And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
The angel told Cornelius in vision while he was fasting and praying that his prayer was heard and his generous giving was remembered before God, and directed him to send to Joppa for Peter who would tell him what he ought to do. God knows each person by name and notices sincere prayer and faithful deeds, and He accepts in every nation those who fear Him and do right, without respect of persons. Cornelius was accepted and commended for living up to all the light he had, yet neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Christ, and his faith could not be complete without knowing Him. Though the angel could have told the message himself, God sent Peter as the human teacher to speak words by which Cornelius and his house could be saved, joining heavenly and human agencies together. His conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles, marking the opening of the gospel to the world as equals with the Jews without requiring circumcision.
Words and Setting
Cornelius was a Gentile centurion in Caesarea who feared God with all his house, prayed to God always, and gave much alms to the people. He was fasting and praying in his house until the ninth hour, four days before Peter came, when a man in bright clothing stood before him in vision. The appearance came to him at the ninth hour while he was fasting and praying, and the bright-clothed man brought God's answer that his prayer was heard and his generous gifts were noticed.
The messenger told him his prayer was heard and his alms were had in remembrance in the sight of God. He was directed to send to Joppa and call Simon Peter, lodged in the house of Simon a tanner by the seaside. That Peter when he came would speak to him and tell him what he ought to do, speaking all things commanded of God. The direction was exact, telling where Peter was to be found and his exact lodging, showing that God knew Cornelius fully.
Cornelius immediately obeyed by sending men for Peter. He gathered his kinsmen, near friends, and household to be present before God to hear all things commanded of God. He afterward related the vision and the angel's words to Peter when they met, explaining that the angel had directed him to summon Peter. Peter then repeated those words to the brethren in Judea to show God had commanded his going to a Gentile house and to defend his preaching and eating with the uncircumcised.
The verse belongs to guidance made known through visions and specific instruction, showing what people should do and say. God employs angels to communicate with human beings, with immortal messengers giving instruction to men as guides and powerful helpers of His chosen messengers on earth. It is God's way to instruct by vision what should be spoken, repeating the showing again and again. Visions in this account serve to comfort God's people and to correct those who depart from Bible truth, not to establish a new rule of faith. The Word of God is the rule of faith and practice by which all are judged, and the promise of visions in the last days is for comfort and correction of those who err from Bible truth.
God Hears and Remembers
God heard the prayer of Cornelius and remembered his alms and acts of charity, which stood as a memorial before Him. His sincere devotion pleased God and was known to Him, and his prayer and giving were followed by direction to send for Peter to speak to him and bring further light about the gospel through chosen human messengers. His reverence and charitable deeds belong to the example of how God works on human minds and calls workers to labor for people in their home fields.
God notices and remembers sincere prayer and generous deeds. He knows each person by name and just where each lives, sees the spirit each possesses and every act of life, with nothing hidden from His sight, while ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in each one's individual line of duty. The holy Watcher knew Cornelius just as He knew Abraham, because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him, and sent His angel to tell him his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial and to direct him to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter at his exact lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside, so that through a human agent he might receive greater light and learn what he ought to do.
His sincere service, given in response to all the light he had received and improved, was kindly regarded and accepted by God as acceptably as the service of a Jew, even though he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ. As a Gentile who feared God and worked righteousness and lived up to the light he had, his generous gifts were noticed, and God recognized one who loved and feared Him though he did not yet know all the truth. The simplicity of this plan shows heaven ever ready to cooperate with human agencies to bring those walking in all the light they have to the full light of truth, and there are many in the world like him, with souls in the churches nearer the kingdom than is supposed, whom God will guide His servants to reach as precious jewels in a dark world.
The answer proves God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. He answers such seekers by sending a teacher to speak His word to them, so that those taught then gather present before God to hear all things He has commanded. In every age He sets in operation a train of circumstances that brings honest hearts into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs, some with special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others trained differently to help another class.
Cornelius was an honest, inquiring soul longing and praying for light from heaven, with all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light. He received Christ gladly when Christ was revealed to him, and his example shows that earnest, devoted efforts can reach sincere people still outside the truth. His conversion with his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that household a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city.
