Acts 10:3, commentary and pictures

About three o'clock in the afternoon, while he was praying, Cornelius clearly saw an angel of God come in to him and call him by name. He was a Gentile Roman centurion at Caesarea, devout and sincere, who feared God with all his house, prayed always and gave much alms to the people. His prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God as fruits of grace and faithfulness to the light he had, yet they could not take the place of Christ, and he still needed the gospel of the crucified, risen Saviour by which he and his house could be saved. The angel did not himself preach the gospel to him but directed him to send to Joppa for Simon Peter, who would tell him what he ought to do. That direction made the meeting the first major opening of the gospel to the Gentiles, proving God is no respecter of persons but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness, and that Gentiles are fellow citizens with the saints without being required to be circumcised.

Vision's Hour and Clarity

Cornelius was praying in the daytime when he clearly, evidently saw a vision about the ninth hour of the day, that is three o'clock in the afternoon. In that vision an angel of God came in to him, sent to instruct him and direct him toward what he was to do. Heaven thus noticed his prayers and almsgiving and appeared to guide him step by step into fuller light.

The angel called him by name, saying Cornelius, showing that God knows people by name and where they live. Cornelius recognized the speaker as a messenger from heaven, and when he looked on him he was afraid. He answered by asking what was wanted, saying What is it, Lord.

God gives instruction through visions in this way, as a definite, clear showing of what to speak and do. That showing is repeated again and again. Visions like this are given to comfort God's people and to correct those straying from Bible truth, not to establish a new rule of faith.

Cornelius's Life and Character

Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed at Caesarea, a Gentile and high-ranking officer of wealth and standing who stood outside the Jewish church. He had learned of the true God through contact with the Jews and was living according to the light he had received when heaven sent him a special message. Though he worshiped God and helped the poor, he did not yet know the gospel as revealed in Christ's life and death.

He was devout, sincere and truthful, one who feared God with all his house, gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always. He was walking in all the Old Testament light he had received and manifesting the true principles of Christianity without yet a theoretical understanding of truth. Many Gentiles like him were living in closer agreement with Old Testament principles than the Jewish leaders.

His prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God, and the angelic visit was God's notice and commendation of that devout, self-sacrificing and liberal course. That course was more pleasing to God than that of many who have opportunity to know truth yet disobey because obedience is inconvenient or unpleasant. His prayers and almsgiving did not earn God's favor but were fruits of Christ's grace, love and gratitude, and evidence of faithfulness to the light he had.

He was still incomplete without Christ, for neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Jesus Christ in whom all fullness dwells. He needed a human minister to teach him about the crucified, risen and ascended Saviour and how he and his household could be saved, which when revealed opened the way for Gentiles not to be treated as unclean or excluded. He did not understand the meaning of what he saw and was not conscious he had done anything worthy of commendation, but he was reaching out for more light with faith according to the light he had. He knew the Lord had heard his prayers and recognized his offerings, and daily prayers for light and knowledge like his will surely be answered.

Angel's Direction to Peter

The angel directed Cornelius to send men to Joppa and call for Simon Peter to receive further light and truth. The direction gave exact knowledge of where Peter was, that he was lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside. This precision shows that God knows people by name and knows just where they live, and knows their lives, work, daily circumstances and present works in every station. Rather than giving the instruction directly, God chose to bring Cornelius into connection with another person who would teach him. The meeting so arranged joined Cornelius and Peter in gospel missionary work, with Peter as the human instrument of heavenly agencies.

Peter was to tell Cornelius what he ought to do. He would teach him about the crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour and speak words through which he and all his house could be saved. Cornelius was following on to know the Lord, and this won for him the salvation of all his house. That visit begun by the angel led to the conversion of Cornelius and his household as firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city.

When the angel departed, Cornelius at once declared all these things to two of his household servants and a devout soldier who waited on him constantly and sent them to Joppa. He obeyed the heavenly direction, united with the church, and became a useful and influential laborer together with God.

Heaven and Human Cooperation

The angel who came to Cornelius in vision did not preach the gospel to him, though that instruction could have been given directly by the angel. God's way is to place seekers in connection with those who have been receiving knowledge from on high, whose work it is to impart it to those seeking light, so the light already given to Peter was to be given by Peter to Cornelius and his family. The angel therefore gave particular directions to send men to Joppa for Peter, who as a human minister and appointed messenger would teach Cornelius about the crucified, risen and ascended Saviour and tell him what he ought to do and the words through which he and all his house could be saved. Cornelius was already sincere, truthful, devout and well pleasing to God, fearing God with all his house, giving much alms to the people and praying to God always in accordance with the Old Testament Scriptures, yet without full knowledge of Jesus Christ. His prayers and alms were noticed and acceptable as far as his knowledge went, but they were still incomplete without Christ, for neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Jesus Christ in whom all fullness dwells. One who had believed God's promise of a Messiah must now receive its fulfillment, gaining an advance in faith and a new experience so as to work intelligently through Christ.

