, heavenly angels were commissioned to bring him into connection with the apostle Peter so he might receive additional light, and because he asked God for wisdom God commended him by an angel and gave him opportunity to hear the gospel message. God leads everyone who is willing to be led; He drew out his heart in prayer, prepared him to receive the light of truth, and chose to enlighten his mind through one who had already received light from above, bringing the uninformed seeker into connection with one who could meet his need. The Lord does not withhold words of encouragement from those who do well, but takes special notice of those who serve Him and show by prayers and deeds of charity that they are walking in the light, so none need walk in darkness.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
Cornelius’s conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles and marked a new phase in the church’s work, when the gospel door was opened to the Gentiles and the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but given to the world. This opening came after the seventy weeks especially allotted to the Jews ended in A.D. 34, when the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the followers of Christ. Together with that turning point came the scattered disciples going everywhere preaching the Word, Philip preaching Christ in Samaria, and Paul commissioned to carry the glad tidings far hence unto the Gentiles.
Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to share its blessings on equal terms with Jewish believers, standing equal with them without having to be circumcised. No religious distinction was to be maintained between circumcised and uncircumcised, for Christ’s death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. God gave the Gentile hearers repentance and life through the gospel, granting them the same standing He had given Jewish believers.
God prepared Peter at Joppa to take the gospel to Caesarea, overcoming his lingering prejudice and teaching him by vision not to treat Gentiles as ceremonially unclean. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, not defending his action on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and the result was a great surprise to him. His going to this Gentile house, entering it, meeting with those present and eating with them, surprised and offended the brethren in Judea as presumptuous and contrary to his own teaching, but his account shows the course was commanded by God. God overcame prejudice by arranging for Peter, despite his prejudiced views, to work with heavenly messengers in bringing Gentiles to the truth, teaching that believers must be willing to learn and surrender their own ideas so God can use them.
God gave the Gentile hearers the Holy Spirit just as He had given it to Jewish believers when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit falling on Cornelius and his company as Peter began to speak. That experience corroborates the promised blessing of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, matching the experience of the early apostles recorded in the Word. By this God proved He had granted the Gentiles the same gift and granted them repentance unto life, destroying prejudice and exclusiveness and opening the way for the work to be carried on among the Gentiles. God’s dealings with Peter in this preparation show that visions may comfort God’s people and correct those who stray from Bible truth, but they do not establish a new rule of faith.
Angels and Human Messengers
God employs angels to communicate with human beings, and the vision given to Cornelius is instruction carried by an immortal messenger to a man, with angels serving as powerful helpers and guides to chosen messengers on earth. His experience began an account of the ministration of heavenly angels resulting in the conversion of Cornelius and his company, showing that heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-winning than many suppose. That angelic visitation reveals the close connection between heaven and earth. God sent the angel to open the mind of Cornelius, a Gentile being prepared to hear the gospel, to receive it. His experience proves that heavenly agencies are constantly communicating with men and women on earth, with angels round about guiding and directing though unseen.
Being under that guidance means being fully under the influence of the Spirit so as to be susceptible to His leadings, and being ready to respond at once to promptings of the Holy Spirit whenever impressed to say or do something to help a fellow being, a readiness that comes only from living in close relation with God. In the vision the angel told Cornelius that his prayers and his alms had come up for a memorial before God. The angel opened his mind to receive the gospel and directed him to send to Joppa for Peter, who would bring him the message of salvation. God knew exactly where Peter was and told Cornelius every particular by the angel, that Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner in a specified place. Yet the angel did not tell Cornelius the gospel message or the message of truth itself.
God could have given all needed instruction by the angel, but His plan is to place seekers in connection with those receiving knowledge from on high whose work is to impart light, and He always deals thus with His people. His way is to join person to person and to bring people into connection so they can teach and instruct one another, so that the light He had given to one is given by that person to another. The Lord knew Cornelius by name and knew where he lived in Caesarea, recognized his prayers and gifts, and sent the angel to direct him to Peter to tell him what he ought to do. Cornelius obeyed the instruction, united with the church, and became a useful and influential laborer together with God, so none need walk in darkness. God heard his prayer and directed him to seek further enlightenment through a chosen human messenger, so that the gospel would reach the Gentiles; the angel gave directions but did not replace the messenger God appointed.
