And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
Cornelius's messengers reached the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside in Joppa, stood at the gate and asked if Simon surnamed Peter was staying there. Their call came while Peter was still perplexed within himself over the vision of the sheet let down from heaven, and at that moment the Spirit told him three men were seeking him and bade him go down and go with them doubting nothing, for God had sent them. That meeting begins the God-directed visit that brings Peter to Cornelius and carries the gospel to the Gentiles, opening a new phase in which the message is no longer restricted to the Jews but is given to the world. It was designed to overcome Peter's Jewish prejudice and convert him, teaching that God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness, so Jews and Gentiles are joined by faith as equals. The asking shows God knows each person by name and just where he is to be found, setting heavenly agencies and angels to work to join an honest seeking heart with the servant fitted to meet his need, yet withholding the message from the angel himself so the light would be given by Peter as His human instrument and heaven and earth would unite in the work.
Arrival at Simon's House
Cornelius's messengers reached Joppa to the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside, stood before the gate, called out, and asked whether Simon surnamed Peter was lodged there. Their inquiry finished and brought them into contact with Peter while he was still thinking and doubting within himself what the vision of the sheet let down from heaven could mean. God timed both sides together, bringing His next step to Peter at the exact moment of his perplexity over the vision.
The vision had been given in symbols of heaven opened and a vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners let down to earth. It contained all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. A voice said Rise, Peter, kill and eat, Peter answered that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, and the answer came What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice before the vessel was received up again.
As the men inquired, the Spirit told Peter that three men sought him and bade him arise, get down, and go with them doubting nothing because God had sent them. Angels of God were directing at every step. Their arrival was the explanation of the vision joined to the Spirit's command.
Going with Gentile messengers was trying and in direct opposition to his own feelings and to Jewish faith and teachings, yet Peter did not act on feeling but obeyed and dared not disobey the Spirit. He went down to the men, declared himself the one they sought, asked their errand, and heard of Cornelius. He courteously received and entertained them and lodged them that night, and promised to accompany them on the morrow. In the morning he set out with them for Caesarea accompanied by six of his brethren to be witnesses of all he should say and do among the Gentiles, because he knew he would be called to account.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
The call at the lodging carries out in exact detail the angel's direction to send men to Joppa to find Peter. God had appointed Peter as the human instrument to give Cornelius further instruction, rather than giving him all needed light directly or letting the angel preach it. Holy angels opened Cornelius's mind to receive the gospel and sent Peter to deliver the message of salvation, the words by which he and his household would be saved. This appointed meeting unites heaven and earth in gospel missionary work, with the angel directing but Peter giving the gospel, to bring enlightenment and connect Gentiles with the gospel.
The inquiry begins the God-directed visit that brings Peter into contact with Cornelius. Through that contact the gospel was carried to the Gentiles, beginning with the conversion of Cornelius. It opens a new phase of the church's work in which the message is no longer restricted to the Jews but is given to the world, with those who had been strangers to Israel made fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.
The experience was designed to overcome Peter's Jewish prejudice against the Gentiles and to convert Peter himself so he would not belittle those who had no opportunity to hear the truth. God's careful timing brought the next step to Peter at the exact moment of his perplexity over the vision, teaching him that God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness. It fulfills God's purpose to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile so that Jews and Gentiles are joined by faith to Jesus Christ as equals and fellow citizens, to be received without being required to be circumcised.
Cornelius lived according to the light he had received and was devout and accepted for his piety, prayers, and almsgiving, sincerely seeking truth and praying for light from heaven. Yet he still needed advanced light and faith in the promised Messiah, for prayer and almsgiving, though acceptable, cannot take the place of Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone faith is made complete. When Christ was revealed to him he received Him with gladness. The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was the first major conversion among the Gentiles and only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, carrying a widespread work of grace from that home into a heathen city.
Heaven and Human Cooperation
God knows every person by name and just where he lives, the spirit he possesses, and every action of his life. He knew Cornelius, who had received and improved all the light given him so that his prayers and his alms had come up in remembrance before God, and He knew Peter's exact lodging by the seaside with Simon the tanner. He told Cornelius where and how to find Peter, sending His angel with specific directions to send men in authority to Joppa to call for Peter, even to the house and the tanner with whom he lodged, so that Cornelius would be brought into connection with the human agent through whom he could receive greater light and be told what he ought to do. The simplicity of the transaction shows that ministering angels still pass through the churches noting each person's faithfulness in his individual line of duty.
