Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
The Spirit spoke to Peter while he was still pondering the sheet vision, telling him that three men sent from Cornelius were waiting at the gate and commanding him to arise, go down from the housetop and go with them doubting nothing because God himself had sent them. The command was trying because it required him to set aside deeply rooted Jewish prejudice against association with other nations, and it interpreted the vision to mean that he must call no man common or unclean nor maintain ceremonial separation. The vision did not remove the prohibition on unclean flesh but illustrated that through Christ's death the barrier was broken down and heathen nations were made fellow-heirs and equal partakers of blessing and privilege. By heavenly messengers and angel ministration God joined the prepared servant to the prepared God-fearing seeker, for though Cornelius was accepted for devout piety, prayers and alms, he still needed to receive Christ in whom all fulness dwells, since neither prayer nor almsgiving can take his place. Peter's obedient going opened a new phase of mission with the first major Gentile conversion, proving that God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation him who fears him and works righteousness, and calling workers still to make personal effort for sincere souls who serve in all the light they have and are near the kingdom.
Setting and Wording
The voice that spoke was the Holy Spirit, coming to Peter while he was still thinking over the symbolic vision of the sheet and telling him that three men were seeking him at the gate of his lodging house. Angels of God were directing at every step, and Peter understood the voice that communicated the message. The direction came at the exact moment the messengers sent by Cornelius stood before the gate, joining the vision to the visitors at the door.
The command was to arise, get down from the housetop lodging, and go with the men sent from Cornelius, doubting nothing and acting without hesitation, because God Himself had sent them. It required setting aside reluctance and acting on God's direction rather than on doubt. It sent him across Jewish custom to carry God's words to a prepared God-fearing Gentile.
He obeyed by going down to the men, declaring himself the one they sought, asking their errand, receiving them and lodging them overnight. He promised to accompany them on the morrow, entertained them that night, and in the morning set out for Caesarea. He took six brethren with him as witnesses of all he would say and do, because he knew that visiting Gentiles and entering that work would call him to account for direct opposition to Jewish faith and teaching.
The telling shows how God instructs by vision, directing a person's actions and making clear what to do and what to speak. The instruction is repeated again and again until it is clear. Visions are so given not for a new rule of faith but for the comfort of His people and to correct those erring from Bible truth, while the Word remains the rule of faith and practice by which all are judged.
Overcoming Prejudice to Gentiles
The command was trying to Peter because it required him to set aside his own feelings, reluctance, and deeply rooted Jewish prejudice and custom against keeping company with another nation. The Spirit told him to get down from the housetop and go with the three men sent from Cornelius, doubting nothing, because God Himself had sent them, and he was to act on God's direction rather than his own doubts. Though the mission crossed Jewish barriers against associating with Gentiles and challenged his feelings, he refused to act on his own feelings and obeyed. He went down to receive the messengers, declared himself the one they sought, asked their errand, promised to accompany them on the morrow, entertained them that night, and set out in the morning for Caesarea with six brethren as witnesses because he knew visiting Gentiles would call him to account for direct opposition to Jewish faith and teaching.
The command came while he was still thinking about the symbolic sheet vision, at the exact moment the men stood before the gate of his lodging, and it settled his perplexity over the vision and interpreted it. It connected the vision with the visitors at his door and sent him across Jewish custom to carry God's words to a prepared God-fearing Gentile. In doing so it brought him both reproof and instruction that he must not call any man common or unclean, must not maintain ceremonial separation between Jew and Gentile, and must not belittle those who had no opportunity to hear truth. It was part of God's careful work to convert Peter himself and to teach him not to regard any person as common or unclean.
The direction proves the vision was not removal of the prohibition on unclean flesh but an illustration that through the death of Christ heathen nations are made equally partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews and fellow-heirs with the Israel of God. It divested him of settled prejudice against Gentiles as an unclean race excluded from the promises of God and confining his labors to Jews, and led him to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan.
