The Pilgrim Path---Acts 10: 17—33

Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the man and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to hear what you have to say.” So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea.’

So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the LORD.”

PETER & CORNELIUS / PART TWO

The Apostle Peter lives within a culture that generally speaking---does not make provision for the inclusion of non-Jewish people. If a man wanted to join them in worship---why, it would typically be thought it necessary that he would have to be circumcised (assume the outward covenant sign of Judaism) to genuinely be accepted by the LORD. But the Gospel of grace in Jesus Christ will assure the Church of New Covenant “standing” in the Son of God (Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34; Ephesians 2: 11 – 22). The Gospel is forming a household of God---built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets---Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2: 20). This is a super-radical scene that Peter is about to be a part of in Acts chapter 10. All by the Holy Spirit’s design. When Peter’s vision finished, he was still confused. He learned some lessons rather quickly:

---The vision he experienced had a great deal to do with the work of the Gospel!

---There are three men at the gate of the home he is visiting: one is a soldier / all of them are Gentiles. The work of the Church is about to broaden…

---The Spirit of God has made it clear to Peter, “Go with these men---I sent them to find You.”

---The meaning of “the vision” starts to become clear: “What God has declared to be clean---cannot be unclean to Peter.”

---The three visitors get immediate confirmation from Peter: “I am the one you’re looking for.”

---The word from Peter: “Why did you come?” The response of the Soldier---“Cornelius is an officer---he fears God---the Jews respect him. An angel told him to send for YOU. You have a message Cornelius must hear.” Wow…I do not know if Peter’s heart raced---pounded, slowed, or skipped a beat? But I just bet he said something like this within in his own mind: “The work of the Spirit of Jesus!---All I can do---is join myself to this man---and the LORD’S holy purpose!”

---The next day---Peter arrives at Caesarea with several believers from Joppa. And the Living God has a congregation ready to hear from Peter!

---The man Cornelius falls at Peter’s feet---he worships him! This is to be expected. An angel sent Peter there…The Apostle must tell Cornelius that he is just a fellow human being. Peter must lift the man up from his place of submission. Peter also must reveal his natural bias to all who are assembled: as a Jew, he should not even join this “congregation” of Gentiles (so he thought previously). But the LORD has shown Peter, “that no man is impure or unclean.” What a breakthrough!

---The man---Cornelius asked God for spiritual understanding: How wonderfully the LORD provided in sending a “live” agent of the Gospel. The LORD might have used angels to tell people the story of His Son---but He has determined to use people---to tell other people the Life-Giving Message of Jesus…

From George Swinnock: When you hear or read the Word of God, set yourself seriously as in the presence of God. God sits before you in his Word and offers life or death, blessing or cursing, his infinite favor or fury, heaven or hell; and, friend, are these things to be jested with? When Cornelius heard Peter, he said, “We are all here present before God, to hear all the things that are commanded you of God.” When the heart is awed with the awareness of the divine presence, the iron gates of the ears will fly open, and give the Word a free passage. We must diligently hearken to the speech of God, on whose breath depends life and death, when we see him immediately before our eyes…The devil will seek to hinder you from hearing as in God’s presence by finding other work for you to do. He may get you to play and toy or do some business or other to keep you from hearing with a serious heart as in God’s sight!

From Thomas Brooks: The kingdom of God is a divine kingdom and there is no possession of it without a divine nature. A new head without a new heart, or a new lip without a new life will never bring a man to this kingdom of light!

HYMN

I love to tell the story; ‘tis pleasant to repeat

What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason