A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Acts 10:2 describes Cornelius, a Roman centurion at Caesarea of high trust, wealth and noble birth, raised a heathen but taught of the true God through the Jews, who had renounced idolatry to worship the Creator and await the promised Messiah without becoming a circumcised proselyte. He feared God with all his house, governing home and official duties by God's authority, leading his family in worship and integrity, giving generously to the poor and praying constantly and earnestly for light and help. His prayers and alms came up before God as a memorial, not because such deeds can earn favor, but because Christ's grace had moved his heart and made his freely given fruits of love acceptable. Though sincere and living up to all the light he had, he did not yet know the gospel of Christ's life and death, so God sent an angel to direct him to Peter, since the gospel is to be carried by human agents, and through Peter he and his household received salvation and the Holy Spirit. His conversion marked the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles to share equally with Jews without circumcision, and stands as the pattern for every home to fear God in order and obedience, and for earnest personal labor for honest seekers, including the wealthy and those in high positions.
Cornelius and His Background
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed at Caesarea, an officer holding a high position of trust in the Roman army. He was a wealthy man of noble birth who had been raised a heathen, yet through contact with the Jews he had learned of the true God and had come to worship Him sincerely. His compassion for the poor and his generous, continual devotion showed the sincerity of that faith, even though he was born outside the Jewish faith.
He had renounced idolatry and turned to worship the one Creator, revering Him as God. He believed the prophecies and was looking for the Messiah to come, awaiting the promised Saviour. His worship was sincere obedience to the moral law, and that love and obedience brought him near to God.
He had not joined the Jews, had not been circumcised, and took no part in the sacrificial offerings. For that reason Jewish leaders counted him unclean and would have regarded him as unclean, yet God recognized his sincere heart. At the same time his charitable deeds, beneficence, compassion, and righteous, upright life gave him a good name and a good reputation among both Jews and Gentiles, known far and near for charity and benevolence.
He acknowledged God's authority, revered Him, and sought His counsel and help in all the business of his life and in his affairs. He dared not carry out his plans and bear his weighty responsibilities without God's help, but prayed much and earnestly for that help in his home and official duties. He was faithful in home duties as well as in official responsibilities, and he had erected the altar of God in his family and established worship there, guiding his whole household in that reverence.
Fearing God With Household
To be devout and to fear God is to be obedient to His will, to worship Him with a true heart, and to know and obey the moral law.
Cornelius led his whole household to fear and worship God with him, and his household followed his example of integrity. He advanced as further light came to him and stood among faithful witnesses, with his prayers and alms known in heaven and coming before God as a memorial that directed him to seek further light through a chosen human messenger.
His leading his entire household into reverence for God is the pattern and the standard for every home. For the same commendation to be spoken of them, parents must live exemplary lives, raise the standard of behavior in the home, teach their children obedience, and govern them by the combined influence of affection and Christlike authority. Habits and practices are to be brought into harmony with God's plans and Word and with the ten commandments as God's law for His household below, with Christlike influence and all commonness and cheapness purged, with faith and works combined and everything done decently and in order. Where such reverence for God reigns, angels are brought into the home circle with a softening, subduing influence that fills parents and children with holy joy, requiring no laxness in family principles and not allowing children to be cross and refractory because that dishonors God. The record of his giving much alms and praying to God always was written to show that the Lord blesses the offerings and prayers made by the church in the home as home religion that God honors.
Alms and Continual Prayer
To give much alms means generous, liberal giving to the people and to the poor, including sustaining the Jewish cause by liberal donations, and he was known far and near for charity and benevolence. His compassion for the poor and his righteous, compassionate life showed the sincerity of his faith and gave him a good reputation among both Jews and Gentiles.
To pray to God always means constant, earnest prayer, praying much and earnestly for God's help in his affairs. He revered God's authority, sought God's guidance and counsel in all the business of his life, was faithful in family and public duties, and had erected worship in his home. He dared not carry out his plans and bear his weighty responsibilities without God's help. His prayers were sincere and matched his conduct, for he lived what he prayed rather than speaking from lips marked by passionate words.