Obeyed without gainsaying, the command began his visit to the Gentiles and the opening of the gospel to them. It led him to enter the house of Gentiles and to preach Christ to Cornelius and his kinsmen and friends and gathered relatives that they might be taught how to be saved. Through this meeting God brought the gospel to Gentiles and made them fellow members of His people, sending Cornelius a special message and directing Peter to visit him and bring him further light as one acting faithfully according to the light he had received.
God Joins Seeker and Servant
The Spirit's order to get down and go with the three men from Cornelius, doubting nothing because God Himself had sent them, joins the prepared servant to the prepared God-fearing seeker. It settles perplexity over the vision by sending across Jewish custom against keeping company with another nation to carry God's words to a Gentile made ready to hear. It teaches the way God works on human minds to bring a sincere seeker into contact with those who can share greater light, breaking oppression and tyranny and dispelling ignorance and superstition. When its meaning is opened by reading and prayer it moves workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field, and neglect of that home mission duty leaves them wanting in the day of God.
God set in operation a train of circumstances through heavenly messengers and angel ministration to bring Peter into connection with Cornelius so Cornelius might learn the truth and receive advanced light. God employs angels to communicate with human beings, and instruction is often given by immortal messengers sent to be the powerful helpers and guides of His chosen earthly messengers in directing His people and advancing the gospel to a Gentile. Peter is thus brought into cooperation with inquiring souls who have all things in readiness to hear the truth. In every age honest hearts are brought into connection with those best fitted to reach their individual needs.
God knew just where Peter was to be found, lodging with Simon the tanner in Joppa, and told Cornelius where to look and whom to seek, down to every particular. The Lord knows every person by name and just where they live and the spirit they possess and every act of life, as He knew Cornelius as He knew Abraham because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him. Ministering angels are passing through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty, and God wants each one brought into close connection with Him.
The angel could have given Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. The light and truth and law already given to Peter had to be carried by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, rather than having an angel impart that instruction directly, so heaven and earth are united in the work through a human instrument in the hands of heavenly agencies. By that acquaintance in gospel missionary work Jews and Gentiles are joined to Christ. God's church must therefore connect together and impart to one another the light God has given, which requires unity and coming into close connection with Christ and with one another, loving one another and dealing honestly and justly and truly and gently and righteously instead of tearing down others.
Cornelius, though accepted of God for devout piety and commended for prayers and alms and faithful obedience according to the light received, must advance in faith to receive the fulfilment of the promise of the Messiah. He must be joined by faith to Jesus Christ, in whom all fulness dwells, since neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ. He was a sincere Roman officer who lacked knowledge of the gospel as revealed in Christ's life and death, and God joined heavenly direction with an earthly servant to bring him that message through Peter's visit and instruction. As one representing sincere seekers outside the Jewish people, longing and praying for light from heaven, when Christ was revealed to him he received Him with gladness.
Doctrine and Wider Meaning
Christ's death had already broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, yet the apostles still treated Gentiles as excluded from the blessings of the gospel. The direction to go with the messengers from Cornelius set God's plan in motion to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to open a new phase of the church's mission. Cornelius's conversion was the first major conversion among the Gentiles, and the conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. From that household a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city, marking the spread of the gospel beyond the Jews.
Through this meeting God brought Gentiles in as fellow members of His people and opened the Christian church to them. Gentile believers were to be welcomed and accepted as equal to Jewish disciples without being required to be circumcised. Joined to the vision, the command told Peter no longer to observe the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision and no longer to look upon Gentiles as unclean. Going into the house of uncircumcised men and eating with them looked presumptuous to the brethren in Judea and seemed to contradict his own teaching, but obedience was direct fulfillment of the plan of God, breaking down prejudice and exclusiveness, opening the way for work among the Gentiles, and proving that God had granted to the Gentiles also repentance unto life.