Heavenly agencies set in operation a train of circumstances to join an honest seeking heart with the servant fitted to meet his need. While Peter doubted within himself what his vision should mean, the men sent from Cornelius finished inquiring for Simon's house, stood before the gate, and called asking whether Simon surnamed Peter were lodged there, and at that moment the Spirit told him three men sought him. The vision was a lesson given in symbols of heaven opened and a vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners 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, with the voice saying Rise, Peter, kill and eat, Peter's answer that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, and the answer What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common, done thrice before the vessel was received up again, to educate and train him. Angels of God were directing at every step, so Peter was to arise and go down and go with them doubting nothing because God had sent them. Angels are powerful helpers of chosen messengers and act as their guides, and instruction is often given to men by immortal messengers who teach them of God, open minds to receive the gospel, and cooperate with human agencies to bring those walking in all the light they have received to the full light of truth.
God could have had the angel give Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not His way, for it is not His way for angels to preach. He deliberately withheld the message from the angel and would not give Cornelius all needed light directly, because He wished to bring Peter and Cornelius into connection with each other. The light He had given to Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, with Peter as the human instrument and chosen human messenger to bring enlightenment, and He requires His church to connect together to do this work.
That appointed meeting of Cornelius and Peter in gospel missionary work, carrying out in exact detail the command to send to Joppa, unites heaven and earth, with the angel directing but Peter giving the gospel. It proves that human beings are more closely connected with heaven than is commonly suspected and that heavenly intelligences are constantly communicating with the inhabitants of the earth. It gives still another instance of the ministration of heavenly angels, showing that heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in the work of soul-saving than many suppose. Each person should therefore treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The chapter shows that God can use visions to direct people and their actions and to educate and train them, the verse itself recording the men asking whether Peter was staying there. Visions comfort God's people and correct those about to stray from Bible truth as Peter was corrected when prepared to preach to the Gentiles, but they do not provide a new rule of faith.
Call to Earnest Outreach
The tenth chapter of Acts is to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened, that the way God works on human minds for one who feared His name may be learned, and then earnest work is to begin for souls in the home field, with arousing to duties for missions at home, lest workers be found wanting in the day of God. In every age God works in the same way, setting in operation a train of circumstances by heavenly messengers to bring honest hearts with all things in readiness to hear the truth into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs. Some have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others are trained differently to help another class, and the same earnest, devoted, determined effort is to be made for them. That effort includes seekers in associations bitterly opposed to the message, whom the Lord designs to gather out as seekers of light, to be worked for patiently and lovingly.
The simplicity of the Lord's plans gives courage, for the agencies of heaven are ever ready to cooperate with human agencies in personal efforts for those who, though not having received the whole truth, are serving God with sincere, earnest purpose. There are many in the world like Cornelius, Gentiles serving God as acceptably as a Jew and walking in all the light they have received, and souls in the churches much nearer the kingdom than is supposed, whom angels will help bring to the full light of truth as precious jewels in a dark world of sin. Special, determined personal effort must be made to reach influential people of the higher classes, stewards in trust bearing responsibilities and facing special temptations, whose sympathies are drawn toward commandment-keeping people but who are held by ties to the world for lack of moral courage to take their stand with the lowly. If converted they will give strength and solidity to the cause, and their conversion provides an example of God reaching both the influential and the lowly and bringing them into His work.
God directs people to places where someone needs the help and guidance they can give and sends them as His representatives, as Peter was sent to the Roman centurion. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than is supposed, and each person should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. God knew just where Peter was to be found, with Simon the tanner, and told Cornelius where and how to find him, yet He deliberately withheld the gospel message from the angel, for it is not His way for angels to preach but He requires His church to connect together, so that the light given to Peter would be given by Peter to Cornelius and all his family. This requires close connection with Christ and with one another, unifying and loving one another and dealing honestly, justly, truly, gently, and righteously instead of building up self, hating others, pointing at wrongs, or tearing one another down, so that working on the principles of heaven the salvation of God is revealed.
What Cornelius experienced will be repeated in the last days, when many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and obey the Word as supreme, being led to great light and to knowledge of the truth. Constrained by the love of God they will become conscientious lightbearers, seeking to place truth before anxious acquaintances like themselves, constraining others and improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see its beauty and to give their abilities to advance God's work. Cornelius is the kind of man God calls for now, a man taught by Him, true and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, rather than one merely professing faith while losing spiritual discernment and being wise in his own eyes. Confidence in God's tender interest, compassion, and love for seekers to whom He sends special messages from heaven calls workers to convocations for prayer that the Lord will open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel his deceptive shadow.
