Peter's Vision of the Sheet on the Rooftopby KandD
10:14Acts 10:14
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Peter on the housetop, hungry and in trance, is shown heaven opened with a sheet let down containing all kinds of unclean creatures and is commanded to kill and eat, which he refuses because he has never eaten anything common or unclean. His refusal springs from Jewish training and reveals the settled prejudice that Gentiles are defiled, common and unclean, and shut out from the blessings of the gospel. The sheet and its contents are only a symbol that by Christ's death the middle wall is broken down and the Gentiles are cleansed, so no man is to be called common or unclean, for God accepts in every nation him that fears Him and works righteousness. The command to eat does not make unclean flesh fit for food nor remove God's distinction between clean and unclean, and to use it so is narrow and erroneous. In Cornelius, the devout Gentile centurion who feared God and prayed always, the gospel is first opened to the Gentiles as the firstfruits of a world-wide harvest, no longer restricted to the Jews.
Vision Setting and Wording
Peter was praying on the housetop, very weary and hungry from journeying, immediately after the angel's interview with Cornelius, when in trance heaven was opened to him. A vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners was let down to earth, containing all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. A voice commanded him to rise, kill and eat, which he refused with the words that he had never eaten anything common or unclean.
The answer that what God has cleansed must not be called common was given a second time, and the presentation was made three times before the vessel was received up again into heaven. While this was happening Peter doubted in himself what the vision should mean.
While he doubted, the men sent from Cornelius stood at the gate, and the Spirit directed him to go down and go with them doubting nothing, telling him three men were seeking him. He received them and went with them to Caesarea, and spoke in the house of Cornelius to his assembled kinsmen and near friends, under angelic direction at every step.
At this moment his labors were still confined to the Jews and he had not yet preached the gospel to the Gentiles, except for interested listeners and Greek Jews who believed. He took up the duty to go to Cornelius with reluctance at every step, obeying only because of divine command. He defended it afterward not on general principles but as an exception done by divine revelation, to his own surprise.
God knew exactly where Peter was lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside and told Cornelius every particular about where to find him. Though an angel was sent to Cornelius, the angel did not give him the gospel message itself. God's way is for His church to connect together, so the light given to Peter would be given by Peter to Cornelius and all his family.
The vision is an example of divine instruction through vision showing what should be spoken. It was given on the housetop to educate and train Peter, to correct his error and lead him beyond his former understanding. Visions are not given for a new rule of faith, for the Word of God alone is the rule of faith and practice, but they are promised for the comfort of God's people and to correct those who err from Bible truth.
True Meaning About People
Peter's refusal to eat what was set before him grew out of thorough Jewish training and lifelong scruple about defiled food, and it laid bare a settled prejudice that Gentiles were a defiled, common and unclean race, inferior and unfit for fellowship, shut out from God's promises and from the blessings and privileges of the gospel. That prejudice kept the middle wall of partition still standing in the minds of the apostles even though Christ's death had broken it down. His refusal therefore exposed not only a rule about diet but a view that the heathen were excluded and unclean.
The sheet let down from heaven with all its living contents was only a symbol and illustration of the true position of the Gentiles. By the death of Christ the middle wall of partition is broken down and the heathen are cleansed. Through Christ and by His death they are made fellow heirs with Israel, partakers equally with the Jews in the blessings and privileges of the gospel.
The meaning of the refusal is about people, not food. Peter must not call any man common or unclean. God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Jew and Gentile are equally precious to God, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all uncleanness. Gentiles are therefore not to be treated as excluded from the gospel or as inferior to Jewish believers.
The vision thus carries both reproof and instruction. It divests Peter of prejudice and converts Peter himself, taking away the barriers between Jew and Gentile. It corrects his error and leads him beyond his former understanding to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan. In that plan Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Christ.
Peter learns the lesson when he goes with the men sent to him and goes to Cornelius without gainsaying. There he preaches Christ as the sinner's only hope. He understands then that God has opened the gospel to the Gentiles so they are not to be treated as excluded or inferior.