Peter's going led him to perceive that God is no respecter of persons and that in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. It teaches that Gentiles can serve God as acceptably as Jews, and that souls like Cornelius who have not received the whole truth yet serve God with sincere, earnest purpose in all the light received are much nearer the kingdom of heaven than is supposed. Angels cooperate with human servants to bring such souls to the full light of truth.
God guided Peter by vision when He was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles, telling him to arise and go down and go with the messengers, doubting nothing, because God had sent them. God gives visions not to establish a new rule of faith but for the comfort of His people and to correct those who err from Bible truth, while the Word of God remains the rule of faith and practice by which all are judged. Peter's experience in the home of Cornelius corroborates the promised blessing in which petitioners speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, showing that present experience matches the experience of the early apostles as recorded in the Word.
Call to Present Mission
When its meaning is opened by reading and prayer, the command to go down and go with the three men doubting nothing calls workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field and to arouse to home mission duty, and neglect of that duty will leave them wanting in the day of God. It shows the Lord working for one who feared His name and teaches the way He works on human minds, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. It settles perplexity over the vision and sends the prepared servant across custom against keeping company with another nation to carry God's words to a prepared God-fearing seeker, joining servant to seeker.
The simplicity of the plan is that agencies of heaven cooperate with human agencies, so servants are to stand ready to make personal efforts for those like Cornelius who have not received the whole truth yet serve God with sincere, earnest purpose in all the light they have received. Such souls can serve God as acceptably as Jews and are much nearer the kingdom of heaven than is supposed. Angels cooperate with human servants to bring them to the full light of truth, and God will guide His servants to these precious jewels in a dark world of sin.
As He worked for Cornelius so He works in every sphere and age for devout standard-bearers who fear Him and work on principles of righteousness that He accepts though not fully informed in regard to truth for this time. He gives them knowledge of Himself through visitation of angels from heaven and places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light. He sets in motion a train of circumstances that brings His people best fitted to reach their individual needs into connection with honest hearts, guiding those who truly serve Him along the path to everlasting life and giving strength to conquer falsehood and testify by purity and nobility of character to the power of unadulterated principles. He thus prepares the way for them to take the place of those given Bible truth who disappointed the Saviour, calling men of nobility and influence to stand for Him in true integrity.
Special determined effort must be made for men in positions of stewardship and responsibility whose sympathies are with His people and whom He would connect with the church, for when reached and converted they give strength and solidity to the cause and become workers who bring others to the gospel and accomplish a great work. Working for them is a heavier cross than working for the poorer and more lowly, because the threads binding them to the world and lack of moral courage to take their stand hold them back. The gospel is not communicated by an angel but by acquaintance in missionary work, so heaven and earth are united and Jews and Gentiles are joined to Christ, while even the devout commended for prayers and alms must advance to receive the fulfilment of the promise of the Messiah and be joined by faith to Him in whom all fulness dwells, since neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ.
The same will happen in the last days, for many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and will obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. These will be led to great light and will come to the knowledge of the truth, then seek to bring that light before anxious acquaintances and thus become conscientious lightbearers, themselves constrained by the love of God constraining others and improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to see the beauty of truth and give their abilities to advance the work. Earnest, devoted, determined efforts are therefore to be made for associations like the W.C.T.U., that light may shine to souls as honest as Cornelius and those seeking light may be gathered out even from those bitterly opposed, since work was intended for people among the opposed. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, from which a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city.
The command illustrates that God directs people to particular places and people who need the help they can give. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose. God has compassion and tender love and personal interest for those seeking and praying for light, sending a special message from heaven and instructing His servant to visit and give light, thus opening the way for truth to reach them and giving great encouragement in work for souls. It teaches God's regard for every human being and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. It now calls for men like Cornelius, men taught by God with spiritual discernment who are true, sanctified and ennobled through the truth, in contrast to lifelong professors who have lost discernment, are right in their own eyes, suppose themselves wise while foolish, and build on sand to perish in the tempest for want of foundation on solid rock.