Though Cornelius was sincere, truthful, devout, feared God with all his house, gave much alms, prayed always, and lived in accordance with the instruction of the Old Testament Scriptures, and though his prayers and alms were acceptable as far as his knowledge went, neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone all are complete. He believed the Word promising a Messiah yet needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise intelligently through Christ and to do his work through Christ. God united heaven and earth to accomplish this by appointing Peter as the human instrument, putting Peter on the housetop to receive the truth concerning the purpose to the Gentiles and to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile, that Jews and Gentiles by faith would be joined to Christ, and commanded Cornelius to send men to Joppa for Peter, that Cornelius and Peter must become acquainted in gospel missionary work in which Cornelius in connection with believers could accomplish a great work. Because the truth God had given Peter had to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, believers must come into closest connection with Him and with one another, and must unify, love one another, and deal honestly, justly, truly, gently and righteously instead of building up self by pointing at wrongs or tearing one another down.
God directs seekers to Peter for further instruction rather than giving all needed light through the angel, showing the importance of accepting God's appointed human messengers. Peter was sent to Cornelius as God's representative, showing that God directs people to places where someone needs the help and guidance they can give. God may instruct people through human agents, so ministers should neither be exalted into God's place nor disrespected or ignored when they give counsel and instruction. The chapter belongs to visions in which divine instructions are given, and it is the pattern for being shown in vision what to say. It teaches God's regard for every human being, and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
Pattern and Mission Today
Cornelius is the pattern for many today who fear God and live up to all the light they have while not yet fully enlightened about the Sabbath, tithe and present truth, serving Him as acceptably as Jews serve Him and living more closely in accordance with Old Testament principles than many with greater privilege do. They are sincere seekers among the nations, men of ability and influence now in the fallen churches, praying for light and reaching out for more, nearer the kingdom than is supposed, who will receive Christ gladly and be led into clearer and still clearer light. God deals with their minds by His own methods to bring them to belief in His Son, making those who were strangers and foreigners fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and they are to be worked for, converted, added to the ranks of God's people, given a prominent part in warning the world, and called out of Babylon. Such devout men follow principles of righteousness that God accepts in every sphere of action, and the Lord takes special notice of those who do well, does not withhold encouragement from them, and shows by their prayers and deeds of charity that they are walking in the light.
In providence God knows those that are His, knows each by name, where they live, the spirit possessed, every act of life, talents and ability, and leads everyone willing to be led. He draws out the heart in prayer, feels compassion and tender love toward those seeking and praying for light, prepares them to receive the light of truth, and directs honest seekers to present truth. He does this by bringing the uninformed seeker into connection with one already enlightened who can meet the need, sending His angel to join the seeker to a human agent through whom greater light may come. Everywhere there are people who will take their stand for present truth, in regions afar as well as nearer home, men and women who know there is a God, offer prayers to Him, trust Him, and act just as Christians act, and the Lord will guide them as He guided Cornelius.
As He worked for Cornelius so He works for true standard-bearers in every sphere of action, even in high positions of responsibility among worldly and accomplished men, who are devout bright shining lights and clear, pure, undefiled examples whose testimony for truth and righteousness others may well follow. They are men taught by God, true and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, with spiritual discernment, in contrast to those whose lifelong profession does not make them true men and who lose discernment by trusting their own wisdom. They remain true to pure, holy principles in investigating the laws that rule the world, prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage, and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. They obtain a knowledge of God as Cornelius did through the visitation of angels from heaven, while God places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light and great light and come to the knowledge of the truth. In this way He prepares the way for them to take the place of those who had a knowledge of Bible truth but disappointed the Saviour.
Those like Cornelius who fear God and glorify Him, firm and true in principle and faithful and trustworthy to advocate the Word in its true bearings and simplicity, take the places left vacant by those who become offended at plain truth, reproof and warning and walk away and apostatize. The Lord separates the disaffected from the true and loyal, and His ranks are not diminished, for those who are firm and true close up the vacancies made by those who become offended and apostatize. Constrained by the love of God, such persons become conscientious light bearers to the world, seeking to place that light of truth before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for truth. Improving every opportunity, they invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth, constrain others as they themselves are constrained, and give their abilities to advance the work of God.