Doctrinal Limits Preserved
Peter's refusal shows he had never eaten anything he counted common or unclean, and his holding back from the command to rise, kill and eat reflected his settled conviction that Gentiles were an unclean race excluded from God's promises. The sheet let down with its contents was only an illustration of the true position of the Gentiles, that through Christ and by His death the heathen nations were made fellow heirs with Israel and partakers equally with the Jews in the blessings and privileges of the gospel, revealing the world-wide extent of God's plan. That reading still left the middle wall of partition standing in the minds of the apostles though Christ's death had broken it down, while Peter's labors were still confined to the Jews, and the vision came to him as both reproof and instruction to divest him of prejudice. The command to eat did not remove God's prohibition of flesh formerly pronounced unclean and did not abolish the distinction between clean and unclean foods, swine's flesh was not made fit for food, and to use the vision as permission to eat unclean animals is narrow and erroneous and is contradicted by the account of the vision and its consequences.
The distinction removed concerned the acceptance of Gentiles, not the removal of the Ten Commandments, for the ceremonial law was made void by Christ's crucifixion. Peter's Jewish training had led him to regard what was called common or unclean as forbidden, and the vision challenged the prejudice that kept him from receiving Gentiles as equal with Jewish believers. He was taught no longer to observe the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision, no longer to look upon Gentiles as unclean or inferior, and not to require Gentile converts to be circumcised or to impose ceremonial-law rites on them, for Jew and Gentile are equally precious to God. God had cleansed the Gentiles and opened the gospel to them, and the meaning was made plain when Peter was sent to Cornelius to preach Christ as the sinner's only hope.
The result proving the meaning was the gift of the Holy Spirit to Gentiles as to Jewish believers at the beginning, the granting of repentance unto life to the Gentiles, the destruction of prejudice and exclusiveness by the gospel, and the opening of the way for the work to be carried on among the Gentiles. His obedience in going to the house of a Gentile and preaching there was in direct fulfilment of the plan of God, preparing him to understand that Gentiles were not to be treated as unclean or excluded.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
Peter's refusal belongs to the moment when God set His plan in motion to have His will done on earth as in heaven by opening the gospel to the Gentiles. The gospel was no longer to be restricted to the Jewish people but was to be carried to the world. By bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius, God brought the gospel to those who had been strangers and foreigners, making them fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. At that time Peter had not yet preached the gospel to the Gentiles, though many Gentiles had been interested listeners and Greek Jews had believed, and many Gentiles were living in closer accordance with Old Testament principles than the Jewish leaders, whom the Lord would bring by His own methods to belief in His Son. God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him, and a large converting work remains for men like Cornelius who are to act a prominent part in His cause, for He has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal, including God-fearing men in the fallen churches who must be warned.
The conversion of Cornelius and his household put this world-wide plan first into effect as the first conversion of importance among the Gentiles. It was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered in from the world. From that home in Caesarea a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. Peter undertook the duty to go to Cornelius with reluctance at every step, obeying only because of divine command and afterward defending it not on general principles but as an exception done by divine revelation, to his own great surprise.
Cornelius was a devout Gentile centurion who feared God, prayed always, gave alms, followed principles of righteousness, longed and prayed for light from heaven, and received Christ with gladness when Christ was revealed. Though not fully informed in regard to the truth, he had received and improved all the light given him, his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God, and he was heard by God. His mind was opened by an angel, and he was directed to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside, who would tell him what to do, that through connection with that chosen human messenger he might receive greater light and further enlightenment. God thus sent a special message from heaven to Cornelius and directed Peter through His angel to visit him and give him light, revealing His compassion and tender love for those seeking and praying for light. Prayerfully read until understanding is opened, this teaches how God works on human minds to remove prejudice, and gives encouragement to keep working for souls and to hold convocations for prayer asking the Lord to open the way so truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne.
Cornelius is the kind of honest, energetic, faithful man God calls for now, taught by God and sanctified and ennobled through the truth. As God worked for Cornelius, so He works for true standard-bearers in every sphere who work on principles He accepts, whose lives are a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness as bright and shining lights even among accomplished worldly men. He prepares the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who have disappointed the Saviour, and places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light and a knowledge of God through angelic visitation as Cornelius did. In contrast to them stand those who have professed faith all their lifetime yet have lost spiritual discernment and are not true men.
How God Works Through Agents
Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving work than many suppose, and human beings are more closely connected with heaven than is commonly suspected, for heavenly intelligences are constantly communicating with the inhabitants of the earth. God knows each person by name and every action of life, just where they live and the spirit they possess. He employs angels to communicate with human beings, sending them as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers. Ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty.