The Lord does not leave in darkness those who follow all the light given them, but sends His angels to communicate with them, direct them to what to do, and bring them into connection with another person who will teach them. God knows people by name and knows just where they live, with exact knowledge of their circumstances, daily lives and where Peter was to be found, lodging with Simon a tanner, and it was all worked out in the message that called Cornelius by name. Cornelius recognized the speaker as a messenger from heaven, was afraid, and was willing to hear the appointed human messenger. The meeting so arranged joined Cornelius and Peter in gospel missionary work, with Peter as the human instrument of heavenly agencies, to show that Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ and to take away the barrier between them, so that more than one man was converted. Cornelius obeyed at once, united with the church, and became a useful and influential laborer together with God.

This joining of person to person is God's ordained purpose that His church must connect together. It requires God's people to unify, to come into close connection with Christ and with one another, and to love one another and deal honestly, justly, gently, truly and righteously together, instead of building up self and hating others or remaining weak by tearing one another down.

The event is an example of holy angels ministering to open the mind to receive the gospel, sent on a mission of mercy to Cornelius while God also sent Peter with the message of salvation to a Gentile. Angels in this way guide God's messengers on earth and serve as powerful helpers to His chosen messengers, teaching them of God. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in the work of soul-saving than many suppose, showing 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. Heavenly agencies constantly communicate with men and women on earth, and angels of God are round about people guiding and directing them even though they cannot be seen personally. People must therefore live in close relation with God and be fully under the influence of the Spirit of God so as to be susceptible to His leadings and ready to respond at once whenever impressed by the Holy Spirit to say or do something to help a fellow being, with alms-giving and earnest prayer as indications of doing the works of a Christian and submitting the mind to the molding influence of God's Spirit. The vision thus shows communication established between heaven and earth and the close connection between them.

Gospel Opened to Gentiles

The vision to Cornelius belongs to the first major opening of the gospel to the Gentiles. That opening came after the 490 years allotted to the Jews ended in A.D. 34. With the rejection of the gospel in the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the followers of Christ, the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but was given to the world. In that turning Peter, divinely guided, opened the gospel to Cornelius, the God-fearing centurion of Caesarea. The apostles still had a mental barrier that kept Gentiles from the gospel privileges Christ's death had opened to them, and God set His plan in motion to remove it.

That barrier was the distinction Jewish believers still placed between Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to share its blessings as equals with Jewish disciples, without being required to be circumcised. Those who had been strangers and foreigners were made fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. They were not to be treated as unclean or excluded. The Lord dealt with human minds by His own methods to do this larger work for the Gentiles, bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius so the gospel would go to them.

It proves God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts those who fear Him and work righteousness. Gentiles can serve God as acceptably as Jews. Many Gentiles were living in closer agreement with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than the Jewish leaders, and the Lord would bring them to belief in His Son. Many like Cornelius have not received the whole truth yet are serving God with sincere, earnest purpose, walking in all the light they have received, and are much nearer the kingdom of heaven than is supposed.

While Peter was in Joppa, God called him to take the gospel to Cornelius in Caesarea. God sent a heavenly messenger both to Cornelius and to Peter so Cornelius could meet someone who would lead him into greater light. The God of heaven thus set in operation a train of circumstances to bring Peter into connection with Cornelius, that Cornelius might learn the truth. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, not defending his action on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and the result was a great surprise to him.

God Knows and Guides Seekers

God knows every person by name, just where each one lives, the spirit possessed, every act of life and present works, and He measures every talent to know just what work to lay on each one. About the ninth hour, while Cornelius was praying, an angel appeared to him in vision and called him by name, beginning God's direction of him to seek instruction from Peter rather than giving it directly. The angel's exact knowledge, even of where Peter was lodging and the occupation of the man hosting him, shows that God knows the lives and work of people in every station, from humble laborers to kings. The message affirmed that God had noticed Cornelius's prayers and alms, which with united prayer and self-denying work even in poverty come up before Him as a memorial. As He knew Abraham because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him, so ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty.

The Lord does not leave in darkness those who follow all the light given them, but keeps His eye on every soul seeking Him, is interested in every soul needing help, sends His angels to communicate with them, answers daily prayers for light and knowledge, and step by step leads into the full light of truth shining from every page of Scripture. Cornelius was sincere, truthful and devout, fearing God with all his house, giving much alms and praying always and living according to the Old Testament Scriptures without yet full knowledge of Christ, and heaven observed his acts while Christ showed tender care for one outside the fold as one of His own sheep. Though not counted a disciple and not conscious he had done anything worthy of commendation nor understanding the meaning of what he saw, he was reaching out for more light, and God commended his liberality and devotion, heard his prayers, recognized his offering, and saw he would do honor to the church. God could have given all needed instruction by the angel, but His plan is to place seekers in connection with those receiving knowledge from on high to impart it, so the angel told him to send to Joppa for Peter to tell him what he ought to do, and Cornelius obeyed, united with the church, and became a useful and influential laborer together with God.

The coming of the angel in vision about the ninth hour to guide Cornelius and tell him what to do shows Christ's tender care, personal interest, compassion and love for one outside the fold, treating him as one of His own sheep. God read the sincerity of his heart and sent him a special message directly from heaven by an angel, and arranged for Peter to visit him and give him light. This answer to a seeking, praying man is great encouragement to workers, assuring them that when prayer is offered God will open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and will dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those Satan seeks to deceive and destroy.