Special earnest personal labor is needed for men of influence, responsibility, intellect, wealth and official life, stewards in trust whose sympathies are with God's people and whom God sees and wants connected with the church. Because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them in their positions, and because threads binding them to the world hold them firmly, they have not the moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones and find it difficult to join God's commandment-keeping people. They are the neglected rich, thousands of wealthy men and men in official life passed by as hopeless, yet soul-burdened and starving for spiritual food, feeling their need of something they have not and receiving no benefit from the teaching they hear. The greatest men of earth, men who occupy responsible positions, men of intellect and influence, are not beyond the power of a wonder-working God to convert through the Holy Spirit by a miracle of genuine conversion. If converted they will accept divine principles, consecrate time, money, talent and influence to God, bring means into His treasury, have talent and influence converted to the truth, give strength and solidity to the cause, become channels of light and agencies in His hand to communicate the light, add new efficiency and power to the church, and carry a special burden for other souls of this neglected class who have made this world their all.
Earnest, devoted, determined work is to be done for honest hearts and honest inquiring souls seeking light, to gather out light-seekers from among those bitterly opposed to the message God is giving to the world. This includes those now in fallen churches and Babylon and in associations such as the W.C.T.U. and temperance societies, where souls as honest as Cornelius are found with all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light. God sends His messengers to earth to set in operation a train of circumstances that brings such inquirers into connection with those of His people best fitted by knowledge and different training to reach their individual needs, a duty undertaken at times with reluctance at every step as an exception by divine revelation and to great surprise. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home and household a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city, showing that in every age God so connects honest-hearted people with those who can best reach them. Patient, loving work among people outside the faith can reach others like him.
The instruction beginning here, the experience of one who feared God's name for whom the Lord wrought, is to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened, showing the way God works on human minds to bring Jew and Gentile together. It shows how He breaks the power of oppression and tyranny and dispels from minds the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. When understood it moves workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field and to arouse to duty for missions at home, for unless they arouse they will be found wanting in the day of God.
The experience shows that the Lord blesses the offerings and prayers made by the church in the home, and that success and spread of gospel work brings larger needs and calls for larger offerings from God's people. He supplies the necessities of the self-sacrificing and liberal when they call on Him, for those today who seek like Cornelius and ask God for wisdom will receive wisdom and opportunity to hear the gospel message and unite with the church. Prayers united with alms and self-denying, self-sacrificing work, even in poverty, come up before God as a memorial, and to pray and watch and patiently and perseveringly work, doing as well as praying, is watching unto prayer, which He who knows the situation and sees the great need will honor and answer. Daily prayers for light and guidance will surely be answered in this same way as Cornelius was answered by a special message from heaven joined to direction of Peter to visit him and give him light.
God hears seeking prayer at its first utterance of penitence and appeal for pardon, feels personal interest, opens the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and cast shadow to deceive and destroy, and gives encouragement to hold convocations for prayer for such openings. Because all heaven is interested in the proclamation of the gospel and God's work will be done, believers must put trust in God, believe seeming impossibilities will become easy, sow the seeds of truth beside all waters, seek out such people personally, and labor more intelligently and earnestly for those who need help as God's helping hand. Heavenly agencies are constantly communicating with men and women on earth, with angels round about guiding and directing though unseen, and readiness to respond at once to the promptings of the Holy Spirit whenever impressed to say or do something to help a fellow being comes only from living in close relation with God and being fully under the influence of His Spirit. Cornelius's giving of alms and earnest prayers offered are indications of doing the works of a Christian and of submitting the mind to the molding influence of God's Spirit.
The verse introduces Cornelius as a Roman centurion of the Italian band, stationed and living at Caesarea. Though born a heathen he had learned the true God, renounced idolatry, feared God with all his house, prayed always, gave much alms to the poor, and obeyed the moral law as far as he knew it. His prayers and almsgiving came up as a memorial before God and were accepted and well pleasing, yet they could not earn heaven or take the place of Christ in whom alone all are complete. His conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles, when the gospel door was opened to the Gentiles on equal terms with Jews, with no distinction of circumcision and with the same gift of the Holy Spirit upon belief. God sent him an angel to direct him to Peter at Joppa, for His way is to join person to person, and Cornelius is the pattern for sincere seekers today who live up to all the light they have and are led into clearer light through connection with one already enlightened.