His prayers and alms united were recognized by God together and came up before God as a memorial. This showed that God knew him and his family and had not forgotten them. The Lord knows every person by name, where each one lives, the spirit possessed, and every act of life, and ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in individual duty. The angel in vision told him his prayers and his alms had come up for a memorial before God, connecting his continual prayer and generous giving with God's remembrance of him.
His prayers and alms were remembered and commended by God, not because either act could earn favor or recommend a sinner to God. Christ's grace had moved his heart and made his service acceptable, for though he did not yet know Jesus as revealed in His earthly life, Christ's Spirit spoke to him and drew him, and he yielded. His prayers and gifts were freely given as fruits of love and gratitude, not as payment to secure heaven. Prayer and almsgiving cannot take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, and are acceptable as far as his knowledge goes.
Sincere Yet Incomplete Faith
He did not yet know the gospel as revealed in Christ's life and death, and had no understanding faith in Christ, though he believed the prophecies and awaited the coming Messiah. He was not yet counted a disciple of Christ, but had faith in God according to the light he had, was moved by Christ's Spirit, and was following on to know the Lord and reaching out for more light. He lived faithfully according to the light and instruction he had received, and his sincere, truthful life pleased God even without full knowledge of Jesus Christ. His love and obedience and compassion for the poor showed the sincerity of his faith, brought him near to God, and prepared him to receive the Saviour, so God sent a heavenly message and directed Peter to teach him. His daily prayers for light and guidance were answered by a special message from heaven, and God brought him into connection with Peter to give him clearer light, because He saw he would do honor to the church.
He lived up to all the light and instruction he had received and walked in the light, and his sincere, truthful life, purity of actions, and generosity pleased God. He manifested the true principles of Christianity and did the works of a Christian without a theoretical understanding of truth, advancing as light came to him and standing among God's faithful witnesses. His prayers and deeds of charity showed walking in the light, God took special notice of such service, recognized him, and did not withhold words of encouragement from those who do well. His course was more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant. Because he lived up to all the light he had, God noticed his prayers and deeds, ordered events so he could receive more truth and be led into greater light, and commissioned heavenly angels to connect him with Peter so he could learn what he still needed to do.
He represents many in every place and age who fear God, live by principles of righteousness, and do the works of a Christian while not yet fully enlightened. These include those not yet fully enlightened about Christ, the Sabbath, the tithe, and present truth, who are living up to all the light they have to the best of their ability and knowledge. They include honest souls in outside moral reform associations such as the W.C.T.U., earnest seekers among the nations who long and pray for light, people connected with the world who have never had the Sabbath truth brought to them, and God-fearing men still in the fallen churches. In every sphere of action they work on right principles, bear a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness, stand as bright and shining lights even in high positions of responsibility among worldly men, and live in closer accordance with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than many with greater advantages. As with him, God works for these true standard-bearers by His own methods, preparing the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who have disappointed the Saviour, visiting them by angels, placing them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word, and connecting them with messengers like Peter so they may obtain advanced light, be brought to belief in God's Son, and become fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God.
He must advance in faith to a new experience, receiving by faith the fulfillment of the promised Messiah he had believed. Prayer and almsgiving cannot take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, so he must be joined to Jesus Christ, in whom alone his devotion is made complete. Joined by faith to Christ with the barrier between Jew and Gentile taken away, he can then do his work intelligently through Christ and accomplish a great work in connection with believers in Jesus.
His close relation with God, submitting his mind to the molding influence of God's Spirit, made him susceptible to the leadings of the Spirit. That susceptibility made him ready to respond at once when impressed to say or do something to help a fellow being, while the angels of God were round about him guiding and directing though unseen. God fully knew him, measured his talents and ability, and knew just what work to lay upon him and just what to do for him. As with every faithful person, faithfulness leads to being entrusted with great responsibility and then with still higher responsibility, growing through grace to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus in strength and efficiency.
Remembered and Led Onward
God commended Cornelius for liberality and devotion, hearing his daily prayers for light and knowledge and recognizing his offerings. He did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation and did not at first understand the vision given him. Yet moved by the Spirit according to the light he had, he reached out for more light, and God saw he would honor the church and answered him.