The Spirit spoke to Peter while he was still pondering the sheet vision, telling him that three men sent from Cornelius were waiting at the gate and commanding him to arise, go down from the housetop and go with them doubting nothing because God himself had sent them. The command was trying because it required him to set aside deeply rooted Jewish prejudice against association with other nations, and it interpreted the vision to mean that he must call no man common or unclean nor maintain ceremonial separation. The vision did not remove the prohibition on unclean flesh but illustrated that through Christ's death the barrier was broken down and heathen nations were made fellow-heirs and equal partakers of blessing and privilege. By heavenly messengers and angel ministration God joined the prepared servant to the prepared God-fearing seeker, for though Cornelius was accepted for devout piety, prayers and alms, he still needed to receive Christ in whom all fulness dwells, since neither prayer nor almsgiving can take his place. Peter's obedient going opened a new phase of mission with the first major Gentile conversion, proving that God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation him who fears him and works righteousness, and calling workers still to make personal effort for sincere souls who serve in all the light they have and are near the kingdom.
Setting and Wording
The voice that spoke was the Holy Spirit, coming to Peter while he was still thinking over the symbolic vision of the sheet and telling him that three men were seeking him at the gate of his lodging house. Angels of God were directing at every step, and Peter understood the voice that communicated the message. The direction came at the exact moment the messengers sent by Cornelius stood before the gate, joining the vision to the visitors at the door.
The command was to arise, get down from the housetop lodging, and go with the men sent from Cornelius, doubting nothing and acting without hesitation, because God Himself had sent them. It required setting aside reluctance and acting on God's direction rather than on doubt. It sent him across Jewish custom to carry God's words to a prepared God-fearing Gentile.
He obeyed by going down to the men, declaring himself the one they sought, asking their errand, receiving them and lodging them overnight. He promised to accompany them on the morrow, entertained them that night, and in the morning set out for Caesarea. He took six brethren with him as witnesses of all he would say and do, because he knew that visiting Gentiles and entering that work would call him to account for direct opposition to Jewish faith and teaching.
The telling shows how God instructs by vision, directing a person's actions and making clear what to do and what to speak. The instruction is repeated again and again until it is clear. Visions are so given not for a new rule of faith but for the comfort of His people and to correct those erring from Bible truth, while the Word remains the rule of faith and practice by which all are judged.
Overcoming Prejudice to Gentiles
The command was trying to Peter because it required him to set aside his own feelings, reluctance, and deeply rooted Jewish prejudice and custom against keeping company with another nation. The Spirit told him to get down from the housetop and go with the three men sent from Cornelius, doubting nothing, because God Himself had sent them, and he was to act on God's direction rather than his own doubts. Though the mission crossed Jewish barriers against associating with Gentiles and challenged his feelings, he refused to act on his own feelings and obeyed. He went down to receive the messengers, declared himself the one they sought, asked their errand, promised to accompany them on the morrow, entertained them that night, and set out in the morning for Caesarea with six brethren as witnesses because he knew visiting Gentiles would call him to account for direct opposition to Jewish faith and teaching.
The command came while he was still thinking about the symbolic sheet vision, at the exact moment the men stood before the gate of his lodging, and it settled his perplexity over the vision and interpreted it. It connected the vision with the visitors at his door and sent him across Jewish custom to carry God's words to a prepared God-fearing Gentile. In doing so it brought him both reproof and instruction that he must not call any man common or unclean, must not maintain ceremonial separation between Jew and Gentile, and must not belittle those who had no opportunity to hear truth. It was part of God's careful work to convert Peter himself and to teach him not to regard any person as common or unclean.
The direction proves the vision was not removal of the prohibition on unclean flesh but an illustration that through the death of Christ heathen nations are made equally partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews and fellow-heirs with the Israel of God. It divested him of settled prejudice against Gentiles as an unclean race excluded from the promises of God and confining his labors to Jews, and led him to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan.
