Acts 10:1-7
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
1. Cornelius was a gentile centurion. He was a devote man who feared with his household. In these days it is very difficult to find a person with these qualities of personal commitment and surrender to the Lord and at the same time as a family walking in the fear of God. Even people in the ministry lack these two qualities. These two things open the door for the Holy Spirit to work freely in our lives. If the Holy spirit is convicting you that you lack these things then right now turn to the Lord and seek Him to bless you with a life which is totally committed to Him and your family walking in the fear of God.
2. It is also mentioned that Cornelius was a man who gave a lot for charity and at the same time he was a man of prayer. But when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and spoke to him, the Angel of God mentioned that his prayers and his acts of giving have come up as a memorial offering before God. You will notice here that God changed the order. People saw first his giving and then his praying, but God saw his praying first and then his giving. It is our prayer that draws God’s attention first than our giving. You need both first you need to become a person of Prayer and then at the same time a person who gives for the extension of God’s Kingdom and to the poor and needy. When you do this one day your prayer and giving will also come up before God as a memorial and God will send His messenger to give you direction as to what to do.
3. The Angel of God gave the name of the person whom Cornelius had to call and his complete address. This is how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit operate. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, God will give him the name and the address of the people whom he has never met and known. The visions and wonders that took place in Acts of Apostles will happen in a greater way in these last days. Expect God to fill you with His fullness and move through you revealing you the secret of the hearts of the people, so that when you speak to them they will fall on their faces in conviction before the Lord and repent.
4. Cornelius immediately obeyed the message that was given to him by the Lord and sent his committed soldier to Joppa to get Peter. He obeyed immediately because delayed obedience is equal to disobedience. Therefore, when God tells you something, obey Him immediately. Obedience brings blessings. Train yourself to obey God instantly.
Acts 10:9-15
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
1. Here we see Peter was on the terrace praying at about noon time. There was still time for food as they were preparing and Peter was very hungry. Instead of getting upset or grumbling, Peter continued praying. That is when he saw the heavens opened. This should be our attitude when we go through inconvenience. Instead of complaining and murmuring we should use that opportunity to turn to the Lord. Most of the interventions of God are in the most unexpected times. Imagine it is in this type of situation that God gave Peter a vision that was to change the whole course of Evangelism and the Church. It was a message being conveyed to Peter that even the gentile world would receive salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.
2. Peter saw and he heard: Remember when the Gifts of the Holy Spirit operate there is always seeing and hearing in the spirit. But most of the time this seeing and hearing takes place when you are connected with God and have a life of prayer. It’s mentioned clearly that Peter was praying. All the disciples like their Master were people of prayer. Prayer is the door to walk in the extraordinary power of God.
3. Peter not only saw the Vision once but thrice. God showed him the same vision three times and spoke to him. God will always confirm again and again what He speaks to you.
4. The Lord also gave Peter the interpretation of the vision. Every time God gives you a vision or a revelation He will also give you the interpretation. If He doesn’t then you need to ask Him and He will reveal it to you.
Continuation of this study in next week’s article.
Bro S. R. Manohar