God knows each person by name, measures talents and ability, knows where each one lives and every act of life, and knows just what work to lay upon each one. His estimate of Cornelius was that he was devout and pleasing to God. Ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in individual duty, heaven is much nearer to the worker engaged in soul-saving than is supposed, and angels are wide awake and ready for action.
About the ninth hour God sent an angel to him in vision to tell him his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial before God. The angel called him by name and opened his mind to receive the gospel. The angel gave specific directions to send men to Joppa to call Peter, telling exactly where Peter was to be found, lodging in the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside.
The angel did not tell him the gospel message itself, for that is not God's way. Devotion does not make human instruction unnecessary, but God brings the seeker into connection with the human agent through whom he can receive greater light. So the light already given to Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius and to all his family, telling him what he ought to do and speaking words by which he and his household would be saved.
His experience shows the cooperation of heavenly agencies with human instrumentalities, with God directing humanity to instruct and bless humanity and uniting man with his fellow man to accomplish His appointed work. God employs angels as guides and powerful helpers to communicate with human beings and teach them, sending an angel to direct the sincere seeker to the human messenger who will tell him what to do. God is interested in every human being and regards each as His instrumentality, and His work breaks the power of oppression and tyranny and dispels ignorance and superstition and the dark clouds of ignorance from minds.
Because he was seeking and reaching out for more light, God in compassion took special interest in him, drew out his heart in prayer, prepared him to receive the light of truth, and ordered events so he could receive more truth. God leads such precious souls into clearer and still clearer light through believing messengers, setting in operation a train of circumstances to bring Peter into connection with him. His seeking won the salvation of all his house, and from his home in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on as the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world.
God sent Peter to Cornelius because He had reasons for directing his feet to that very place, where one was in need of the divine help and guidance Peter could give. The work was not Peter's own choice of a pleasing place but God's choice for him, to be accepted by doing the duty that lies nearest. The same sending continues today as God sends men and women and youth as His representatives to those in need of divine help and guidance.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
Cornelius's conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles and marked a new phase and important opening of the gospel to the Gentiles. Gentile believers who accepted the gospel were to be received as equal to Jewish disciples and to share equally in its blessings with Jewish believers, without having to be circumcised. The gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit were granted to Gentiles as well as to Jewish believers, with words by which he and his household would be saved, for God granted Gentiles repentance leading to life. God worked by a heavenly messenger and by Peter to bring this about, breaking down prejudice and exclusion and showing that believers must be willing to be taught by God.
This opening took place 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 Christ's followers. Then the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but was given to the world, with Peter divinely guided to open the gospel to the God-fearing centurion of Caesarea. Although Christ's death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, prejudice among the apostles still kept Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel. God therefore sent His messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances to bring Peter into connection with Cornelius that he might learn the truth, bringing Peter by angel ministration into cooperation with him. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, as an exception done because of divine revelation, until when Cornelius related his experience and the words of the angel who had appeared to him in vision, Peter perceived that God is no respecter of persons and that in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.
The vision given to Peter when God was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles shows that visions are given not for a new rule of faith but for the comfort of His people and to correct those who err from Bible truth. They served to correct error and direct God's people, and the same divine instruction through visions continues. Peter's experience in the home of Cornelius corroborates the promised blessing of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, showing that present experience matches the experience of the early apostles as recorded in the Word. His case proves that Gentiles can serve God as acceptably as Jews and be nearer the kingdom of God than supposed while walking in all the light they have. God saw that Cornelius would do honor to the church, so He brought such a precious soul seeking clearer light into connection with a believing messenger to lead him into clearer and still clearer light.
Example for Homes and Mission
Cornelius giving much alms and praying always was recorded to show that the Lord blesses the offerings and prayers made by the church in the home, as home religion that God honors. Because the success and spread of gospel work brings larger necessities, it demands larger offerings from God's people. He was commended for liberality and devotion as one who feared God with all his house, gave much alms, and prayed always, yet he did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation. Moved by the Spirit he cooperated with Christ's disciples, having faith according to the light he had and reaching out for more light, though not yet counted a disciple, while God saw he would honor the persecuted church in Rome and joined him to Peter for instruction in answer to daily prayer for light and knowledge. When men prompted by love for God share what they have received, their works come up for a memorial before God, laying up treasure in heaven, putting money to the exchangers so the talent increases, and bringing blessing on the giver and on the willing gift.