On the housetop He met Peter to educate and train him, giving the representation of a sheet let down by the four corners holding all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air, and telling him three men were seeking him. Peter learned the lesson given him and went with the men to Cornelius. God knew Cornelius as one who had received and improved all the light given him, and sent His angel with the message that his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial before God, with specific directions to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside who would tell him what to do. The angel thus opened the mind of Cornelius to receive the gospel and worked to bring him into connection with the human agent through whom he might receive greater light, while Peter was sent with the message of salvation to him as a Gentile. The whole transaction shows a simplicity by which the ministration of heavenly angels resulted in the conversion of Cornelius and his company.
God sends His messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances that brings Peter into connection with Cornelius so that Cornelius may learn the truth. In every age He works in this way through His servants, bringing honest hearts into connection with those who can best meet their individual needs, and through angel ministration bringing them into cooperation with inquiring souls who have all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light. He sent a special message from heaven to Cornelius and directed Peter through His angel to visit Cornelius and give him light, revealing the compassion and tender love of God for those who are seeking and praying for light. This gives encouragement to keep working for souls and to hold convocations for prayer asking the Lord to open the way so that truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those he seeks to deceive and destroy.
Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command to go to Cornelius with reluctance at every step, obeying only because of divine command and afterward defending his action not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation. The result was a great surprise to him, for the conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered in from the world, and from that home a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. The account teaches God's regard for every human being, and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His work in the earth. It is an example showing that God may send people to serve where He chooses rather than where they would prefer to go, as Peter was sent to a Roman centurion in need of divine help and guidance despite his initial refusal.
Call to Missionary Action
The tenth chapter is to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened, and that understanding calls workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field and to arouse to home missions. Unless they do this work they will be found wanting in the day of God. From the way the Lord wrought for one who feared His name they learn how God works on human minds to remove prejudice, to break oppression, and to dispel ignorance and superstition.
A large converting work still remains for men like Cornelius who are to act a prominent part in the cause of God. Many Gentiles were living in closer accordance with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than the Jewish leaders, and by His own methods the Lord would bring them to belief in His Son. God has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal, including God-fearing men in the fallen churches who must be warned. It is the Lord's design that patient, loving work be done for honest seekers among groups bitterly opposed to the message, so that those seeking light may be gathered out from them.
Special care and more determined, earnest effort are needed for men of responsibility and stewardship whose sympathies are with God's people and whom He would connect with the church. Such men are held by threads binding them to the world and lack the moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones, because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them in their positions. In the same way earnest, devoted, determined efforts are to be made for such associations as the W.C.T.U., for light will shine forth to souls as honest as Cornelius.
As God worked for Cornelius, who feared God and followed principles of righteousness though not fully informed in truth, so He works for true standard-bearers in every sphere who work on principles God accepts. Their lives are a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness, bright and shining lights even among accomplished worldly men. He prepares the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who disappointed the Saviour. Through the visitation of angels from heaven and through connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word they obtain a knowledge of God and advanced light. If they heed the message for this time and cling closely to the hand of Infinite Wisdom, God will give them strength to conquer and to press on in the narrow way cast up for the ransomed, testifying by purity and nobility of character to unadulterated principles and guided along the path that leads to everlasting life.
In the last days many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and will obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. By the wonderful works of God they will be led to bring their energetic, faithful lives into connection with the disciples of Christ and will come to great light and to the knowledge of the truth. They will then seek to bring that light of truth before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for the truth. Thus they become conscientious lightbearers to the world, themselves constrained by the love of God constraining others and improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth and to give their abilities to advance the work.
Servants of God are to place themselves in readiness and make personal efforts for the many such souls in the world and in the churches who serve God with sincere, earnest purpose in all the light they have and who are much nearer the kingdom than is supposed. The work is to bring those walking in all the light they have received to the full light of truth, with the agencies of heaven and angels of God ever ready to cooperate with human agencies. This compassion and tender love of God for those seeking and praying for light gives encouragement to keep working for souls. It calls for holding convocations for prayer asking the Lord to open the way so truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those he seeks to deceive and destroy.
Those for whom God cares must not be called common and unclean. One man must not measure another by a human standard or pass judgment on him for not taking part in religious services, lest the brother be discouraged and his soul imperiled. God is watching over some who today are not actively engaged in His work but who will take up the work He calls them to and become faithful, reliable workers. Their unselfish, honest, upright example, though their voices are not heard in religious meetings, will be recognized with crowns of glory in the great day when rewards are given to the faithful. That faithfulness is impossible without His keeping power.