Cornelius's Identity and Setting
The man introduced here was a Roman centurion of the Italian band, stationed and living at Caesarea. The name by which he is called is Cornelius, and the place named with him is the city where he lived and served.
He was a man of wealth, of noble birth and noble character, holding a high position of trust and honor as an officer of the Roman army. His rank and its responsibilities had not corrupted his moral qualities, but he remained faithful in his duties and uncorrupted in character.
He had been born and raised a heathen, yet through contact with the Jews he had learned about God and had come to know the true God. Having renounced idolatry and turned from it, he worshiped the one Creator who made heaven and earth with a true and sincere heart.
He had not been circumcised, took no part in the Jewish sacrificial offerings, and had not joined himself to the Jews. For that reason the Jews counted him as ceremonially unclean, and the rabbis regarded him as unclean and outside the Jewish church.
Character and Devout Life
He was devout and feared God with all his house, and his household followed his example of integrity. He was sincere and truthful, faithful in home and public duties, seeking God's counsel in his work and praying earnestly for divine help. His faith showed in his actions, for he asked God for wisdom and walked in all the light he had received.
He prayed to God always and continually, and gave much alms generously to the people and to the poor. He upheld the Jewish cause by generous gifts and was known far and near for charity and benevolence. His devout piety, prayers and deeds of charity showed he was walking in the light to the best of his ability and knowledge.
He had come to know the true God, renounced idolatry, and worshiped the one Creator with a true and sincere heart. He knew and obeyed the moral law and respected God's authority. His righteous life, pure conduct, charity and uprightness gave him a good name and made him of good repute among both Jews and Gentiles.
He believed the Word of God and the prophecies and looked for the promised Messiah. Yet he did not yet have an understanding faith in Christ, nor did he know the gospel as revealed through Christ's life and death, and he needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise intelligently through Christ. His love and obedience to God prepared him to receive the Saviour when revealed.
He lived in obedience to the Old Testament Scriptures and to the instruction he had received, walking strictly and with integrity in accordance with the light given him. Though a Gentile without theoretical understanding of truth, he lived the true principles of Christianity. He was living more closely in accordance with its principles than the Jewish leaders were, and his course was far more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant.
Standing Before God
The Lord knew Cornelius personally by name and knew where he lived in Caesarea, and He knew his spirit, every act of his life, his talents and ability, and what work and responsibility to entrust to him. As He knew Abraham, so He knew Cornelius because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him, maintaining integrity and religious experience by walking strictly in accordance with that light. God had His eye upon him for acting according to that light, passing by the self-righteous to call him by name and give him instruction for receiving greater knowledge through acquaintance with the disciples of Christ. In providence God directed him exactly, telling him where Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner in Joppa, and working it all out to bring him into connection with a human agent through whom he might receive greater light. Ministering angels still pass through the churches noting faithfulness in each individual line of duty, for the Lord knows every person in the same way.
His prayers and almsgiving were fruits of love and gratitude produced by grace, not payments intended to earn heaven nor acts that by themselves make a sinner acceptable to God. They were acceptable as far as his knowledge went and came up as a memorial before God, and prayers united with alms and self-denying, self-sacrificing work, even in poverty, still come up before God as a memorial. To pray and watch and patiently and perseveringly work, doing as well as praying, is watching unto prayer, and the One who knows the situation and sees the great need responds to such prayers and alms and honors faith. Yet neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, and all can only be complete in Him.
His pure actions, sincere worship, obedience and generosity were well pleasing to God, accepted and commended by Him, although he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ but lived in accordance with the instruction of the Old Testament Scriptures. He had turned from idolatry, knew and obeyed the moral law, worshiped the one Creator with a sincere heart, feared God with his household, gave generously to the people, prayed regularly, and his charity and righteous conduct earned him a good name. His love and obedience prepared him to receive the Saviour when revealed, his rank and responsibilities did not corrupt his character, and God regarded his pure conduct and generosity and drew near to him. His course, walking in all the light he had received, was far more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant. God saw him as a man in a position of responsibility and stewardship whose sympathies were with God's people and whom He wanted connected with the church, to unite with the newly formed church and become a useful and influential laborer together with God.