His example shows that sincere seekers among the rich, the wealthy, people in high and responsible positions, and those in official life need to be reached with the gospel by special, earnest, personal labor. He was a wealthy Roman centurion of noble birth who, though raised a heathen, learned of the true God through contact with the Jews and worshiped Him sincerely, living faithfully according to the light received with compassion for the poor, generous almsgiving, and continual prayer, yet not yet knowing the gospel revealed in Christ's life and death. Their sympathies are with God's people, but the threads that bind them to the world hold them firmly and they lack the moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones. Indifferent as they may appear and judged by appearance and passed by as hopeless, blinded and dazed by Satan until eternity is lost out of reckoning, most are soul-burdened and starving for spiritual food, feeling need of something they have not, receiving no benefit from church teaching that does not touch the soul, so they need personal appeal. God by His own methods brings such God-fearing strangers to belief in His Son by connecting them with messengers like Peter, making them fellow citizens with the saints, and men like Cornelius are to be worked for and converted to act a prominent part, for God will add men of ability and influence, including God-fearing men still in the fallen churches. When converted they will become agencies to communicate light, consecrating time, money, talent, and influence to do a great and prominent work.
The instruction is to read this chapter and pray over it until its meaning is opened, then begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field. Unless God's people arouse to home mission duties they will be found wanting in the day of God. The experience teaches the way God works on human minds, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling ignorance and superstition. The gospel is to be preached to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles with simplicity and Bible godliness and no erecting of barriers.
God knew exactly where Peter was, lodging with Simon the tanner, and told Cornelius where to find him and to send to Joppa for him to tell what he ought to do. The angel could have given the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. His purpose was to bring Peter and Cornelius into connection so that the light already given to Peter would be given by Peter to Cornelius and to all his family. This shows truth is passed from person to person through human connection, requiring believers to unify, love one another, and deal honestly, justly, truly, gently, and righteously with one another, without false weights and measures, rather than standing apart in hatred or remaining weak by tearing others down.
He stands as the pattern for the true and loyal ones who are firm and true, taught by God, true and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, keeping spiritual discernment. Those like him prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard, building life on the solid rock so it will stand in the tempest, in contrast to those who profess lifelong faith yet lose discernment, are right in their own eyes and foolish, and build on sand and perish. The Lord will separate the disaffected from the true and loyal, and those like Cornelius will take their places and close up the vacancies made by those who become offended and apostatize, so the ranks will not be diminished. Led to great light and to knowledge of the truth, they seek to bring that light before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for truth, thus becoming conscientious lightbearers who, themselves constrained by love, constrain others and improve every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see its beauty and to give abilities to advance the work.
His experience gives encouragement in work for souls, showing God in compassion takes special interest in one seeking and praying for light, sending a special message from heaven and directing His angel to bring Peter into cooperation with him to give him light. The Lord knows those that are His and in providence directs honest seekers to present truth as He directed Cornelius, and the conversion of Cornelius and his household is only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, with a widespread work of grace carried on from that household in a heathen city. Souls as honest as he are still found in outside moral reform associations such as the W.C.T.U., and it is the Lord's design that earnest, devoted, determined efforts be made for them so those seeking light may be gathered out from those bitterly opposed. Therefore prayer meetings are to ask God to open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those he seeks to deceive, with workers sowing beside all waters and laboring more intelligently and earnestly as God's helping hand. Those numbered among merchants and princes and men of high position who maintain integrity by strictly walking in all the light received, with constant prayer and generous alms coming up as a memorial, are kept under God's eye, passed by though the self-righteous may be, called by name, and given instruction for receiving greater knowledge by connection with Christ's disciples to take their position to obey the truth.