Need for Christ and Further Light
Cornelius was accepted by God in his devout piety and commended for it, his prayers and alms being acceptable as far as his knowledge went, yet neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Christ Jesus, in whom all fullness dwells. His sincere service, given in response to all the light he had received and lived up to, was kindly regarded, but his faith and righteousness were not complete and could not be perfect without a knowledge of Christ. He still needed an advance in faith and a new experience, to receive the fulfillment of the promised Messiah he had believed and to be joined by faith to Jesus Christ, in whom alone his religion could be complete. The hearing of his prayer and remembering of his alms does not mean that good works make belief in truth unimportant, for faith must join with works and people should accept the further truth God brings them.
Because he lived by the light he had received, though he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ, God sent him further instruction and greater light through Peter. His prayer and giving were followed by directions for receiving further light about the gospel, telling him to send to Joppa for Simon Peter, lodged with Simon the tanner by the seaside, who would speak to him. Peter would give him words by which he and his household could be saved, for the further development of his righteous character and to connect the Gentiles with the gospel through chosen human messengers. God thus led Peter to preach to Gentiles, gave them the Holy Spirit, and showed that Gentiles too could receive repentance and life through the gospel.
Cornelius is an example of the devout men all through the ages whose lives were a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness. He feared God and followed principles of righteousness that God accepts in every sphere of action, though he was not fully informed in regard to the truth, and by visitation of angels and connection with men of superior knowledge regarding the Word he obtained a knowledge of God and advanced light. He stands as a man taught of God, true, sanctified and ennobled through the truth, bright and shining even in high positions of responsibility among accomplished worldly men, in contrast to those whose lifelong profession does not make true men and who lose spiritual discernment.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
The conversion of Cornelius was the first of importance among the Gentiles and marks the opening of the gospel to the Gentile world. Salvation was no longer restricted to the Jewish people but was being given to the world, with Gentiles to share equally with Jews in its blessings and privileges. Those who had been strangers were made fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, admitted as equals with Jewish disciples without requiring circumcision. God recognized Cornelius, who loved and feared Him even though he did not yet know all the truth, and sent Peter to bring words by which he and his household could be saved. In the events surrounding that message God led Peter to preach Christ to Gentiles, gave them the Holy Spirit, and showed that Gentiles too could receive repentance and life through the gospel.
God was carefully working in this encounter to overcome the prejudice against Gentiles introduced into Peter by Jewish training. Peter and the Jewish converts were thereby taught not to belittle those who had no opportunity to hear truth and not to call any man common or unclean. The vision concerns the inclusion of the Gentiles through Christ, not permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean. Peter undertook the visit with reluctance at every step as a duty laid by divine command, defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and was surprised by the result. Yet as he preached Christ to those who heard, the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles and they were commanded to be baptized, confirming that God is no respecter of persons.
The verse thus marks Peter's distinct leading work among the twelve as pioneer in breaking through the barriers of ages and teaching the heathen world. Christ had taught him with foresight of all that would come, preparing him to act as God's representative directed to someone in need of divine help and guidance. His experience in the home of Cornelius corroborates the promised blessing received when believers petition God, where the promised power comes upon them and they speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
God Works Through Messengers
God knew Cornelius fully and answered with exact direction to Peter, telling him where Peter was to be found and that he was lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside at Joppa, to send men there to call for him so that through a human agent he might receive greater light and learn what he ought to do. This shows the Lord knows every person by name and just where each lives, the spirit each possesses and every act of life with nothing hidden, because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him. Ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in each one's individual line of duty.
The angel could have told Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. God requires His church to connect together, so the light He had given to Peter had to be carried by Peter as human instrument, with the heavenly agencies, to Cornelius and to all his family. His prayers and acts of charity stood as a memorial before God, yet he was to receive further truth through God's appointed human messenger rather than receiving all the needed light directly from the angel. In that meeting of Peter and Cornelius in gospel missionary work the barrier between Jew and Gentile would be taken away, and Jews and Gentiles would by faith be joined to Christ. This joining of seekers and human teachers together builds unity and love, calling believers into close connection with Christ and with one another to love one another and to deal honestly, justly, and truly.
In every age God sends His messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances that brings honest hearts into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs. Some have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others are trained differently to help another class. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose, showing God's regard for every human being. God employs angels to communicate with human beings as guides and powerful helpers of His chosen messengers on earth, and the simplicity of His plans is seen in that the agencies of heaven ever cooperate with human agencies. Each person is therefore to treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The conversion of Cornelius with his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. From that home and household in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on.