Peter on the housetop, hungry and in trance, is shown heaven opened with a sheet let down containing all kinds of unclean creatures and is commanded to kill and eat, which he refuses because he has never eaten anything common or unclean. His refusal springs from Jewish training and reveals the settled prejudice that Gentiles are defiled, common and unclean, and shut out from the blessings of the gospel. The sheet and its contents are only a symbol that by Christ's death the middle wall is broken down and the Gentiles are cleansed, so no man is to be called common or unclean, for God accepts in every nation him that fears Him and works righteousness. The command to eat does not make unclean flesh fit for food nor remove God's distinction between clean and unclean, and to use it so is narrow and erroneous. In Cornelius, the devout Gentile centurion who feared God and prayed always, the gospel is first opened to the Gentiles as the firstfruits of a world-wide harvest, no longer restricted to the Jews.
Vision Setting and Wording
Peter was praying on the housetop, very weary and hungry from journeying, immediately after the angel's interview with Cornelius, when in trance heaven was opened to him. A vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners was let down to earth, containing all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. A voice commanded him to rise, kill and eat, which he refused with the words that he had never eaten anything common or unclean.
The answer that what God has cleansed must not be called common was given a second time, and the presentation was made three times before the vessel was received up again into heaven. While this was happening Peter doubted in himself what the vision should mean.
While he doubted, the men sent from Cornelius stood at the gate, and the Spirit directed him to go down and go with them doubting nothing, telling him three men were seeking him. He received them and went with them to Caesarea, and spoke in the house of Cornelius to his assembled kinsmen and near friends, under angelic direction at every step.
At this moment his labors were still confined to the Jews and he had not yet preached the gospel to the Gentiles, except for interested listeners and Greek Jews who believed. He took up the duty to go to Cornelius with reluctance at every step, obeying only because of divine command. He defended it afterward not on general principles but as an exception done by divine revelation, to his own surprise.
God knew exactly where Peter was lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside and told Cornelius every particular about where to find him. Though an angel was sent to Cornelius, the angel did not give him the gospel message itself. God's way is for His church to connect together, so the light given to Peter would be given by Peter to Cornelius and all his family.
The vision is an example of divine instruction through vision showing what should be spoken. It was given on the housetop to educate and train Peter, to correct his error and lead him beyond his former understanding. Visions are not given for a new rule of faith, for the Word of God alone is the rule of faith and practice, but they are promised for the comfort of God's people and to correct those who err from Bible truth.
True Meaning About People
Peter's refusal to eat what was set before him grew out of thorough Jewish training and lifelong scruple about defiled food, and it laid bare a settled prejudice that Gentiles were a defiled, common and unclean race, inferior and unfit for fellowship, shut out from God's promises and from the blessings and privileges of the gospel. That prejudice kept the middle wall of partition still standing in the minds of the apostles even though Christ's death had broken it down. His refusal therefore exposed not only a rule about diet but a view that the heathen were excluded and unclean.
The sheet let down from heaven with all its living contents was only a symbol and illustration of the true position of the Gentiles. By the death of Christ the middle wall of partition is broken down and the heathen are cleansed. Through Christ and by His death they are made fellow heirs with Israel, partakers equally with the Jews in the blessings and privileges of the gospel.
The meaning of the refusal is about people, not food. Peter must not call any man common or unclean. God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Jew and Gentile are equally precious to God, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all uncleanness. Gentiles are therefore not to be treated as excluded from the gospel or as inferior to Jewish believers.
The vision thus carries both reproof and instruction. It divests Peter of prejudice and converts Peter himself, taking away the barriers between Jew and Gentile. It corrects his error and leads him beyond his former understanding to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan. In that plan Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Christ.
Peter learns the lesson when he goes with the men sent to him and goes to Cornelius without gainsaying. There he preaches Christ as the sinner's only hope. He understands then that God has opened the gospel to the Gentiles so they are not to be treated as excluded or inferior.
