Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above theme from Acts 10:34. Indeed, the Spirit of God wants to reveal to us here something of great importance to us who belong to the nations. Indeed, we see Peter opening the gates of the kingdom of heaven to them (Mt 16:13-20). It is necessary to note with what care and grace God has prepared on the one hand his servant Peter, on the other Cornelius, for the encounter which will have, for the latter and for us, such blessed consequences.
For God’s revelation finds them both in the same happy occupation, namely prayer. But from Peter’s reluctance to eat the contents of the great canvas descended from heaven, we can understand how ingrained Jewish prejudices were even among the disciples, and what was the spirit of superiority of an Israelite over a Gentile: “No, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled or impure. And for the second time the voice was again heard to him: What God has declared pure, do not look at him as defiled.”
By this vision God wanted to teach His servant to no longer distinguish between a “pure” people and impure nations. For all, Jews and nations, are defiled sinners “closed in disobedience” to become “objects of the samemercy” (Rom 10:11-13; 11.30-32). May God therefore forbid us to do “favoritism” by considering some as less worthy than others to receive the gospel! We do not have to choose, but rather to obey. And if the apostle Paul was raised up to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, it was Peter who was to open the door to the kingdom of heaven to them, as the Lord had told him in Mt 16:19; in other words, he introduced them into the house of God, to enjoy all the privileges of Christianity, as he had done for converted Jews and Samaritans.
For Cornelius was pious, fearing God with his whole house, he gave many alms to the people and prayed to God continuously: this is a beautiful testimony to this man, a Gentile no doubt Roman, since he was an officer in the army. And three things characterized him: His personal piety. For he had taught those who belonged to his house to walk in the same way as him; and his influence had extended to his soldiers, among whom there were stakes. His generosity. For he gave many alms, obviously to the Jewish people, whom he honored as god’s people, in contrast to the Gentiles who despised him. And his spirit of prayer. Indeed, all that is said of Cornelius expresses true piety, to which God wanted to respond by letting him know how he had revealed himself in grace to all men in the person of the Lord Jesus and through his work on the cross.
Then, “Around the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who entered his house, and said to him: Cornelius! With his eyes fixed on him, and seized with fright, he replied: What is it, Lord? And the angel said to him: Your prayers and alms have risen before God, and he has remembered them. Now send men to Joppa,and bring Simon, nicknamed Peter; he is lodged with a certain Simon, a corroyeur, whose house is near the sea.” With the angel gone, Cornelius called “two of his servants and a pious soldier of those who always stood by him, and having told them everything, sent them to Joppa.”
These two servants and this soldier were surely in communion of thoughts with their master. This stranger to Israel and Christianity, who had understood so well his responsibility towards his house, is a fine example to be followed by all Christians; for, with a greater knowledge of God’s thoughts in all respects, many houses do not bear the characteristics of piety of that of Cornelius.
Moreover, by the means that God employs vis-à-vis Cornelius, we see the importance of the teaching he wants to give him. For he sends him an angel, not to instruct him, but to give him the exact address at which he will find the man who will speak to him on his behalf. The Lord has not given the angels gifts for His Church, but men, among those to whom He has revealed the wonderful grace of which they are the objects and His eternal counsel for them, which places them above the angels.
That is why angels desire to look closely into the wonderful blessings bested upon men(1John 1:12); whereas for those of them who have sinned, there is no salvation. “For certainly it is not to angels that he comes to the aid, but it is to the seed of Abraham. “(Heb2:16), that is, he does not save angels, but believers among men. And of the angels, it is said: “Are they not all spirits in the service of God, sent to exercise a ministry on behalf of those who are to inherit salvation? “(He 1.14).
In the case of Cornelius, we see an angel serving on his behalf. For God’s grace is wonderful to sinners. It manifested itself in its fullness, not by employing angels to serve us, but in the that God sent from heaven his own Son to save us by his death on the cross. What a surprise to Peter and the brothers who had accompanied him, seeing the Holy Spirit also pouring out on the Gentiles, because they heard them “speak in tongues and magnify God”.
There was no longer any difference between Jews and Gentiles who believed, all brought to God by the same means. Everything that separated them had ended in the death of Christ, who “destroyed the adjoining wall of the fence” and reconciled them “both into one body to God by the cross, having killed enmity through it”(Eph 2:11-20). Then Peter understood even better that God does not accept people, since he brought them all to the same blessings of Christianity.
Despite the reception of the Holy Spirit, baptism was still needed to introduce them into the house of God. “Then Peter said, ‘Can we deny the water of baptism to those who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we have? And he commanded that they be baptized in the name of the Lord. On which they be asked him to stay a few days with them.”
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Spiritual Discernment
1 King 3:9 Grant your servant an intelligent heart to judge your people, to discern good from evil! For who could judge your people, this people so numerous? 1 Co 2:14 But the animal man does not receive things from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them, because it is spiritually that they are judged. He 5:14 But solid food is for men made, for those whose judgment is exercised by usage to discern what is right and what is evil.