Obeyed without gainsaying, the command began his visit to the Gentiles and the opening of the gospel to them. It led him to enter the house of Gentiles and to preach Christ to Cornelius and his kinsmen and friends and gathered relatives that they might be taught how to be saved. Through this meeting God brought the gospel to Gentiles and made them fellow members of His people, sending Cornelius a special message and directing Peter to visit him and bring him further light as one acting faithfully according to the light he had received.
God Joins Seeker and Servant
The Spirit's order to get down and go with the three men from Cornelius, doubting nothing because God Himself had sent them, joins the prepared servant to the prepared God-fearing seeker. It settles perplexity over the vision by sending across Jewish custom against keeping company with another nation to carry God's words to a Gentile made ready to hear. It teaches the way God works on human minds to bring a sincere seeker into contact with those who can share greater light, breaking oppression and tyranny and dispelling ignorance and superstition. When its meaning is opened by reading and prayer it moves workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field, and neglect of that home mission duty leaves them wanting in the day of God.
God set in operation a train of circumstances through heavenly messengers and angel ministration to bring Peter into connection with Cornelius so Cornelius might learn the truth and receive advanced light. God employs angels to communicate with human beings, and instruction is often given by immortal messengers sent to be the powerful helpers and guides of His chosen earthly messengers in directing His people and advancing the gospel to a Gentile. Peter is thus brought into cooperation with inquiring souls who have all things in readiness to hear the truth. In every age honest hearts are brought into connection with those best fitted to reach their individual needs.
God knew just where Peter was to be found, lodging with Simon the tanner in Joppa, and told Cornelius where to look and whom to seek, down to every particular. The Lord knows every person by name and just where they live and the spirit they possess and every act of life, as He knew Cornelius as He knew Abraham because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him. Ministering angels are passing through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty, and God wants each one brought into close connection with Him.
The angel could have given Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. The light and truth and law already given to Peter had to be carried by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, rather than having an angel impart that instruction directly, so heaven and earth are united in the work through a human instrument in the hands of heavenly agencies. By that acquaintance in gospel missionary work Jews and Gentiles are joined to Christ. God's church must therefore connect together and impart to one another the light God has given, which requires unity and coming into close connection with Christ and with one another, loving one another and dealing honestly and justly and truly and gently and righteously instead of tearing down others.
Cornelius, though accepted of God for devout piety and commended for prayers and alms and faithful obedience according to the light received, must advance in faith to receive the fulfilment of the promise of the Messiah. He must be joined by faith to Jesus Christ, in whom all fulness dwells, since neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ. He was a sincere Roman officer who lacked knowledge of the gospel as revealed in Christ's life and death, and God joined heavenly direction with an earthly servant to bring him that message through Peter's visit and instruction. As one representing sincere seekers outside the Jewish people, longing and praying for light from heaven, when Christ was revealed to him he received Him with gladness.
Doctrine and Wider Meaning
Christ's death had already broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, yet the apostles still treated Gentiles as excluded from the blessings of the gospel. The direction to go with the messengers from Cornelius set God's plan in motion to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to open a new phase of the church's mission. Cornelius's conversion was the first major conversion among the Gentiles, and the conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. From that household a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city, marking the spread of the gospel beyond the Jews.
Through this meeting God brought Gentiles in as fellow members of His people and opened the Christian church to them. Gentile believers were to be welcomed and accepted as equal to Jewish disciples without being required to be circumcised. Joined to the vision, the command told Peter no longer to observe the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision and no longer to look upon Gentiles as unclean. Going into the house of uncircumcised men and eating with them looked presumptuous to the brethren in Judea and seemed to contradict his own teaching, but obedience was direct fulfillment of the plan of God, breaking down prejudice and exclusiveness, opening the way for work among the Gentiles, and proving that God had granted to the Gentiles also repentance unto life.