Doctrinal Limits Preserved
Peter's refusal shows he had never eaten anything he counted common or unclean, and his holding back from the command to rise, kill and eat reflected his settled conviction that Gentiles were an unclean race excluded from God's promises. The sheet let down with its contents was only an illustration of the true position of the Gentiles, that through Christ and by His death the heathen nations were made fellow heirs with Israel and partakers equally with the Jews in the blessings and privileges of the gospel, revealing the world-wide extent of God's plan. That reading still left the middle wall of partition standing in the minds of the apostles though Christ's death had broken it down, while Peter's labors were still confined to the Jews, and the vision came to him as both reproof and instruction to divest him of prejudice. The command to eat did not remove God's prohibition of flesh formerly pronounced unclean and did not abolish the distinction between clean and unclean foods, swine's flesh was not made fit for food, and to use the vision as permission to eat unclean animals is narrow and erroneous and is contradicted by the account of the vision and its consequences.
The distinction removed concerned the acceptance of Gentiles, not the removal of the Ten Commandments, for the ceremonial law was made void by Christ's crucifixion. Peter's Jewish training had led him to regard what was called common or unclean as forbidden, and the vision challenged the prejudice that kept him from receiving Gentiles as equal with Jewish believers. He was taught no longer to observe the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision, no longer to look upon Gentiles as unclean or inferior, and not to require Gentile converts to be circumcised or to impose ceremonial-law rites on them, for Jew and Gentile are equally precious to God. God had cleansed the Gentiles and opened the gospel to them, and the meaning was made plain when Peter was sent to Cornelius to preach Christ as the sinner's only hope.
The result proving the meaning was the gift of the Holy Spirit to Gentiles as to Jewish believers at the beginning, the granting of repentance unto life to the Gentiles, the destruction of prejudice and exclusiveness by the gospel, and the opening of the way for the work to be carried on among the Gentiles. His obedience in going to the house of a Gentile and preaching there was in direct fulfilment of the plan of God, preparing him to understand that Gentiles were not to be treated as unclean or excluded.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
Peter's refusal belongs to the moment when God set His plan in motion to have His will done on earth as in heaven by opening the gospel to the Gentiles. The gospel was no longer to be restricted to the Jewish people but was to be carried to the world. By bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius, God brought the gospel to those who had been strangers and foreigners, making them fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. At that time Peter had not yet preached the gospel to the Gentiles, though many Gentiles had been interested listeners and Greek Jews had believed, and many Gentiles were living in closer accordance with Old Testament principles than the Jewish leaders, whom the Lord would bring by His own methods to belief in His Son. God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him, and a large converting work remains for men like Cornelius who are to act a prominent part in His cause, for He has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal, including God-fearing men in the fallen churches who must be warned.
The conversion of Cornelius and his household put this world-wide plan first into effect as the first conversion of importance among the Gentiles. It was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered in from the world. From that home in Caesarea a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. Peter undertook the duty to go to Cornelius with reluctance at every step, obeying only because of divine command and afterward defending it not on general principles but as an exception done by divine revelation, to his own great surprise.
Cornelius was a devout Gentile centurion who feared God, prayed always, gave alms, followed principles of righteousness, longed and prayed for light from heaven, and received Christ with gladness when Christ was revealed. Though not fully informed in regard to the truth, he had received and improved all the light given him, his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God, and he was heard by God. His mind was opened by an angel, and he was directed to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside, who would tell him what to do, that through connection with that chosen human messenger he might receive greater light and further enlightenment. God thus sent a special message from heaven to Cornelius and directed Peter through His angel to visit him and give him light, revealing His compassion and tender love for those seeking and praying for light. Prayerfully read until understanding is opened, this teaches how God works on human minds to remove prejudice, and gives encouragement to keep working for souls and to hold convocations for prayer asking the Lord to open the way so truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne.
Cornelius is the kind of honest, energetic, faithful man God calls for now, taught by God and sanctified and ennobled through the truth. As God worked for Cornelius, so He works for true standard-bearers in every sphere who work on principles He accepts, whose lives are a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness as bright and shining lights even among accomplished worldly men. He prepares the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who have disappointed the Saviour, and places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light and a knowledge of God through angelic visitation as Cornelius did. In contrast to them stand those who have professed faith all their lifetime yet have lost spiritual discernment and are not true men.
How God Works Through Agents
Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving work than many suppose, and human beings are more closely connected with heaven than is commonly suspected, for heavenly intelligences are constantly communicating with the inhabitants of the earth. God knows each person by name and every action of life, just where they live and the spirit they possess. He employs angels to communicate with human beings, sending them as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers. Ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty.