God does not leave in darkness those who follow all the light given them, so He prepared Cornelius's heart in prayer, answered him by sending an angel to communicate with him, and led him to greater light. Though he believed the Word of God promising a Messiah, he needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise and to do his work intelligently through Christ. Because he was living up to all the light he had, heavenly angels were commissioned to bring him into connection with the apostle Peter so he might receive additional light, and because he asked God for wisdom God commended him by an angel and gave him opportunity to hear the gospel message. God leads everyone who is willing to be led; He drew out his heart in prayer, prepared him to receive the light of truth, and chose to enlighten his mind through one who had already received light from above, bringing the uninformed seeker into connection with one who could meet his need. The Lord does not withhold words of encouragement from those who do well, but takes special notice of those who serve Him and show by prayers and deeds of charity that they are walking in the light, so none need walk in darkness.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
Cornelius’s conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles and marked a new phase in the church’s work, when the gospel door was opened to the Gentiles and the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but given to the world. This opening came after the seventy weeks especially allotted to the Jews ended in A.D. 34, when the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the followers of Christ. Together with that turning point came the scattered disciples going everywhere preaching the Word, Philip preaching Christ in Samaria, and Paul commissioned to carry the glad tidings far hence unto the Gentiles.
Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to share its blessings on equal terms with Jewish believers, standing equal with them without having to be circumcised. No religious distinction was to be maintained between circumcised and uncircumcised, for Christ’s death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. God gave the Gentile hearers repentance and life through the gospel, granting them the same standing He had given Jewish believers.
God prepared Peter at Joppa to take the gospel to Caesarea, overcoming his lingering prejudice and teaching him by vision not to treat Gentiles as ceremonially unclean. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, not defending his action on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and the result was a great surprise to him. His going to this Gentile house, entering it, meeting with those present and eating with them, surprised and offended the brethren in Judea as presumptuous and contrary to his own teaching, but his account shows the course was commanded by God. God overcame prejudice by arranging for Peter, despite his prejudiced views, to work with heavenly messengers in bringing Gentiles to the truth, teaching that believers must be willing to learn and surrender their own ideas so God can use them.
God gave the Gentile hearers the Holy Spirit just as He had given it to Jewish believers when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit falling on Cornelius and his company as Peter began to speak. That experience corroborates the promised blessing of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, matching the experience of the early apostles recorded in the Word. By this God proved He had granted the Gentiles the same gift and granted them repentance unto life, destroying prejudice and exclusiveness and opening the way for the work to be carried on among the Gentiles. God’s dealings with Peter in this preparation show that visions may comfort God’s people and correct those who stray from Bible truth, but they do not establish a new rule of faith.
Angels and Human Messengers
God employs angels to communicate with human beings, and the vision given to Cornelius is instruction carried by an immortal messenger to a man, with angels serving as powerful helpers and guides to chosen messengers on earth. His experience began an account of the ministration of heavenly angels resulting in the conversion of Cornelius and his company, showing that heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-winning than many suppose. That angelic visitation reveals the close connection between heaven and earth. God sent the angel to open the mind of Cornelius, a Gentile being prepared to hear the gospel, to receive it. His experience proves that heavenly agencies are constantly communicating with men and women on earth, with angels round about guiding and directing though unseen.
Being under that guidance means being fully under the influence of the Spirit so as to be susceptible to His leadings, and being ready to respond at once to promptings of the Holy Spirit whenever impressed to say or do something to help a fellow being, a readiness that comes only from living in close relation with God. In the vision the angel told Cornelius that his prayers and his alms had come up for a memorial before God. The angel opened his mind to receive the gospel and directed him to send to Joppa for Peter, who would bring him the message of salvation. God knew exactly where Peter was and told Cornelius every particular by the angel, that Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner in a specified place. Yet the angel did not tell Cornelius the gospel message or the message of truth itself.
