The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: ( he is Lord of all:)
The word God sent to Israel is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and not of Israel alone. Peter spoke it in the house at Caesarea to Cornelius, his household, and the Gentiles gathered with him, declaring that God accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness. Its peace and privileges were not to remain limited to Israel but were to go to Gentile nations and the world, so that Jews and Gentiles are joined to Christ by faith with the barrier taken away. Cornelius's conversion opened an entirely new phase in which believing Gentiles stand on perfect equality with Jewish believers, proved by God giving them the Holy Spirit and repentance unto life. As God worked for Cornelius, He still works with compassion for sincere seekers who pray for truth, bringing them into connection with human messengers who can lead them to the full light in Christ.
Verse Wording and Setting
The word God sent to the children of Israel is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is declared in it to be Lord of all, not of Israel alone, and as one who cares for His people. Peter spoke it in the house at Caesarea to Cornelius, his household, and the other Gentiles gathered with him.
His message taught that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts him who fears Him and works righteousness. It taught that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all oppressed of the devil, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. It taught that God raised Him the third day and showed Him openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection, who commanded preaching and testifying that He is ordained of God to be Judge of the living and the dead, to whom all the prophets witness that through His name whoever believes shall receive remission of sins. That preaching of peace presented Christ Himself — His life, miracles, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and work in heaven as man's representative and advocate — spoken with a heart glowing with the spirit of the truth to prepared, attentive hearts charmed to receive the gospel, and it was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit.
The setting was divinely directed by vision, with instruction showing what to speak and repeated again and again, guiding Peter to preach to the Gentiles and correcting departure from Bible truth. In this Peter carried out the distinct leading part appointed to him as the pioneer who broke through the barriers of ages to teach the heathen world, alongside the distinct parts appointed to others. Cornelius was a Roman officer and centurion, a God-fearing Gentile who longed and prayed for heaven's light. God heard his prayer, sent him a special message, and directed him to seek further gospel light from Peter as God's representative bringing divine help and guidance.
Peace Opened to Gentiles
The word sent to Israel, peace through Jesus Christ, was not to stop with Israel, for after the ascension God kept sending it outward to Gentile nations and to the world, as seen when a Roman officer was given a special message and Peter was directed to bring him further light in compassion for sincere seekers after truth. Through Christ the peace and privileges of the gospel belong equally to Gentiles and Jews, and the conversion at Caesarea marks that opening to the Gentiles. God accepted believing Gentiles, gave them the Holy Spirit, and granted them repentance unto life, overturning the idea that they were unclean or beyond reach and fulfilling His plan.
That conversion opened an entirely new phase in which the door closed by Jewish converts was thrown open, so Gentiles who accept the gospel stand on perfect equality with Jewish believers without circumcision. God carries the work forward in His own way, keeping every true believer ready to be taught, breaking down prejudice through heavenly messengers, enlightening all who love and fear Him even before they know all truth, and bringing many Gentiles to the truth, while passing by those who cling to their own ideas and will not yield to walk in His ways.
By faith Jews and Gentiles are to be joined to Christ with the barrier taken away, so those once strangers and foreigners become part of God's household. The message is peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, and it is to be carried by human instruments in missionary work with heaven and earth united, as Peter was appointed to bring God's purpose for the Gentiles to Cornelius.
That preaching fulfilled God's plan by ending the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision and showing Gentiles are no longer to be counted unclean. In this way the gospel destroys prejudice and exclusiveness, breaks down division without controversy, and opens the way for work among the Gentiles. The proof given was that God granted to the Gentiles also repentance unto life.
The proof was also the gift of the Holy Spirit to believing Gentiles as the like gift given at the beginning, with power coming upon believers and speech in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. The Spirit falling on the Gentile hearers as at the beginning showed God gave them the same gift as to Jewish believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the 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. Peter preached to that attentive company Christ Himself — His life, miracles, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and work in heaven as man's representative and advocate — with a heart glowing with the spirit of the truth to hearts prepared to receive the gospel, until the preaching was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit. God set a train of circumstances in operation and through angel ministration brought Peter into connection and cooperation with inquiring souls who had all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light.
Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, and when relating his experience defended it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation. The result was a great surprise to him. In every age God so works through His servants to bring honest hearts into connection with those who can best reach their needs, some having special knowledge suited to one class of inquirers and others trained differently being best fitted to help another class.
God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts the one who fears Him and works righteousness, with sincere earnest purpose even when the whole truth has not yet been received, serving God as acceptably as Jews. Those walking in all the light they have received are to be sought by personal effort and brought to the full light of truth, including souls in the churches who are nearer the kingdom than supposed and many precious jewels in this dark world of sin, for the Lord's plan is simple and agencies of heaven and angels cooperate with human servants and guide them to those ready to hear. The full gospel preached there included that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing all oppressed of the devil, whom they slew and hanged on a tree, whom God raised the third day and showed openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection, who commanded preaching that He is ordained of God to be Judge of living and dead, to whom all the prophets witness that through His name whoever believes shall receive remission of sins.
