Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above theme from Acts 11:9. Indeed, let us never judge on appearances or on circumstances that we know only imperfectly. For a Christian whose behavior surprised us may have acted out of obedience to the Lord. This was the case with Peter when he entered Cornelius’ house and ate with him. These details were all that “those of circumcision” had wanted to remember.
While extraordinary events had happened in this house that the apostle will tell now. The salvation of the nations was foretold in the Old Testament (Isa 49:3-6; Isa 65:1). Peter himself had alluded to it in his first speech (Acts 2:14-40). However, to make the prejudices of the brothers of Jerusalem disappear, formal proofs were needed: the Holy Spirit descended on those Gentiles who all recognize God’s will and give him glory.
For they are brought to them by this account of Peter, confirmed by the six witnesses who accompanied him. By learning how the apostle was enlightened and led to Cornelius and especially how the Holy Spirit descended on these Gentiles, all recognize God’s will and give Him glory. Let us rejoice in this favor that has spread to us and, if we have not yet done so, let us hasten to receive “repentance for life” too.
Indeed, the apostles and brothers of Judea learned that the nations had also received the word of God. When Peter ascended to Jerusalem, the believers among the Jews were arguing with him in these terms: “You have entered the homes of uncircumcised men, and you have eaten with them.” Peter explained to them all the vision he had at Joppa, the arrival of Cornelius’ envoys immediately afterwards and how the Holy Spirit enjoined him to follow them without hesitation, which he did by taking with him six brothers of Joppa.
He also told them about Cornelius’ vision and ended with these words that were to convince them fully: “When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit descended on them, as on us in the beginning. And I remembered this word of the Lord: John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Now, since God gave them the same gift as we who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, could I oppose God?
After this conclusive account, no one could attribute to Peter an act of his own free will, nor accuse him of violating legal ordinances. For God knew that the admission of gentiles into the Church would meet with strong opposition from believing Jews; he had therefore prepared everything, so that they would recognize that this was his will. Also “having heard these things, they fell silent, and glorified God saying, ‘God has therefore given the nations repentance for life.'” The Jerusalem assembly was therefore in full communion of thoughts with God about the Gentile converts, not only because God had demonstrated it in such an obvious way, but because the Jews, like the Gentiles, had believed in the Lord Jesus and found themselves introduced into Christianity. Peter says, “God gave them the same gift as we who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.” For the way to be saved, the same for all, is to believe in the Lord Jesus.
That is why the Lord, while calling John the Baptist the greatest of the prophets, added that “the least in the kingdom of God is greater than him” (Luke 7:28). So the responsibility of Christians far outweighs that of the believers who preceded Jesus’ coming into this world. We know the whole unfolding of God’s love in the gift and work of his Son; we know perfectly well what he is as light and holiness; we participate in its nature in a conscious way and we possess the Holy Spirit, the power of divine life. With such privileges, we must be consistent and faithful in living to please our God and Father and His beloved Son who loved us more than His own life.
Cornelius then learned that he possessed a heavenly part in union with the risen and glorified Christ, which made him a heavenly being, stranger to the world, a child of God his Father, a wonderful blessing that belongs to the simplest believer in today’s economy.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Means of revelation: visions, examples
Gen 15:1 After these events, the word of Jehovah was addressed to Abram in a vision, and he said, Abram, fear not; I am your shield, and your reward will be very great. Gen 46:2 God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night, and He said, Jacob! Jacob! Israel replied: Here I am! Ez 37:1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and the Lord carried me in spirit, and laid me in the middle of a valley filled with bones. Acts 9:10 Now there was a disciple named Ananias in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias! He answered: Here I am, Lord! Acts 10:3,11 Around the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who entered his house, and who said to him: Cornelius! 11 He saw the open sky, and an object like a great tablecloth tied by the four corners, which descended and lowered towards the earth; Acts 16:9 During the night, Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared to him, and prayed to him: Go to Macedonia, help us! Acts 18:9 The Lord said to Paul in vision during the night: Fear not; but speak, and do not be silent; Acts 22:18 and I saw the Lord who said to me, Hurry up, and come out of Jerusalem promptly, because they will not receive your testimony about me. Acts 23:11 The next night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be courageous; for just as you have bore witness of me in Jerusalem, you must also bear witness in Rome. 2 Co 12.1 We must boast… This is not good. Nevertheless, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. Rev 1:12 I turned around to find out what voice was speaking to me. And, after I turned around, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
- Prayer Life: Continual Prayer
Ps 5:4 Eternal! in the morning you hear my voice; In the morning I turn to you, and I look. Ps 119:147 I preempt the dawn and cry out; I hope in your promises. Za8.11 Now I am not for the rest of this people as I was in the past, says the Lord of hosts. Lk 2:37 Remaining a widow, and eighty-four years old, she did not leave the temple, and she served God night and day in fasting and prayer. Acts 10:2 This man was pious and feared God, with his whole house; he gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God continuously. Acts 16:25 In the middle of the night, Paul and Silas prayed and sang god’s praises, and the prisoners heard them. 1 Thess 3:10 Night and day, we pray with extreme zeal to allow us to see you, and to complete what is missing from your faith. 1 Tim 5:5 The one who is truly widowed, and who has remained in isolation, puts her hope in God and perseveres night and day in supplications and prayers.