Acts 10:2 describes Cornelius, a Roman centurion at Caesarea of high trust, wealth and noble birth, raised a heathen but taught of the true God through the Jews, who had renounced idolatry to worship the Creator and await the promised Messiah without becoming a circumcised proselyte. He feared God with all his house, governing home and official duties by God's authority, leading his family in worship and integrity, giving generously to the poor and praying constantly and earnestly for light and help. His prayers and alms came up before God as a memorial, not because such deeds can earn favor, but because Christ's grace had moved his heart and made his freely given fruits of love acceptable. Though sincere and living up to all the light he had, he did not yet know the gospel of Christ's life and death, so God sent an angel to direct him to Peter, since the gospel is to be carried by human agents, and through Peter he and his household received salvation and the Holy Spirit. His conversion marked the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles to share equally with Jews without circumcision, and stands as the pattern for every home to fear God in order and obedience, and for earnest personal labor for honest seekers, including the wealthy and those in high positions.
Cornelius and His Background
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed at Caesarea, an officer holding a high position of trust in the Roman army. He was a wealthy man of noble birth who had been raised a heathen, yet through contact with the Jews he had learned of the true God and had come to worship Him sincerely. His compassion for the poor and his generous, continual devotion showed the sincerity of that faith, even though he was born outside the Jewish faith.
He had renounced idolatry and turned to worship the one Creator, revering Him as God. He believed the prophecies and was looking for the Messiah to come, awaiting the promised Saviour. His worship was sincere obedience to the moral law, and that love and obedience brought him near to God.
He had not joined the Jews, had not been circumcised, and took no part in the sacrificial offerings. For that reason Jewish leaders counted him unclean and would have regarded him as unclean, yet God recognized his sincere heart. At the same time his charitable deeds, beneficence, compassion, and righteous, upright life gave him a good name and a good reputation among both Jews and Gentiles, known far and near for charity and benevolence.
He acknowledged God's authority, revered Him, and sought His counsel and help in all the business of his life and in his affairs. He dared not carry out his plans and bear his weighty responsibilities without God's help, but prayed much and earnestly for that help in his home and official duties. He was faithful in home duties as well as in official responsibilities, and he had erected the altar of God in his family and established worship there, guiding his whole household in that reverence.
Fearing God With Household
To be devout and to fear God is to be obedient to His will, to worship Him with a true heart, and to know and obey the moral law.
Cornelius led his whole household to fear and worship God with him, and his household followed his example of integrity. He advanced as further light came to him and stood among faithful witnesses, with his prayers and alms known in heaven and coming before God as a memorial that directed him to seek further light through a chosen human messenger.
His leading his entire household into reverence for God is the pattern and the standard for every home. For the same commendation to be spoken of them, parents must live exemplary lives, raise the standard of behavior in the home, teach their children obedience, and govern them by the combined influence of affection and Christlike authority. Habits and practices are to be brought into harmony with God's plans and Word and with the ten commandments as God's law for His household below, with Christlike influence and all commonness and cheapness purged, with faith and works combined and everything done decently and in order. Where such reverence for God reigns, angels are brought into the home circle with a softening, subduing influence that fills parents and children with holy joy, requiring no laxness in family principles and not allowing children to be cross and refractory because that dishonors God. The record of his giving much alms and praying to God always was written to show that the Lord blesses the offerings and prayers made by the church in the home as home religion that God honors.
Alms and Continual Prayer
To give much alms means generous, liberal giving to the people and to the poor, including sustaining the Jewish cause by liberal donations, and he was known far and near for charity and benevolence. His compassion for the poor and his righteous, compassionate life showed the sincerity of his faith and gave him a good reputation among both Jews and Gentiles.
To pray to God always means constant, earnest prayer, praying much and earnestly for God's help in his affairs. He revered God's authority, sought God's guidance and counsel in all the business of his life, was faithful in family and public duties, and had erected worship in his home. He dared not carry out his plans and bear his weighty responsibilities without God's help. His prayers were sincere and matched his conduct, for he lived what he prayed rather than speaking from lips marked by passionate words.