Call to Seek and Work
Workers are to read the tenth chapter of Acts and pray over it until its meaning is opened, learning God's way of working on human minds from the angel in bright clothing standing by Cornelius in his house at the ninth hour while fasting and praying. That opening teaches them to work earnestly for souls in the home field and to erect no barriers but to give the gospel as freely to Jews as to Gentiles, because in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Faithfulness in home missions decides whether they will stand in the day of God, while God's arm breaks the power of oppression and tyranny and dispels from minds the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition.
Like Cornelius, a small company of anxious seekers fasts and prays at set hours and searches the Scriptures together, stretching out for the bread of life and waiting to be fed with gospel truth. God hears such prayer and remembers such alms, and He answers by sending a teacher to speak His word to them, whose hearers then gather present before God to hear all things He has commanded. Minds and hearts are to stay open like his to receive every ray of light that shines, never feeling that all the light worth having has been received, but accepting and cherishing from day to day the truth as it is in Jesus, which sanctifies and conforms to the divine likeness. Faithful life and devotion prepare seekers to be brought into connection with disciples and to receive greater light, and those who seek truth and honor God likewise become witnesses who share that light with others.
There are still many in the world like Cornelius, honest inquiring souls seeking light with all things in readiness to hear truth and receive advanced light, and souls in the churches much nearer the kingdom than is supposed. God designs earnest, devoted, personal work for them so those seeking light may be gathered out, guiding His servants to them as precious jewels in a dark world of sin, with angels cooperating to bring those walking in all the light they have to the full light of truth, which gives courage to work. Their conversion with their households is only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, from which a widespread work of grace can be carried on even in a heathen city.
God seeks people in influential positions of stewardship and responsibility who have sympathies with the truth but are held by the world for lack of moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones. They are in need of special, determined labor as Christ's representatives because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them, even though it is a heavier cross than working for the poorer and more lowly ones. Such devout men through the ages have been clear, pure, undefiled testimonies for truth and righteousness, bright and shining lights even among accomplished worldly men, kept true to pure, holy principles in investigating the laws which rule the world. God works for them by heavenly visitation and by placing them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they might obtain advanced light, that they may take their stand for Christ and serve as agents for sharing the gospel.
The angel told Cornelius in vision while he was fasting and praying that his prayer was heard and his generous giving was remembered before God, and directed him to send to Joppa for Peter who would tell him what he ought to do. God knows each person by name and notices sincere prayer and faithful deeds, and He accepts in every nation those who fear Him and do right, without respect of persons. Cornelius was accepted and commended for living up to all the light he had, yet neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Christ, and his faith could not be complete without knowing Him. Though the angel could have told the message himself, God sent Peter as the human teacher to speak words by which Cornelius and his house could be saved, joining heavenly and human agencies together. His conversion was the first of importance among the Gentiles, marking the opening of the gospel to the world as equals with the Jews without requiring circumcision.
Words and Setting
Cornelius was a Gentile centurion in Caesarea who feared God with all his house, prayed to God always, and gave much alms to the people. He was fasting and praying in his house until the ninth hour, four days before Peter came, when a man in bright clothing stood before him in vision. The appearance came to him at the ninth hour while he was fasting and praying, and the bright-clothed man brought God's answer that his prayer was heard and his generous gifts were noticed.
The messenger told him his prayer was heard and his alms were had in remembrance in the sight of God. He was directed to send to Joppa and call Simon Peter, lodged in the house of Simon a tanner by the seaside. That Peter when he came would speak to him and tell him what he ought to do, speaking all things commanded of God. The direction was exact, telling where Peter was to be found and his exact lodging, showing that God knew Cornelius fully.
Cornelius immediately obeyed by sending men for Peter. He gathered his kinsmen, near friends, and household to be present before God to hear all things commanded of God. He afterward related the vision and the angel's words to Peter when they met, explaining that the angel had directed him to summon Peter. Peter then repeated those words to the brethren in Judea to show God had commanded his going to a Gentile house and to defend his preaching and eating with the uncircumcised.
The verse belongs to guidance made known through visions and specific instruction, showing what people should do and say. God employs angels to communicate with human beings, with immortal messengers giving instruction to men as guides and powerful helpers of His chosen messengers on earth. It is God's way to instruct by vision what should be spoken, repeating the showing again and again. Visions in this account serve to comfort God's people and to correct those who depart from Bible truth, not to establish a new rule of faith. The Word of God is the rule of faith and practice by which all are judged, and the promise of visions in the last days is for comfort and correction of those who err from Bible truth.