- Impartiality in favours granted
Jb 34:18-19 Who proclaims the wickedness of kings and the iniquity of princes, 19 Who has no regard for the appearance of the great And does not distinguish the rich from the poor, Because all are the work of his hands? Mt 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and he rains on the righteous and on the unjust. Mt 20:14 Take what is due to you, and go away. I want to give to him as much as to you.) Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter, opening his mouth, said: Truely, I recognize that God does not accept persons, 35 but that in every nation he who fears him and practices righteousness is pleasing to him. Acts 15:9 He made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Rom 2:11 For before God there is no acceptance of persons.) Rom 10:12 There is no difference, in fact, between the Jew and the Greek, since they all have the same Lord, who is rich for all who invoke him. Gal 2:6; Ep 6.9)
- Spiritual words given as support in testimony
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, according to whether the Spirit gave them to express themselves. 1 Co 1:5 For in him you have been filled with all the riches that concern word and knowledge, 2 Co 5:9 This is also why we strive to be pleasing to Him, either that we dwell in this body or that we leave it. 2 Co 8:7 Just as you excel in all things, in faith, in word, in knowledge, in zeal in all respects, and in your love for us, make sure that you also excel in this work of charity. Eph 6:19 Pray for me, that when I open my mouth, I may be given the power to make known boldly and freely the mystery of the Gospel; Col 4:3 Pray at the same time for us, that God may open a door for the word, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for whom I am in chains;
- Accepted by God
Ex 28:38 She will be on Aaron’s forehead; and Aaron will be charged with the iniquities committed by the children of Israel by making all their holy offerings; she will be constantly on her forehead before the Lord, that he may be favorable to them. 2 S 24:23 Aravna gave everything to the king. And Aravna said to the king: May jehovah, your God, be favorable to you! Jb 42:9 Eliphaz of Theman, Bildad of Schuach,and Tsophar of Naama went and did as Jehovah had told them, and Jehovah regarded Job’s prayer. Ez 20:40 For on my holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel, says the Lord, the Lord, there the whole house of Israel, all those who will be in the land will serve me; there I will receive them favorably, I will seek your offerings, the first fruits of your gifts, and all that you will consecrate to me. Ez 43:27 When His days are fulfilled, from the eighth day and in the future the priests will offer on the altar your holocausts and your sacrifices of thanksgiving. And I will be favorable to you, says the Lord, the Lord. Acts 10:35, but in every nation he who fears him and practices righteousness is pleasing to him. Acts 15:9 He made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. 2 Co 5:9 This is also why we strive to be pleasing to Him, either that we dwell in this body or that we leave it. Eph 1:6 in praise of the glory of his grace which he has granted us in his beloved.
- Divine Promises to Those Who Obey
Ex 20:6 and who has mercy to a thousand generations on those who love me and keep my commandments. Ex 23:22 But if you listen to His voice, and if you do whatever I tell you, I will be the enemy of your enemies and the adversary of your adversaries. Dt 4:40 And keep His laws and commandments that I prescribe to you today, that you may be happy and your children after you, and that you may henceforth prolong your days in the land that Jehovah your God gives you. Dt 11:27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I prescribe to you on this day; 1 King 11:38 If you obey all that I command you, if you walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes, keeping my laws and commandments, as David did, my servant, I will be with you, I will build you a stable house, as I built one to David, and I will give you Israel. Is 1:19 If you have good will and if you are docile, You will eat the best productions in the country; Mk 3:35 For whoever does God’s will is my brother, my sister, and my mother. Lk 11:28 And he answered: Blessed are those who listen to the word of God, and keep it! Jn 7:17 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know if my doctrine is of God, or if I speak of my leader. Jn 14:23 Jesus answered him: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him, and we will make our home in his house.
- Promises relating to the Fear of God
1 S 12:14 If you fear Jehovah, serve Him, obey His voice, and are not rebellious to the word of Jehovah, you will cling to Jehovah, your God, you and the king who reigns over you. Ps 25:12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Jehovah shows him the way he must choose. Ps 31.20 Oh! how great is your goodness, May you keep in reserve for those who fear you, May you testify to those who seek refuge in you, At the sight of the sons of man!( Ps 103:13 As a father has compassion for his children, Jehovah has compassion for those who fear him. Ps 147:11 The Lord loves those who fear Him, those who hope in His goodness. Pr 1:7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of science; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.) Isa 50:10 Whoever among you fears the Lord, let him listen to the voice of his servant! Whoever walks in darkness and lacks light, May he trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely on his God!( Ml 3:16 Then those who fear jehovah spoke to each other; The Lord was attentive, and he listened; And a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and honor his name.) Lk 1:50 And His mercy extends from age to age upon those who fear Him. Acts 10:35, but in every nation he who fears him and practices righteousness is pleasing to him.
From all of the above, we note from cornelius’ and Peter’s vision that the Lord shows that Gentile believers had the same share as Jewish believers in the consequences of Christ’s work. We have seen that the Holy Spirit comes only upon those who were baptized after believing; this is the order indicated by Peter in Acts 2:38. Here the Lord wanted the Holy Spirit to come upon them before baptism, to show that Gentile believers had the same share as Jewish believers in the consequences of Christ’s work. Otherwise, Peter might have hesitated to baptize them, despite the vision by which God had shown him that he purified both of them. Our prayers encourage and sustain you in your efforts to follow the Word.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on “Peter explaining his conduct before the Christians in Jerusalem.”