Peter's going led him to perceive that God is no respecter of persons and that in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. It teaches that Gentiles can serve God as acceptably as Jews, and that souls like Cornelius who have not received the whole truth yet serve God with sincere, earnest purpose in all the light received are much nearer the kingdom of heaven than is supposed. Angels cooperate with human servants to bring such souls to the full light of truth.
God guided Peter by vision when He was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles, telling him to arise and go down and go with the messengers, doubting nothing, because God had sent them. God gives visions not to establish a new rule of faith but for the comfort of His people and to correct those who err from Bible truth, while the Word of God remains the rule of faith and practice by which all are judged. Peter's experience in the home of Cornelius corroborates the promised blessing in which petitioners speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, showing that present experience matches the experience of the early apostles as recorded in the Word.
Call to Present Mission
When its meaning is opened by reading and prayer, the command to go down and go with the three men doubting nothing calls workers to begin earnestly to work for souls in their home field and to arouse to home mission duty, and neglect of that duty will leave them wanting in the day of God. It shows the Lord working for one who feared His name and teaches the way He works on human minds, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. It settles perplexity over the vision and sends the prepared servant across custom against keeping company with another nation to carry God's words to a prepared God-fearing seeker, joining servant to seeker.
The simplicity of the plan is that agencies of heaven cooperate with human agencies, so servants are to stand ready to make personal efforts for those like Cornelius who have not received the whole truth yet serve God with sincere, earnest purpose in all the light they have received. Such souls can serve God as acceptably as Jews and are much nearer the kingdom of heaven than is supposed. Angels cooperate with human servants to bring them to the full light of truth, and God will guide His servants to these precious jewels in a dark world of sin.
As He worked for Cornelius so He works in every sphere and age for devout standard-bearers who fear Him and work on principles of righteousness that He accepts though not fully informed in regard to truth for this time. He gives them knowledge of Himself through visitation of angels from heaven and places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light. He sets in motion a train of circumstances that brings His people best fitted to reach their individual needs into connection with honest hearts, guiding those who truly serve Him along the path to everlasting life and giving strength to conquer falsehood and testify by purity and nobility of character to the power of unadulterated principles. He thus prepares the way for them to take the place of those given Bible truth who disappointed the Saviour, calling men of nobility and influence to stand for Him in true integrity.
Special determined effort must be made for men in positions of stewardship and responsibility whose sympathies are with His people and whom He would connect with the church, for when reached and converted they give strength and solidity to the cause and become workers who bring others to the gospel and accomplish a great work. Working for them is a heavier cross than working for the poorer and more lowly, because the threads binding them to the world and lack of moral courage to take their stand hold them back. The gospel is not communicated by an angel but by acquaintance in missionary work, so heaven and earth are united and Jews and Gentiles are joined to Christ, while even the devout commended for prayers and alms must advance to receive the fulfilment of the promise of the Messiah and be joined by faith to Him in whom all fulness dwells, since neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ.
The same will happen in the last days, for many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and will obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. These will be led to great light and will come to the knowledge of the truth, then seek to bring that light before anxious acquaintances and thus become conscientious lightbearers, themselves constrained by the love of God constraining others and improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to see the beauty of truth and give their abilities to advance the work. Earnest, devoted, determined efforts are therefore to be made for associations like the W.C.T.U., that light may shine to souls as honest as Cornelius and those seeking light may be gathered out even from those bitterly opposed, since work was intended for people among the opposed. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, from which a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city.
The command illustrates that God directs people to particular places and people who need the help they can give. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose. God has compassion and tender love and personal interest for those seeking and praying for light, sending a special message from heaven and instructing His servant to visit and give light, thus opening the way for truth to reach them and giving great encouragement in work for souls. It teaches God's regard for every human being and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. It now calls for men like Cornelius, men taught by God with spiritual discernment who are true, sanctified and ennobled through the truth, in contrast to lifelong professors who have lost discernment, are right in their own eyes, suppose themselves wise while foolish, and build on sand to perish in the tempest for want of foundation on solid rock.