His prayers and alms united were recognized by God together and came up before God as a memorial. This showed that God knew him and his family and had not forgotten them. The Lord knows every person by name, where each one lives, the spirit possessed, and every act of life, and ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in individual duty. The angel in vision told him his prayers and his alms had come up for a memorial before God, connecting his continual prayer and generous giving with God's remembrance of him.
His prayers and alms were remembered and commended by God, not because either act could earn favor or recommend a sinner to God. Christ's grace had moved his heart and made his service acceptable, for though he did not yet know Jesus as revealed in His earthly life, Christ's Spirit spoke to him and drew him, and he yielded. His prayers and gifts were freely given as fruits of love and gratitude, not as payment to secure heaven. Prayer and almsgiving cannot take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, and are acceptable as far as his knowledge goes.
Sincere Yet Incomplete Faith
He did not yet know the gospel as revealed in Christ's life and death, and had no understanding faith in Christ, though he believed the prophecies and awaited the coming Messiah. He was not yet counted a disciple of Christ, but had faith in God according to the light he had, was moved by Christ's Spirit, and was following on to know the Lord and reaching out for more light. He lived faithfully according to the light and instruction he had received, and his sincere, truthful life pleased God even without full knowledge of Jesus Christ. His love and obedience and compassion for the poor showed the sincerity of his faith, brought him near to God, and prepared him to receive the Saviour, so God sent a heavenly message and directed Peter to teach him. His daily prayers for light and guidance were answered by a special message from heaven, and God brought him into connection with Peter to give him clearer light, because He saw he would do honor to the church.
He lived up to all the light and instruction he had received and walked in the light, and his sincere, truthful life, purity of actions, and generosity pleased God. He manifested the true principles of Christianity and did the works of a Christian without a theoretical understanding of truth, advancing as light came to him and standing among God's faithful witnesses. His prayers and deeds of charity showed walking in the light, God took special notice of such service, recognized him, and did not withhold words of encouragement from those who do well. His course was more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant. Because he lived up to all the light he had, God noticed his prayers and deeds, ordered events so he could receive more truth and be led into greater light, and commissioned heavenly angels to connect him with Peter so he could learn what he still needed to do.
He represents many in every place and age who fear God, live by principles of righteousness, and do the works of a Christian while not yet fully enlightened. These include those not yet fully enlightened about Christ, the Sabbath, the tithe, and present truth, who are living up to all the light they have to the best of their ability and knowledge. They include honest souls in outside moral reform associations such as the W.C.T.U., earnest seekers among the nations who long and pray for light, people connected with the world who have never had the Sabbath truth brought to them, and God-fearing men still in the fallen churches. In every sphere of action they work on right principles, bear a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness, stand as bright and shining lights even in high positions of responsibility among worldly men, and live in closer accordance with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than many with greater advantages. As with him, God works for these true standard-bearers by His own methods, preparing the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who have disappointed the Saviour, visiting them by angels, placing them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word, and connecting them with messengers like Peter so they may obtain advanced light, be brought to belief in God's Son, and become fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God.
He must advance in faith to a new experience, receiving by faith the fulfillment of the promised Messiah he had believed. Prayer and almsgiving cannot take the place of Jesus Christ, in whom all fullness dwells, so he must be joined to Jesus Christ, in whom alone his devotion is made complete. Joined by faith to Christ with the barrier between Jew and Gentile taken away, he can then do his work intelligently through Christ and accomplish a great work in connection with believers in Jesus.
His close relation with God, submitting his mind to the molding influence of God's Spirit, made him susceptible to the leadings of the Spirit. That susceptibility made him ready to respond at once when impressed to say or do something to help a fellow being, while the angels of God were round about him guiding and directing though unseen. God fully knew him, measured his talents and ability, and knew just what work to lay upon him and just what to do for him. As with every faithful person, faithfulness leads to being entrusted with great responsibility and then with still higher responsibility, growing through grace to the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus in strength and efficiency.
Remembered and Led Onward
God commended Cornelius for liberality and devotion, hearing his daily prayers for light and knowledge and recognizing his offerings. He did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation and did not at first understand the vision given him. Yet moved by the Spirit according to the light he had, he reached out for more light, and God saw he would honor the church and answered him.