Cornelius's messengers reached the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside in Joppa, stood at the gate and asked if Simon surnamed Peter was staying there. Their call came while Peter was still perplexed within himself over the vision of the sheet let down from heaven, and at that moment the Spirit told him three men were seeking him and bade him go down and go with them doubting nothing, for God had sent them. That meeting begins the God-directed visit that brings Peter to Cornelius and carries the gospel to the Gentiles, opening a new phase in which the message is no longer restricted to the Jews but is given to the world. It was designed to overcome Peter's Jewish prejudice and convert him, teaching that God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness, so Jews and Gentiles are joined by faith as equals. The asking shows God knows each person by name and just where he is to be found, setting heavenly agencies and angels to work to join an honest seeking heart with the servant fitted to meet his need, yet withholding the message from the angel himself so the light would be given by Peter as His human instrument and heaven and earth would unite in the work.
Arrival at Simon's House
Cornelius's messengers reached Joppa to the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside, stood before the gate, called out, and asked whether Simon surnamed Peter was lodged there. Their inquiry finished and brought them into contact with Peter while he was still thinking and doubting within himself what the vision of the sheet let down from heaven could mean. God timed both sides together, bringing His next step to Peter at the exact moment of his perplexity over the vision.
The vision had been given in symbols of heaven opened and a vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners let down to earth. It contained all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. A voice said Rise, Peter, kill and eat, Peter answered that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, and the answer came What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice before the vessel was received up again.
As the men inquired, the Spirit told Peter that three men sought him and bade him arise, get down, and go with them doubting nothing because God had sent them. Angels of God were directing at every step. Their arrival was the explanation of the vision joined to the Spirit's command.
Going with Gentile messengers was trying and in direct opposition to his own feelings and to Jewish faith and teachings, yet Peter did not act on feeling but obeyed and dared not disobey the Spirit. He went down to the men, declared himself the one they sought, asked their errand, and heard of Cornelius. He courteously received and entertained them and lodged them that night, and promised to accompany them on the morrow. In the morning he set out with them for Caesarea accompanied by six of his brethren to be witnesses of all he should say and do among the Gentiles, because he knew he would be called to account.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
The call at the lodging carries out in exact detail the angel's direction to send men to Joppa to find Peter. God had appointed Peter as the human instrument to give Cornelius further instruction, rather than giving him all needed light directly or letting the angel preach it. Holy angels opened Cornelius's mind to receive the gospel and sent Peter to deliver the message of salvation, the words by which he and his household would be saved. This appointed meeting unites heaven and earth in gospel missionary work, with the angel directing but Peter giving the gospel, to bring enlightenment and connect Gentiles with the gospel.
The inquiry begins the God-directed visit that brings Peter into contact with Cornelius. Through that contact the gospel was carried to the Gentiles, beginning with the conversion of Cornelius. It opens a new phase of the church's work in which the message is no longer restricted to the Jews but is given to the world, with those who had been strangers to Israel made fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household.
The experience was designed to overcome Peter's Jewish prejudice against the Gentiles and to convert Peter himself so he would not belittle those who had no opportunity to hear the truth. God's careful timing brought the next step to Peter at the exact moment of his perplexity over the vision, teaching him that God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness. It fulfills God's purpose to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile so that Jews and Gentiles are joined by faith to Jesus Christ as equals and fellow citizens, to be received without being required to be circumcised.
Cornelius lived according to the light he had received and was devout and accepted for his piety, prayers, and almsgiving, sincerely seeking truth and praying for light from heaven. Yet he still needed advanced light and faith in the promised Messiah, for prayer and almsgiving, though acceptable, cannot take the place of Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone faith is made complete. When Christ was revealed to him he received Him with gladness. The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was the first major conversion among the Gentiles and only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, carrying a widespread work of grace from that home into a heathen city.
Heaven and Human Cooperation
God knows every person by name and just where he lives, the spirit he possesses, and every action of his life. He knew Cornelius, who had received and improved all the light given him so that his prayers and his alms had come up in remembrance before God, and He knew Peter's exact lodging by the seaside with Simon the tanner. He told Cornelius where and how to find Peter, sending His angel with specific directions to send men in authority to Joppa to call for Peter, even to the house and the tanner with whom he lodged, so that Cornelius would be brought into connection with the human agent through whom he could receive greater light and be told what he ought to do. The simplicity of the transaction shows that ministering angels still pass through the churches noting each person's faithfulness in his individual line of duty.