God Hears and Remembers
God heard the prayer of Cornelius and remembered his alms and acts of charity, which stood as a memorial before Him. His sincere devotion pleased God and was known to Him, and his prayer and giving were followed by direction to send for Peter to speak to him and bring further light about the gospel through chosen human messengers. His reverence and charitable deeds belong to the example of how God works on human minds and calls workers to labor for people in their home fields.
God notices and remembers sincere prayer and generous deeds. He knows each person by name and just where each lives, sees the spirit each possesses and every act of life, with nothing hidden from His sight, while ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in each one's individual line of duty. The holy Watcher knew Cornelius just as He knew Abraham, because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him, and sent His angel to tell him his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial and to direct him to send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter at his exact lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside, so that through a human agent he might receive greater light and learn what he ought to do.
His sincere service, given in response to all the light he had received and improved, was kindly regarded and accepted by God as acceptably as the service of a Jew, even though he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ. As a Gentile who feared God and worked righteousness and lived up to the light he had, his generous gifts were noticed, and God recognized one who loved and feared Him though he did not yet know all the truth. The simplicity of this plan shows heaven ever ready to cooperate with human agencies to bring those walking in all the light they have to the full light of truth, and there are many in the world like him, with souls in the churches nearer the kingdom than is supposed, whom God will guide His servants to reach as precious jewels in a dark world.
The answer proves God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. He answers such seekers by sending a teacher to speak His word to them, so that those taught then gather present before God to hear all things He has commanded. In every age He sets in operation a train of circumstances that brings honest hearts into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs, some with special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others trained differently to help another class.
Cornelius was an honest, inquiring soul longing and praying for light from heaven, with all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light. He received Christ gladly when Christ was revealed to him, and his example shows that earnest, devoted efforts can reach sincere people still outside the truth. His conversion with his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that household a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city.
Need for Christ and Further Light
Cornelius was accepted by God in his devout piety and commended for it, his prayers and alms being acceptable as far as his knowledge went, yet neither prayer nor almsgiving could take the place of Christ Jesus, in whom all fullness dwells. His sincere service, given in response to all the light he had received and lived up to, was kindly regarded, but his faith and righteousness were not complete and could not be perfect without a knowledge of Christ. He still needed an advance in faith and a new experience, to receive the fulfillment of the promised Messiah he had believed and to be joined by faith to Jesus Christ, in whom alone his religion could be complete. The hearing of his prayer and remembering of his alms does not mean that good works make belief in truth unimportant, for faith must join with works and people should accept the further truth God brings them.
Because he lived by the light he had received, though he did not yet have full knowledge of Jesus Christ, God sent him further instruction and greater light through Peter. His prayer and giving were followed by directions for receiving further light about the gospel, telling him to send to Joppa for Simon Peter, lodged with Simon the tanner by the seaside, who would speak to him. Peter would give him words by which he and his household could be saved, for the further development of his righteous character and to connect the Gentiles with the gospel through chosen human messengers. God thus led Peter to preach to Gentiles, gave them the Holy Spirit, and showed that Gentiles too could receive repentance and life through the gospel.
Cornelius is an example of the devout men all through the ages whose lives were a clear, pure, undefiled testimony for truth and righteousness. He feared God and followed principles of righteousness that God accepts in every sphere of action, though he was not fully informed in regard to the truth, and by visitation of angels and connection with men of superior knowledge regarding the Word he obtained a knowledge of God and advanced light. He stands as a man taught of God, true, sanctified and ennobled through the truth, bright and shining even in high positions of responsibility among accomplished worldly men, in contrast to those whose lifelong profession does not make true men and who lose spiritual discernment.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
The conversion of Cornelius was the first of importance among the Gentiles and marks the opening of the gospel to the Gentile world. Salvation was no longer restricted to the Jewish people but was being given to the world, with Gentiles to share equally with Jews in its blessings and privileges. Those who had been strangers were made fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, admitted as equals with Jewish disciples without requiring circumcision. God recognized Cornelius, who loved and feared Him even though he did not yet know all the truth, and sent Peter to bring words by which he and his household could be saved. In the events surrounding that message God led Peter to preach Christ to Gentiles, gave them the Holy Spirit, and showed that Gentiles too could receive repentance and life through the gospel.