- Variety of Food
Gen 18:8 He took more cream and milk, with the calf that had been prepared, and put them in front of them. He stood himself by their side, under the tree. And they ate. Lv 11.3 You will eat of any animal that has a split horn, a forked foot, and ruminates. Dt 32.14 The cream of cows and the milk of ewes, With the fat of lambs, From Basan rams and goats, With the flower of wheat; And you drank the blood of the grapes, the wine. 1 S 17:17 Isai said to David, his son, “Take for your brethren this epah of roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brethren; 1 S 25.18 Abigail immediately took two hundred loaves of bread, two pieces of wine, five pieces of prepared cattle, five measures of roasted grain, one hundred masses of raisins, and two hundred dried figs. She put them on donkeys;1 S 30:12 and they gave her a piece of a mass of dried figs and two masses of raisins. After he had eaten, the forces returned to him, for he had not taken any food and drunk water for three days and three nights. 2 S 6:19 Then He distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, men and women, to each one a bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of grapes. And all the people went away, each in his house. 2 S 16:2 The king said to Tsiba: What do you want to do with this? And Tsiba replied: Donkeys will serve as a mount in the king’s house, bread and summer fruits are for feeding young men, and wine for quenching the thirst of those who will be tired in the desert. Pr 27:27 The milk of the goats is sufficient for your food, for that of your house, and for the maintenance of your servants. Jn 21:9 When they came ashore, they saw there lit coals, fish on them, and bread.
- The Direction of the Holy Spirit
+leads into all truth: Jn 16:13 When the Comforter has come, the Spirit of truth, he will lead you into all the truth; for he will not speak of himself, but he will say all that he has heard, and he will announce to you the things to come. Acts 8:39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip, and the eunuch no longer saw him. While, joyfully, he continued on his way,
+controls the movements of Christians: Acts 10:19-20 And as Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold, three men ask you; Get up, come down, and go with them without hesitation, for it was I who sent them.
+leads in the choice of the leaders of the Church: Acts 13:2 While they served the Lord in their ministry and fasted, the Holy Spirit said: Set me apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
+chose the fields of operation: Acts 16:6 Having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from proclaiming the word in Asia, they crossed Phrygia and the land of Galatia.
Obedience to the Holy Spirit is the characteristic of sonship: Rom 8:14 because all those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Gal 5:18 If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Of all the above, Cornelius had the life of God, like all the believers who preceded Christ’s death. For it is only since the Savior’s death that one can be certain that one is saved. To be saved is to know that one is delivered from the judgment deserved, because the Lord Jesus brought it to the place of the guilty; and no one knew before this accomplished work. Then the believer has a part in the death of Christ who put an end to his state of sin, as well as his resurrection that introduced him into a new position in him, waiting for glory. He no longer belongs to this world where he dwells as a witness of his Savior and Lord, whom he expects from heaven. For he is saved, and he knows it. The believer of the Old Testament could not say, “Christ died for me,” while Cornelius, after hearing Peter affirm, “Whoever believes in him receives the remission of sins,” accepted it, and immediately the Holy Spirit fell upon them all, God showing by this that he recognized them as his children, that they had gone to his house, the assembly, successor of Israel as a witness of God on earth. Cornelius then learned that he possessed a heavenly part in union with the risen and glorified Christ, which made him a heavenly being, stranger to the world, a child of God his Father, a wonderful blessing that belongs to the simplest believer in today’s economy. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, 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 about “Herod struck by the Angel of God.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.