God could have given all needed instruction by the angel, but His plan is to place seekers in connection with those receiving knowledge from on high whose work is to impart light, and He always deals thus with His people. His way is to join person to person and to bring people into connection so they can teach and instruct one another, so that the light He had given to one is given by that person to another. The Lord knew Cornelius by name and knew where he lived in Caesarea, recognized his prayers and gifts, and sent the angel to direct him to Peter to tell him what he ought to do. Cornelius obeyed the instruction, united with the church, and became a useful and influential laborer together with God, so none need walk in darkness. God heard his prayer and directed him to seek further enlightenment through a chosen human messenger, so that the gospel would reach the Gentiles; the angel gave directions but did not replace the messenger God appointed.
Though Cornelius was sincere, truthful, devout, feared God with all his house, gave much alms, prayed always, and lived in accordance with the instruction of the Old Testament Scriptures, and though his prayers and alms were acceptable as far as his knowledge went, neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone all are complete. He believed the Word promising a Messiah yet needed an advance in faith and a new experience to receive the fulfillment of the promise intelligently through Christ and to do his work through Christ. God united heaven and earth to accomplish this by appointing Peter as the human instrument, putting Peter on the housetop to receive the truth concerning the purpose to the Gentiles and to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile, that Jews and Gentiles by faith would be joined to Christ, and commanded Cornelius to send men to Joppa for Peter, that Cornelius and Peter must become acquainted in gospel missionary work in which Cornelius in connection with believers could accomplish a great work. Because the truth God had given Peter had to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, believers must come into closest connection with Him and with one another, and must unify, love one another, and deal honestly, justly, truly, gently and righteously instead of building up self by pointing at wrongs or tearing one another down.
God directs seekers to Peter for further instruction rather than giving all needed light through the angel, showing the importance of accepting God's appointed human messengers. Peter was sent to Cornelius as God's representative, showing that God directs people to places where someone needs the help and guidance they can give. God may instruct people through human agents, so ministers should neither be exalted into God's place nor disrespected or ignored when they give counsel and instruction. The chapter belongs to visions in which divine instructions are given, and it is the pattern for being shown in vision what to say. It teaches God's regard for every human being, and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
Pattern and Mission Today
Cornelius is the pattern for many today who fear God and live up to all the light they have while not yet fully enlightened about the Sabbath, tithe and present truth, serving Him as acceptably as Jews serve Him and living more closely in accordance with Old Testament principles than many with greater privilege do. They are sincere seekers among the nations, men of ability and influence now in the fallen churches, praying for light and reaching out for more, nearer the kingdom than is supposed, who will receive Christ gladly and be led into clearer and still clearer light. God deals with their minds by His own methods to bring them to belief in His Son, making those who were strangers and foreigners fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and they are to be worked for, converted, added to the ranks of God's people, given a prominent part in warning the world, and called out of Babylon. Such devout men follow principles of righteousness that God accepts in every sphere of action, and the Lord takes special notice of those who do well, does not withhold encouragement from them, and shows by their prayers and deeds of charity that they are walking in the light.
In providence God knows those that are His, knows each by name, where they live, the spirit possessed, every act of life, talents and ability, and leads everyone willing to be led. He draws out the heart in prayer, feels compassion and tender love toward those seeking and praying for light, prepares them to receive the light of truth, and directs honest seekers to present truth. He does this by bringing the uninformed seeker into connection with one already enlightened who can meet the need, sending His angel to join the seeker to a human agent through whom greater light may come. Everywhere there are people who will take their stand for present truth, in regions afar as well as nearer home, men and women who know there is a God, offer prayers to Him, trust Him, and act just as Christians act, and the Lord will guide them as He guided Cornelius.
As He worked for Cornelius so He works for true standard-bearers in every sphere of action, even in high positions of responsibility among worldly and accomplished men, who are devout bright shining lights and clear, pure, undefiled examples whose testimony for truth and righteousness others may well follow. They are men taught by God, true and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, with spiritual discernment, in contrast to those whose lifelong profession does not make them true men and who lose discernment by trusting their own wisdom. They remain true to pure, holy principles in investigating the laws that rule the world, prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage, and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. They obtain a knowledge of God as Cornelius did through the visitation of angels from heaven, while God places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light and great light and come to the knowledge of the truth. In this way He prepares the way for them to take the place of those who had a knowledge of Bible truth but disappointed the Saviour.