Devout piety, prayer, and almsgiving are acceptable as far as knowledge goes, but they cannot take the place of Christ. Even one accepted by God who believed the promise of a Messiah must advance to its fulfillment in Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone all is complete, working intelligently through Him.
How God Guides Seekers
As He worked for Cornelius, He works with compassion for sincere people who seek and pray for truth, sending a special message and directing further light to them beyond Israel to the nations and the world. He enlightens all who love and fear Him even when they do not yet know all the truth, keeping every true believer ready to be taught and breaking down prejudice through heavenly messengers to bring many Gentiles to the truth, while those who cling to their own ideas and will not yield are passed by for those willing to walk in His ways. So He prepares the way for devout standard-bearers in every sphere who fear God and work on righteous principles yet are not fully informed, that they may take the place of those given Bible truth who have disappointed Him.
Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose, and the ministration of heavenly angels resulting in the conversion of Cornelius and his company shows His regard for every human being. Instruction is often given by immortal messengers, for He sends His angels as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers to communicate with human beings. As Cornelius obtained knowledge of God through visitation of angels from heaven, so these seekers obtain it today.
An angel could have told Cornelius the whole message directly, but that is not His way. He requires His church to connect together, so the light He had given to Peter was to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and his family through human instruments rather than by angels alone. He knew just where Peter was, lodging with Simon the tanner, and told Cornelius by angel every particular about where to look and how to find him, setting a train of circumstances in operation to bring them into connection and cooperation.
He used Peter as the appointed human agent to explain the Scriptures and bring the message of light, answering prayer by directing the seeker to further gospel light so Gentiles also receive it. Cornelius humbly received that instruction and his life was led into connection with the disciples, whereupon the Holy Spirit came upon those who heard. In every age He brings honest, inquiring souls who have all things in readiness into connection with those of His people who can best reach their needs, some having special knowledge adapted to one class and others trained differently being best fitted to help another class. Agencies of heaven cooperate with human servants and guide them to those ready to hear and receive advanced light, seeking by personal effort those walking in all the light they have, and He accepts in every nation with sincere earnest purpose those who fear Him and work righteousness even when they have not received the whole truth.
This connection requires unity, for the salvation of God is revealed when believers come into closest connection with Him and with one another instead of standing apart. They must love one another and deal justly, honestly, truly, gently and righteously, put away false weights and measures and hatred and self-building, give Him room and place, exercise His love, and work on heavenly principles with medical missionary work and the gospel combined as an inseparable united whole, instead of reforming self by pointing at another's wrongs. Cornelius of Caesarea exemplifies men bearing responsibilities and stewardship in higher positions whom God sees and would connect with the church, seeking people among both the high and the lowly and sending His representative to bring divine help and guidance to one in need. Their sympathies are with the truth, but threads binding them to the world hold them there and they lack moral courage to take their stand with the lowly, so special care and more determined effort are required for stewards in trust and the higher classes, though it is a heavier cross than laboring for the poorer, and confining work to the poorest brings weakness and dishonor unless hearts are daily transformed by grace; those who act as His representatives in this work will not fail, and those converted with influence can become agents who share the light with others.
The word of peace reaches those devout standard-bearers through angelic visitation and connection with men of superior knowledge of the Word, that they may obtain advanced light and stand in true integrity, testifying by purity and nobility of character to the power of unadulterated principles. The same work is to be done for honest souls like Cornelius in associations of seekers, that those seeking light may be gathered out.
Proclaiming Message Today
The word of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all is to be preached today just as Peter preached it to Cornelius and his household. It calls for men filled with the Spirit and consecrated to God, speaking under inspiration, so that grace comes both to preacher and to hearers. In that preaching God alone impresses hearts, with the righteousness of Christ going before and the glory of the Lord as the rearward, to lead men and women to give their hearts to the Saviour.
The gospel is not to be communicated by angels but through human instruments in missionary work, with heaven and earth united. Those walking in all the light they have received are to be sought out by personal effort and brought to the full light of truth. This includes precious souls in the churches who are nearer the kingdom than is supposed, and many precious jewels in this dark world of sin. The Lord’s plan for this work is simple, with agencies of heaven and angels of God ever cooperating with human servants and guiding them to those ready to hear.
Honest persons seeking light even among groups opposed to the message should be approached patiently and lovingly so they may be gathered to it. The chapter containing this verse teaches God’s regard for every human being. Each person should therefore treat his fellow man as one of the Lord’s instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. Men like Cornelius, taught by God and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, are needed now. This stands in contrast to those losing spiritual discernment, since lifelong profession alone does not make true men.