Heavenly agencies set in operation a train of circumstances to join an honest seeking heart with the servant fitted to meet his need. While Peter doubted within himself what his vision should mean, the men sent from Cornelius finished inquiring for Simon's house, stood before the gate, and called asking whether Simon surnamed Peter were lodged there, and at that moment the Spirit told him three men sought him. The vision was a lesson given in symbols of heaven opened and a vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners 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, with the voice saying Rise, Peter, kill and eat, Peter's answer that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, and the answer What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common, done thrice before the vessel was received up again, to educate and train him. Angels of God were directing at every step, so Peter was to arise and go down and go with them doubting nothing because God had sent them. Angels are powerful helpers of chosen messengers and act as their guides, and instruction is often given to men by immortal messengers who teach them of God, open minds to receive the gospel, and cooperate with human agencies to bring those walking in all the light they have received to the full light of truth.
God could have had the angel give Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not His way, for it is not His way for angels to preach. He deliberately withheld the message from the angel and would not give Cornelius all needed light directly, because He wished to bring Peter and Cornelius into connection with each other. The light He had given to Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, with Peter as the human instrument and chosen human messenger to bring enlightenment, and He requires His church to connect together to do this work.
That appointed meeting of Cornelius and Peter in gospel missionary work, carrying out in exact detail the command to send to Joppa, unites heaven and earth, with the angel directing but Peter giving the gospel. It proves that human beings are more closely connected with heaven than is commonly suspected and that heavenly intelligences are constantly communicating with the inhabitants of the earth. It gives still another instance of the ministration of heavenly angels, showing that heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in the work of soul-saving than many suppose. Each person should therefore treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The chapter shows that God can use visions to direct people and their actions and to educate and train them, the verse itself recording the men asking whether Peter was staying there. Visions comfort God's people and correct those about to stray from Bible truth as Peter was corrected when prepared to preach to the Gentiles, but they do not provide a new rule of faith.
Call to Earnest Outreach
The tenth chapter of Acts is to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened, that the way God works on human minds for one who feared His name may be learned, and then earnest work is to begin for souls in the home field, with arousing to duties for missions at home, lest workers be found wanting in the day of God. In every age God works in the same way, setting in operation a train of circumstances by heavenly messengers to bring honest hearts with all things in readiness to hear the truth into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs. Some have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others are trained differently to help another class, and the same earnest, devoted, determined effort is to be made for them. That effort includes seekers in associations bitterly opposed to the message, whom the Lord designs to gather out as seekers of light, to be worked for patiently and lovingly.
The simplicity of the Lord's plans gives courage, for the agencies of heaven are ever ready to cooperate with human agencies in personal efforts for those who, though not having received the whole truth, are serving God with sincere, earnest purpose. There are many in the world like Cornelius, Gentiles serving God as acceptably as a Jew and walking in all the light they have received, and souls in the churches much nearer the kingdom than is supposed, whom angels will help bring to the full light of truth as precious jewels in a dark world of sin. Special, determined personal effort must be made to reach influential people of the higher classes, stewards in trust bearing responsibilities and facing special temptations, whose sympathies are drawn toward commandment-keeping people but who are held by ties to the world for lack of moral courage to take their stand with the lowly. If converted they will give strength and solidity to the cause, and their conversion provides an example of God reaching both the influential and the lowly and bringing them into His work.
God directs people to places where someone needs the help and guidance they can give and sends them as His representatives, as Peter was sent to the Roman centurion. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than is supposed, and each person should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. God knew just where Peter was to be found, with Simon the tanner, and told Cornelius where and how to find him, yet He deliberately withheld the gospel message from the angel, for it is not His way for angels to preach but He requires His church to connect together, so that the light given to Peter would be given by Peter to Cornelius and all his family. This requires close connection with Christ and with one another, unifying and loving one another and dealing honestly, justly, truly, gently, and righteously instead of building up self, hating others, pointing at wrongs, or tearing one another down, so that working on the principles of heaven the salvation of God is revealed.
What Cornelius experienced will be repeated in the last days, when many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and obey the Word as supreme, being led to great light and to knowledge of the truth. Constrained by the love of God they will become conscientious lightbearers, seeking to place truth before anxious acquaintances like themselves, constraining others and improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see its beauty and to give their abilities to advance God's work. Cornelius is the kind of man God calls for now, a man taught by Him, true and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, rather than one merely professing faith while losing spiritual discernment and being wise in his own eyes. Confidence in God's tender interest, compassion, and love for seekers to whom He sends special messages from heaven calls workers to convocations for prayer that the Lord will open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel his deceptive shadow.