Those like Cornelius who fear God and glorify Him, firm and true in principle and faithful and trustworthy to advocate the Word in its true bearings and simplicity, take the places left vacant by those who become offended at plain truth, reproof and warning and walk away and apostatize. The Lord separates the disaffected from the true and loyal, and His ranks are not diminished, for those who are firm and true close up the vacancies made by those who become offended and apostatize. Constrained by the love of God, such persons become conscientious light bearers to the world, seeking to place that light of truth before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for truth. Improving every opportunity, they invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth, constrain others as they themselves are constrained, and give their abilities to advance the work of God.
Special earnest personal labor is needed for men of influence, responsibility, intellect, wealth and official life, stewards in trust whose sympathies are with God's people and whom God sees and wants connected with the church. Because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them in their positions, and because threads binding them to the world hold them firmly, they have not the moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones and find it difficult to join God's commandment-keeping people. They are the neglected rich, thousands of wealthy men and men in official life passed by as hopeless, yet soul-burdened and starving for spiritual food, feeling their need of something they have not and receiving no benefit from the teaching they hear. The greatest men of earth, men who occupy responsible positions, men of intellect and influence, are not beyond the power of a wonder-working God to convert through the Holy Spirit by a miracle of genuine conversion. If converted they will accept divine principles, consecrate time, money, talent and influence to God, bring means into His treasury, have talent and influence converted to the truth, give strength and solidity to the cause, become channels of light and agencies in His hand to communicate the light, add new efficiency and power to the church, and carry a special burden for other souls of this neglected class who have made this world their all.
Earnest, devoted, determined work is to be done for honest hearts and honest inquiring souls seeking light, to gather out light-seekers from among those bitterly opposed to the message God is giving to the world. This includes those now in fallen churches and Babylon and in associations such as the W.C.T.U. and temperance societies, where souls as honest as Cornelius are found with all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light. God sends His messengers to earth to set in operation a train of circumstances that brings such inquirers into connection with those of His people best fitted by knowledge and different training to reach their individual needs, a duty undertaken at times with reluctance at every step as an exception by divine revelation and to great surprise. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home and household a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city, showing that in every age God so connects honest-hearted people with those who can best reach them. Patient, loving work among people outside the faith can reach others like him.
The instruction beginning here, the experience of one who feared God's name for whom the Lord wrought, is to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened, showing the way God works on human minds to bring Jew and Gentile together. It shows how He breaks the power of oppression and tyranny and dispels from minds the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. When understood it moves workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field and to arouse to duty for missions at home, for unless they arouse they will be found wanting in the day of God.
The experience shows that the Lord blesses the offerings and prayers made by the church in the home, and that success and spread of gospel work brings larger needs and calls for larger offerings from God's people. He supplies the necessities of the self-sacrificing and liberal when they call on Him, for those today who seek like Cornelius and ask God for wisdom will receive wisdom and opportunity to hear the gospel message and unite with the church. Prayers united with alms and self-denying, self-sacrificing work, even in poverty, come up before God as a memorial, and to pray and watch and patiently and perseveringly work, doing as well as praying, is watching unto prayer, which He who knows the situation and sees the great need will honor and answer. Daily prayers for light and guidance will surely be answered in this same way as Cornelius was answered by a special message from heaven joined to direction of Peter to visit him and give him light.
God hears seeking prayer at its first utterance of penitence and appeal for pardon, feels personal interest, opens the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and cast shadow to deceive and destroy, and gives encouragement to hold convocations for prayer for such openings. Because all heaven is interested in the proclamation of the gospel and God's work will be done, believers must put trust in God, believe seeming impossibilities will become easy, sow the seeds of truth beside all waters, seek out such people personally, and labor more intelligently and earnestly for those who need help as God's helping hand. Heavenly agencies are constantly communicating with men and women on earth, with angels round about guiding and directing though unseen, and readiness to respond at once to the promptings of the Holy Spirit whenever impressed to say or do something to help a fellow being comes only from living in close relation with God and being fully under the influence of His Spirit. Cornelius's giving of alms and earnest prayers offered are indications of doing the works of a Christian and of submitting the mind to the molding influence of God's Spirit.