God was carefully working in this encounter to overcome the prejudice against Gentiles introduced into Peter by Jewish training. Peter and the Jewish converts were thereby taught not to belittle those who had no opportunity to hear truth and not to call any man common or unclean. The vision concerns the inclusion of the Gentiles through Christ, not permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean. Peter undertook the visit with reluctance at every step as a duty laid by divine command, defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and was surprised by the result. Yet as he preached Christ to those who heard, the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles and they were commanded to be baptized, confirming that God is no respecter of persons.
The verse thus marks Peter's distinct leading work among the twelve as pioneer in breaking through the barriers of ages and teaching the heathen world. Christ had taught him with foresight of all that would come, preparing him to act as God's representative directed to someone in need of divine help and guidance. His experience in the home of Cornelius corroborates the promised blessing received when believers petition God, where the promised power comes upon them and they speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
God Works Through Messengers
God knew Cornelius fully and answered with exact direction to Peter, telling him where Peter was to be found and that he was lodging with Simon a tanner by the seaside at Joppa, to send men there to call for him so that through a human agent he might receive greater light and learn what he ought to do. This shows the Lord knows every person by name and just where each lives, the spirit each possesses and every act of life with nothing hidden, because Cornelius had received and improved all the light given him. Ministering angels pass through the churches noting faithfulness in each one's individual line of duty.
The angel could have told Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. God requires His church to connect together, so the light He had given to Peter had to be carried by Peter as human instrument, with the heavenly agencies, to Cornelius and to all his family. His prayers and acts of charity stood as a memorial before God, yet he was to receive further truth through God's appointed human messenger rather than receiving all the needed light directly from the angel. In that meeting of Peter and Cornelius in gospel missionary work the barrier between Jew and Gentile would be taken away, and Jews and Gentiles would by faith be joined to Christ. This joining of seekers and human teachers together builds unity and love, calling believers into close connection with Christ and with one another to love one another and to deal honestly, justly, and truly.
In every age God sends His messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances that brings honest hearts into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs. Some have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others are trained differently to help another class. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose, showing God's regard for every human being. God employs angels to communicate with human beings as guides and powerful helpers of His chosen messengers on earth, and the simplicity of His plans is seen in that the agencies of heaven ever cooperate with human agencies. Each person is therefore to treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The conversion of Cornelius with his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. From that home and household in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on.
Call to Seek and Work
Workers are to read the tenth chapter of Acts and pray over it until its meaning is opened, learning God's way of working on human minds from the angel in bright clothing standing by Cornelius in his house at the ninth hour while fasting and praying. That opening teaches them to work earnestly for souls in the home field and to erect no barriers but to give the gospel as freely to Jews as to Gentiles, because in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Faithfulness in home missions decides whether they will stand in the day of God, while God's arm breaks the power of oppression and tyranny and dispels from minds the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition.
Like Cornelius, a small company of anxious seekers fasts and prays at set hours and searches the Scriptures together, stretching out for the bread of life and waiting to be fed with gospel truth. God hears such prayer and remembers such alms, and He answers by sending a teacher to speak His word to them, whose hearers then gather present before God to hear all things He has commanded. Minds and hearts are to stay open like his to receive every ray of light that shines, never feeling that all the light worth having has been received, but accepting and cherishing from day to day the truth as it is in Jesus, which sanctifies and conforms to the divine likeness. Faithful life and devotion prepare seekers to be brought into connection with disciples and to receive greater light, and those who seek truth and honor God likewise become witnesses who share that light with others.
There are still many in the world like Cornelius, honest inquiring souls seeking light with all things in readiness to hear truth and receive advanced light, and souls in the churches much nearer the kingdom than is supposed. God designs earnest, devoted, personal work for them so those seeking light may be gathered out, guiding His servants to them as precious jewels in a dark world of sin, with angels cooperating to bring those walking in all the light they have to the full light of truth, which gives courage to work. Their conversion with their households is only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, from which a widespread work of grace can be carried on even in a heathen city.
God seeks people in influential positions of stewardship and responsibility who have sympathies with the truth but are held by the world for lack of moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones. They are in need of special, determined labor as Christ's representatives because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come to them, even though it is a heavier cross than working for the poorer and more lowly ones. Such devout men through the ages have been clear, pure, undefiled testimonies for truth and righteousness, bright and shining lights even among accomplished worldly men, kept true to pure, holy principles in investigating the laws which rule the world. God works for them by heavenly visitation and by placing them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they might obtain advanced light, that they may take their stand for Christ and serve as agents for sharing the gospel.