God knows each person by name, measures talents and ability, knows where each one lives and every act of life, and knows just what work to lay upon each one. His estimate of Cornelius was that he was devout and pleasing to God. Ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in individual duty, heaven is much nearer to the worker engaged in soul-saving than is supposed, and angels are wide awake and ready for action.
About the ninth hour God sent an angel to him in vision to tell him his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial before God. The angel called him by name and opened his mind to receive the gospel. The angel gave specific directions to send men to Joppa to call Peter, telling exactly where Peter was to be found, lodging in the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside.
The angel did not tell him the gospel message itself, for that is not God's way. Devotion does not make human instruction unnecessary, but God brings the seeker into connection with the human agent through whom he can receive greater light. So the light already given to Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius and to all his family, telling him what he ought to do and speaking words by which he and his household would be saved.
His experience shows the cooperation of heavenly agencies with human instrumentalities, with God directing humanity to instruct and bless humanity and uniting man with his fellow man to accomplish His appointed work. God employs angels as guides and powerful helpers to communicate with human beings and teach them, sending an angel to direct the sincere seeker to the human messenger who will tell him what to do. God is interested in every human being and regards each as His instrumentality, and His work breaks the power of oppression and tyranny and dispels ignorance and superstition and the dark clouds of ignorance from minds.
Because he was seeking and reaching out for more light, God in compassion took special interest in him, drew out his heart in prayer, prepared him to receive the light of truth, and ordered events so he could receive more truth. God leads such precious souls into clearer and still clearer light through believing messengers, setting in operation a train of circumstances to bring Peter into connection with him. His seeking won the salvation of all his house, and from his home in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on as the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world.
God sent Peter to Cornelius because He had reasons for directing his feet to that very place, where one was in need of the divine help and guidance Peter could give. The work was not Peter's own choice of a pleasing place but God's choice for him, to be accepted by doing the duty that lies nearest. The same sending continues today as God sends men and women and youth as His representatives to those in need of divine help and guidance.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
Cornelius's conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles and marked a new phase and important opening of the gospel to the Gentiles. Gentile believers who accepted the gospel were to be received as equal to Jewish disciples and to share equally in its blessings with Jewish believers, without having to be circumcised. The gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit were granted to Gentiles as well as to Jewish believers, with words by which he and his household would be saved, for God granted Gentiles repentance leading to life. God worked by a heavenly messenger and by Peter to bring this about, breaking down prejudice and exclusion and showing that believers must be willing to be taught by God.
This opening took place 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 Christ's followers. Then the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but was given to the world, with Peter divinely guided to open the gospel to the God-fearing centurion of Caesarea. Although Christ's death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, prejudice among the apostles still kept Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel. God therefore sent His messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances to bring Peter into connection with Cornelius that he might learn the truth, bringing Peter by angel ministration into cooperation with him. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, as an exception done because of divine revelation, until when Cornelius related his experience and the words of the angel who had appeared to him in vision, Peter perceived that God is no respecter of persons and that in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.
The vision given to Peter when God was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles shows that visions are given not for a new rule of faith but for the comfort of His people and to correct those who err from Bible truth. They served to correct error and direct God's people, and the same divine instruction through visions continues. Peter's experience in the home of Cornelius corroborates the promised blessing of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, showing that present experience matches the experience of the early apostles as recorded in the Word. His case proves that Gentiles can serve God as acceptably as Jews and be nearer the kingdom of God than supposed while walking in all the light they have. God saw that Cornelius would do honor to the church, so He brought such a precious soul seeking clearer light into connection with a believing messenger to lead him into clearer and still clearer light.