On the housetop He met Peter to educate and train him, giving the representation of a sheet let down by the four corners holding all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air, and telling him three men were seeking him. Peter learned the lesson given him and went with the men to Cornelius. God knew Cornelius as one who had received and improved all the light given him, and sent His angel with the message that his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial before God, with specific directions to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside who would tell him what to do. The angel thus opened the mind of Cornelius to receive the gospel and worked to bring him into connection with the human agent through whom he might receive greater light, while Peter was sent with the message of salvation to him as a Gentile. The whole transaction shows a simplicity by which the ministration of heavenly angels resulted in the conversion of Cornelius and his company.
God sends His messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances that brings Peter into connection with Cornelius so that Cornelius may learn the truth. In every age He works in this way through His servants, bringing honest hearts into connection with those who can best meet their individual needs, and through angel ministration bringing them into cooperation with inquiring souls who have all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light. He sent a special message from heaven to Cornelius and directed Peter through His angel to visit Cornelius and give him light, revealing the compassion and tender love of God for those who are seeking and praying for light. This gives encouragement to keep working for souls and to hold convocations for prayer asking the Lord to open the way so that truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those he seeks to deceive and destroy.
Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command to go to Cornelius with reluctance at every step, obeying only because of divine command and afterward defending his action not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation. The result was a great surprise to him, for the conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered in from the world, and from that home a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. The account teaches God's regard for every human being, and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His work in the earth. It is an example showing that God may send people to serve where He chooses rather than where they would prefer to go, as Peter was sent to a Roman centurion in need of divine help and guidance despite his initial refusal.
Call to Missionary Action
The tenth chapter is to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened, and that understanding calls workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field and to arouse to home missions. Unless they do this work they will be found wanting in the day of God. From the way the Lord wrought for one who feared His name they learn how God works on human minds to remove prejudice, to break oppression, and to dispel ignorance and superstition.
A large converting work still remains for men like Cornelius who are to act a prominent part in the cause of God. Many Gentiles were living in closer accordance with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than the Jewish leaders, and by His own methods the Lord would bring them to belief in His Son. God has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal, including God-fearing men in the fallen churches who must be warned. It is the Lord's design that patient, loving work be done for honest seekers among groups bitterly opposed to the message, so that those seeking light may be gathered out from them.
Special care and more determined, earnest effort are needed for men of responsibility and stewardship whose sympathies are with God's people and whom He would connect with the church. Such men are held by threads binding them to the world and lack the moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones, because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them in their positions. In the same way earnest, devoted, determined efforts are to be made for such associations as the W.C.T.U., for light will shine forth to souls as honest as Cornelius.
As God worked for Cornelius, who feared God and followed principles of righteousness though not fully informed in truth, so He works for true standard-bearers in every sphere who work on principles God accepts. Their lives are a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness, bright and shining lights even among accomplished worldly men. He prepares the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who disappointed the Saviour. Through the visitation of angels from heaven and through connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word they obtain a knowledge of God and advanced light. If they heed the message for this time and cling closely to the hand of Infinite Wisdom, God will give them strength to conquer and to press on in the narrow way cast up for the ransomed, testifying by purity and nobility of character to unadulterated principles and guided along the path that leads to everlasting life.
In the last days many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and will obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. By the wonderful works of God they will be led to bring their energetic, faithful lives into connection with the disciples of Christ and will come to great light and to the knowledge of the truth. They will then seek to bring that light of truth before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for the truth. Thus they become conscientious lightbearers to the world, themselves constrained by the love of God constraining others and improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth and to give their abilities to advance the work.
Servants of God are to place themselves in readiness and make personal efforts for the many such souls in the world and in the churches who serve God with sincere, earnest purpose in all the light they have and who are much nearer the kingdom than is supposed. The work is to bring those walking in all the light they have received to the full light of truth, with the agencies of heaven and angels of God ever ready to cooperate with human agencies. This compassion and tender love of God for those seeking and praying for light gives encouragement to keep working for souls. It calls for holding convocations for prayer asking the Lord to open the way so truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those he seeks to deceive and destroy.
Those for whom God cares must not be called common and unclean. One man must not measure another by a human standard or pass judgment on him for not taking part in religious services, lest the brother be discouraged and his soul imperiled. God is watching over some who today are not actively engaged in His work but who will take up the work He calls them to and become faithful, reliable workers. Their unselfish, honest, upright example, though their voices are not heard in religious meetings, will be recognized with crowns of glory in the great day when rewards are given to the faithful. That faithfulness is impossible without His keeping power.