Acts 10:24-35
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”
30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 “and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.’
32 ‘Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33 “So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”
35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
1. The angelic visitation was so remarkable that Cornelius was very sure that God had a special message for him. So he calls his friends and relatives also to hear what God wanted them to know. Here another character of Cornelius is revealed. He was also a lover of people. He alone could have been blessed, but he had burden for his people and desired that they will also be blessed. We need to love people and always desire for their salvation and upliftment.
2. Cornelius fell down at Peter’s feet and worshiped him. It is very difficult to get rid of the “human worshiping spirit”. The moment we find any godliness, gift of God or any approval by God in anyone’s life, we immediately tend to put them in the place of God and start worshipping them. We need to learn – not to worship, praise or flatter God’s servants; we can only respect them as channels or instruments, but it is God who alone is worthy of worship, not even saints and angels, all are creatures, God alone is the Creator and the Sovereign One.
3. Notice Peter’s reaction, he lifted up Cornelius and said, “I also am a man like you”. What a beautiful picture of humility. The apostles never ever encouraged anyone to worship or admire them. They always gave Jesus the pre-eminence and all glory. Jesus Christ never attracted people to Himself; He drew them to the Father.
4. Cornelius and all his dear ones were ready and expectant. Peter was also led by the Spirit to come there. It is always the eager expectation of the congregation and the genuine leading of the Holy Spirit in preacher’s life that opens the heaven over our ministry and church and we can expect revivals in such settings.
5. Peter was slowly getting to understand that God was about to do something new by over-ruling the Jewish tradition. Peter trusted God and yielded to the new ways of God even while he did not have the completely picture of what God was up to. Can we trust God and cooperate with Him even if we feel that it is not the regular pattern of God’s working? Can we yield to His new move? Then we will see an historic work of God.
Continuation of this study in next week’s article.
Bro S. R. Manohar