The word God sent to Israel is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and not of Israel alone. Peter spoke it in the house at Caesarea to Cornelius, his household, and the Gentiles gathered with him, declaring that God accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness. Its peace and privileges were not to remain limited to Israel but were to go to Gentile nations and the world, so that Jews and Gentiles are joined to Christ by faith with the barrier taken away. Cornelius's conversion opened an entirely new phase in which believing Gentiles stand on perfect equality with Jewish believers, proved by God giving them the Holy Spirit and repentance unto life. As God worked for Cornelius, He still works with compassion for sincere seekers who pray for truth, bringing them into connection with human messengers who can lead them to the full light in Christ.
Verse Wording and Setting
The word God sent to the children of Israel is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is declared in it to be Lord of all, not of Israel alone, and as one who cares for His people. Peter spoke it in the house at Caesarea to Cornelius, his household, and the other Gentiles gathered with him.
His message taught that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts him who fears Him and works righteousness. It taught that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all oppressed of the devil, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. It taught that God raised Him the third day and showed Him openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection, who commanded preaching and testifying that He is ordained of God to be Judge of the living and the dead, to whom all the prophets witness that through His name whoever believes shall receive remission of sins. That preaching of peace presented Christ Himself — His life, miracles, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and work in heaven as man's representative and advocate — spoken with a heart glowing with the spirit of the truth to prepared, attentive hearts charmed to receive the gospel, and it was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit.
The setting was divinely directed by vision, with instruction showing what to speak and repeated again and again, guiding Peter to preach to the Gentiles and correcting departure from Bible truth. In this Peter carried out the distinct leading part appointed to him as the pioneer who broke through the barriers of ages to teach the heathen world, alongside the distinct parts appointed to others. Cornelius was a Roman officer and centurion, a God-fearing Gentile who longed and prayed for heaven's light. God heard his prayer, sent him a special message, and directed him to seek further gospel light from Peter as God's representative bringing divine help and guidance.
Peace Opened to Gentiles
The word sent to Israel, peace through Jesus Christ, was not to stop with Israel, for after the ascension God kept sending it outward to Gentile nations and to the world, as seen when a Roman officer was given a special message and Peter was directed to bring him further light in compassion for sincere seekers after truth. Through Christ the peace and privileges of the gospel belong equally to Gentiles and Jews, and the conversion at Caesarea marks that opening to the Gentiles. God accepted believing Gentiles, gave them the Holy Spirit, and granted them repentance unto life, overturning the idea that they were unclean or beyond reach and fulfilling His plan.
That conversion opened an entirely new phase in which the door closed by Jewish converts was thrown open, so Gentiles who accept the gospel stand on perfect equality with Jewish believers without circumcision. God carries the work forward in His own way, keeping every true believer ready to be taught, breaking down prejudice through heavenly messengers, enlightening all who love and fear Him even before they know all truth, and bringing many Gentiles to the truth, while passing by those who cling to their own ideas and will not yield to walk in His ways.
By faith Jews and Gentiles are to be joined to Christ with the barrier taken away, so those once strangers and foreigners become part of God's household. The message is peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, and it is to be carried by human instruments in missionary work with heaven and earth united, as Peter was appointed to bring God's purpose for the Gentiles to Cornelius.
That preaching fulfilled God's plan by ending the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision and showing Gentiles are no longer to be counted unclean. In this way the gospel destroys prejudice and exclusiveness, breaks down division without controversy, and opens the way for work among the Gentiles. The proof given was that God granted to the Gentiles also repentance unto life.
The proof was also the gift of the Holy Spirit to believing Gentiles as the like gift given at the beginning, with power coming upon believers and speech in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. The Spirit falling on the Gentile hearers as at the beginning showed God gave them the same gift as to Jewish believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the 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. Peter preached to that attentive company Christ Himself — His life, miracles, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and work in heaven as man's representative and advocate — with a heart glowing with the spirit of the truth to hearts prepared to receive the gospel, until the preaching was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit. God set a train of circumstances in operation and through angel ministration brought Peter into connection and cooperation with inquiring souls who had all things in readiness to hear the truth and receive advanced light.
Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, and when relating his experience defended it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation. The result was a great surprise to him. In every age God so works through His servants to bring honest hearts into connection with those who can best reach their needs, some having special knowledge suited to one class of inquirers and others trained differently being best fitted to help another class.
God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts the one who fears Him and works righteousness, with sincere earnest purpose even when the whole truth has not yet been received, serving God as acceptably as Jews. Those walking in all the light they have received are to be sought by personal effort and brought to the full light of truth, including souls in the churches who are nearer the kingdom than supposed and many precious jewels in this dark world of sin, for the Lord's plan is simple and agencies of heaven and angels cooperate with human servants and guide them to those ready to hear. The full gospel preached there included that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing all oppressed of the devil, whom they slew and hanged on a tree, whom God raised the third day and showed openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection, who commanded preaching that He is ordained of God to be Judge of living and dead, to whom all the prophets witness that through His name whoever believes shall receive remission of sins.