Example for Homes and Mission
Cornelius giving much alms and praying always was recorded to show that the Lord blesses the offerings and prayers made by the church in the home, as home religion that God honors. Because the success and spread of gospel work brings larger necessities, it demands larger offerings from God's people. He was commended for liberality and devotion as one who feared God with all his house, gave much alms, and prayed always, yet he did not know he had done anything worthy of commendation. Moved by the Spirit he cooperated with Christ's disciples, having faith according to the light he had and reaching out for more light, though not yet counted a disciple, while God saw he would honor the persecuted church in Rome and joined him to Peter for instruction in answer to daily prayer for light and knowledge. When men prompted by love for God share what they have received, their works come up for a memorial before God, laying up treasure in heaven, putting money to the exchangers so the talent increases, and bringing blessing on the giver and on the willing gift.
His example shows that sincere seekers among the rich, the wealthy, people in high and responsible positions, and those in official life need to be reached with the gospel by special, earnest, personal labor. He was a wealthy Roman centurion of noble birth who, though raised a heathen, learned of the true God through contact with the Jews and worshiped Him sincerely, living faithfully according to the light received with compassion for the poor, generous almsgiving, and continual prayer, yet not yet knowing the gospel revealed in Christ's life and death. Their sympathies are with God's people, but the threads that bind them to the world hold them firmly and they lack the moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones. Indifferent as they may appear and judged by appearance and passed by as hopeless, blinded and dazed by Satan until eternity is lost out of reckoning, most are soul-burdened and starving for spiritual food, feeling need of something they have not, receiving no benefit from church teaching that does not touch the soul, so they need personal appeal. God by His own methods brings such God-fearing strangers to belief in His Son by connecting them with messengers like Peter, making them fellow citizens with the saints, and men like Cornelius are to be worked for and converted to act a prominent part, for God will add men of ability and influence, including God-fearing men still in the fallen churches. When converted they will become agencies to communicate light, consecrating time, money, talent, and influence to do a great and prominent work.
The instruction is to read this chapter and pray over it until its meaning is opened, then begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field. Unless God's people arouse to home mission duties they will be found wanting in the day of God. The experience teaches the way God works on human minds, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling ignorance and superstition. The gospel is to be preached to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles with simplicity and Bible godliness and no erecting of barriers.
God knew exactly where Peter was, lodging with Simon the tanner, and told Cornelius where to find him and to send to Joppa for him to tell what he ought to do. The angel could have given the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. His purpose was to bring Peter and Cornelius into connection so that the light already given to Peter would be given by Peter to Cornelius and to all his family. This shows truth is passed from person to person through human connection, requiring believers to unify, love one another, and deal honestly, justly, truly, gently, and righteously with one another, without false weights and measures, rather than standing apart in hatred or remaining weak by tearing others down.
He stands as the pattern for the true and loyal ones who are firm and true, taught by God, true and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, keeping spiritual discernment. Those like him prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard, building life on the solid rock so it will stand in the tempest, in contrast to those who profess lifelong faith yet lose discernment, are right in their own eyes and foolish, and build on sand and perish. The Lord will separate the disaffected from the true and loyal, and those like Cornelius will take their places and close up the vacancies made by those who become offended and apostatize, so the ranks will not be diminished. Led to great light and to knowledge of the truth, they seek to bring that light before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for truth, thus becoming conscientious lightbearers who, themselves constrained by love, constrain others and improve every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see its beauty and to give abilities to advance the work.
His experience gives encouragement in work for souls, showing God in compassion takes special interest in one seeking and praying for light, sending a special message from heaven and directing His angel to bring Peter into cooperation with him to give him light. The Lord knows those that are His and in providence directs honest seekers to present truth as He directed Cornelius, and the conversion of Cornelius and his household is only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, with a widespread work of grace carried on from that household in a heathen city. Souls as honest as he are still found in outside moral reform associations such as the W.C.T.U., and it is the Lord's design that earnest, devoted, determined efforts be made for them so those seeking light may be gathered out from those bitterly opposed. Therefore prayer meetings are to ask God to open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those he seeks to deceive, with workers sowing beside all waters and laboring more intelligently and earnestly as God's helping hand. Those numbered among merchants and princes and men of high position who maintain integrity by strictly walking in all the light received, with constant prayer and generous alms coming up as a memorial, are kept under God's eye, passed by though the self-righteous may be, called by name, and given instruction for receiving greater knowledge by connection with Christ's disciples to take their position to obey the truth.