Many today are like Cornelius, walking in all the little light and few privileges they have, serving God with sincere earnest purpose as acceptably as Jews, much nearer the kingdom than is supposed, and precious jewels in this dark world of sin. There is more than one Cornelius, for such people are thinking even without knowing it, have not yet had the Sabbath truth and the great light of present truth opened to them as the next page of light, yet their works done from love rise as an acceptable offering. They will gladly walk right into clearer and still clearer light when those who represent Jesus Christ come into connection with them and introduce it, which is God's simple way of working through believing ones as instrumentalities to minister the bread of life with words of hope and cheer to souls fainting, weary and distressed. The Lord desires His servants to place themselves in readiness and make personal and special efforts for them, with the agencies of heaven ever ready to cooperate with human agencies and angels sent to guide servants to these precious jewels and bring them to full light.

Call to Earnest Mission Work

The experience is to be read and prayed over until its meaning is understood, for it shows how God works directly on human minds to join a seeking soul to the messenger who will tell him what he ought to do. Understood, it calls for earnest work for souls in the home field and arousing to duty for missions at home, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling dark clouds of ignorance and superstition. The gospel, the power of God unto salvation, is to be made known to all men as freely to one as to another, to Jews as well as Gentiles, with no barriers erected between them, in simplicity and Bible godliness without dependence on human agencies for wisdom. Unless God's people so arouse, they will be found wanting in the day of God.

Special labor is to be given to the conversion of men like Cornelius, men of ability and influence who are to act a prominent part in the cause and in warning the world, fellow citizens with the saints brought in from those who had been strangers and foreigners. Such men in positions of responsibility and stewardship, whose sympathies are with God's people, need special care because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them in stewardship. The threads binding them to the world hold them firmly, and they lack moral courage to take their stand with the lowly ones, so more determined and earnest effort must be made to reach them as stewards in trust. They represent the neglected rich and men in official life who are judged by appearance as hopeless and left unwarned, yet most are soul-burdened and starving for spiritual food, feeling need of something they have not and receiving no benefit from the teaching they hear, and they require personal appeal in their behalf.

The same earnest, devoted, determined effort is to be made for honest, inquiring souls in associations like the W.C.T.U., who have all things in readiness to hear truth and receive advanced light, that those seeking light may be gathered out. In every age God works through His servants in various ways to bring honest-hearted seekers into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs, with workers of special knowledge and training adapted to help different classes of inquirers. He so works for true standard-bearers now as He worked for Cornelius, preparing the way for them to take the place of those given a knowledge of Bible truth who disappointed Him, keeping them true to pure, holy principles and placing them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light.

What happened to Cornelius will happen again in the last days, when those who prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard will be led to great light and to knowledge of the truth. Many so led will seek to place this light before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for truth, becoming conscientious light-bearers to the world. Themselves constrained by the love of God, they will constrain others, improving every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of truth and to give their abilities to advance the work of God. In that separation of the disaffected from the true and loyal, those like Cornelius, men of true Christian principle advocating the Word in its true bearings and simplicity, will take the places made vacant by those who become offended and apostatize, so the ranks will not be diminished.

God takes notice of freewill offerings together with faithful prayers, for the two go hand in hand as a memorial before Him, and the same notice given to Cornelius is given to faithful tithes, offerings, and prayers now. Prayers united with alms, even in poverty, come up before Him as a memorial, and He who knows the situation and sees great need honors faith that prays and watches and patiently and perseveringly works, doing as well as praying and doing all things possible in harmony with prayer. Believers are therefore to practice economy in personal expenditure but stay on the safe side in dealing with God by not cutting down tithes and offerings to save, for to withhold from the Lord His own is covetousness and idolatry. The success and spread of gospel work brings larger necessities that demand larger offerings from the people of God in the home church.

This answer to a seeking, praying man is great encouragement to workers that God will open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and will dispel the shadow cast across the pathway of those Satan seeks to deceive and destroy when prayer is offered for them. The same providential direction will be given now to those everywhere who take their stand for present truth and put trust in God, so that things that seem impossibilities will appear easy of achievement. Workers must therefore never allow themselves to be controlled by hopelessness, but must sow seeds of truth beside all waters and labor more intelligently and earnestly for those who need help, going forth as God's helping hand with the Bible as Guide and Counsellor. Work may not be of personal choice but is to be accepted as God's choice, whether pleasing or unpleasing, by doing the duty that lies nearest, for God has reasons for sending to the place toward which feet have been directed and still sends men and women and youth as His representatives to those in need of divine help and guidance.

Cornelius stands as a man taught by God, the pattern of the true man sanctified and ennobled through the truth now called for. Merely professing faith through a lifetime does not make a true man, and those who have lost spiritual discernment are in peril. Those who are right in their own eyes and suppose themselves wise while foolish build upon sand rather than the solid rock, and when the tempest comes their house will be swept away and they will perish.