Devout piety, prayer, and almsgiving are acceptable as far as knowledge goes, but they cannot take the place of Christ. Even one accepted by God who believed the promise of a Messiah must advance to its fulfillment in Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone all is complete, working intelligently through Him.
How God Guides Seekers
As He worked for Cornelius, He works with compassion for sincere people who seek and pray for truth, sending a special message and directing further light to them beyond Israel to the nations and the world. He enlightens all who love and fear Him even when they do not yet know all the truth, keeping every true believer ready to be taught and breaking down prejudice through heavenly messengers to bring many Gentiles to the truth, while those who cling to their own ideas and will not yield are passed by for those willing to walk in His ways. So He prepares the way for devout standard-bearers in every sphere who fear God and work on righteous principles yet are not fully informed, that they may take the place of those given Bible truth who have disappointed Him.
Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose, and the ministration of heavenly angels resulting in the conversion of Cornelius and his company shows His regard for every human being. Instruction is often given by immortal messengers, for He sends His angels as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers to communicate with human beings. As Cornelius obtained knowledge of God through visitation of angels from heaven, so these seekers obtain it today.
An angel could have told Cornelius the whole message directly, but that is not His way. He requires His church to connect together, so the light He had given to Peter was to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and his family through human instruments rather than by angels alone. He knew just where Peter was, lodging with Simon the tanner, and told Cornelius by angel every particular about where to look and how to find him, setting a train of circumstances in operation to bring them into connection and cooperation.
He used Peter as the appointed human agent to explain the Scriptures and bring the message of light, answering prayer by directing the seeker to further gospel light so Gentiles also receive it. Cornelius humbly received that instruction and his life was led into connection with the disciples, whereupon the Holy Spirit came upon those who heard. In every age He brings honest, inquiring souls who have all things in readiness into connection with those of His people who can best reach their needs, some having special knowledge adapted to one class and others trained differently being best fitted to help another class. Agencies of heaven cooperate with human servants and guide them to those ready to hear and receive advanced light, seeking by personal effort those walking in all the light they have, and He accepts in every nation with sincere earnest purpose those who fear Him and work righteousness even when they have not received the whole truth.
This connection requires unity, for the salvation of God is revealed when believers come into closest connection with Him and with one another instead of standing apart. They must love one another and deal justly, honestly, truly, gently and righteously, put away false weights and measures and hatred and self-building, give Him room and place, exercise His love, and work on heavenly principles with medical missionary work and the gospel combined as an inseparable united whole, instead of reforming self by pointing at another's wrongs. Cornelius of Caesarea exemplifies men bearing responsibilities and stewardship in higher positions whom God sees and would connect with the church, seeking people among both the high and the lowly and sending His representative to bring divine help and guidance to one in need. Their sympathies are with the truth, but threads binding them to the world hold them there and they lack moral courage to take their stand with the lowly, so special care and more determined effort are required for stewards in trust and the higher classes, though it is a heavier cross than laboring for the poorer, and confining work to the poorest brings weakness and dishonor unless hearts are daily transformed by grace; those who act as His representatives in this work will not fail, and those converted with influence can become agents who share the light with others.
The word of peace reaches those devout standard-bearers through angelic visitation and connection with men of superior knowledge of the Word, that they may obtain advanced light and stand in true integrity, testifying by purity and nobility of character to the power of unadulterated principles. The same work is to be done for honest souls like Cornelius in associations of seekers, that those seeking light may be gathered out.
Proclaiming Message Today
The word of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all is to be preached today just as Peter preached it to Cornelius and his household. It calls for men filled with the Spirit and consecrated to God, speaking under inspiration, so that grace comes both to preacher and to hearers. In that preaching God alone impresses hearts, with the righteousness of Christ going before and the glory of the Lord as the rearward, to lead men and women to give their hearts to the Saviour.
The gospel is not to be communicated by angels but through human instruments in missionary work, with heaven and earth united. Those walking in all the light they have received are to be sought out by personal effort and brought to the full light of truth. This includes precious souls in the churches who are nearer the kingdom than is supposed, and many precious jewels in this dark world of sin. The Lord’s plan for this work is simple, with agencies of heaven and angels of God ever cooperating with human servants and guiding them to those ready to hear.
Honest persons seeking light even among groups opposed to the message should be approached patiently and lovingly so they may be gathered to it. The chapter containing this verse teaches God’s regard for every human being. Each person should therefore treat his fellow man as one of the Lord’s instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. Men like Cornelius, taught by God and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, are needed now. This stands in contrast to those losing spiritual discernment, since lifelong profession alone does not make true men.