Peter and Cornelius

A Roman officer. Cornelius was “a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment” (10:1). A centurion was an officer in the Roman army who led about a hundred soldiers. He lived in Caesarea, a big city by the sea. A Gentile who loved God. Cornelius was a Gentile. That means he was not Jewish. But he was “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household” (10:2). Devout means he took God seriously and worshiped Him with his whole heart. Prayers and gifts. He “gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (10:2). Alms are gifts to people who are poor. God noticed. At three in the afternoon an angel came and said, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God” (10:4). God had not forgotten one prayer. What he still needed. The angel told him to send for Peter: “He will tell you what you must do” (10:6). Cornelius was kind, and he prayed, but he still needed to hear about Jesus. Being good cannot take away sin. Only Jesus can. Right away. As soon as the angel left, Cornelius sent two servants and “a devout soldier” to Joppa (10:7-8). He obeyed at once. What we learn. God hears people who pray to Him, and He loves to lead them to Jesus. When God shows you what to do, do it right away.

Caesarea (10:1). “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.” Caesarea was the Roman capital of the province, a port city on the coast. A centurion commanded a company of about a hundred soldiers. Devout (10:2). He was “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household.” The Greek word for devout is eusebes (say: yoo-seh-BACE), a person who honors God with reverence. Cornelius was a Gentile, but he worshiped the God of Israel, and his whole household worshiped with him. Generous and prayerful. He “gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.” Alms were gifts of money or food for the poor. His faith showed in both his prayers and his giving. The ninth hour (10:3). “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God.” The ninth hour was about three in the afternoon, a regular time of prayer: Peter and John once went to the temple “at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour” (Acts 3:1). A memorial (10:4). “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.” A memorial is a reminder. God had seen every prayer and every gift. Not yet enough (10:5-6). The angel did not preach the gospel himself. He sent Cornelius to Peter: “He will tell you what you must do.” His prayers were heard, but his sins still needed to be forgiven through Jesus. Obedience (10:7-8). He called “two of his household servants and a devout soldier” and sent them to Joppa, about thirty miles down the coast. Application. God sees the one who prays to Him, and He always points that person to His Son. Pray, and be ready to obey what He shows you.

Cornelius was an officer in the Roman army. He was not Jewish. People who are not Jewish are called Gentiles. But Cornelius worshiped the one true God. So did everyone who lived in his house. He gave money to the poor, and he prayed often. God saw his kindness, and God heard his prayers. God sent an angel to tell Cornelius what to do. He must send for Peter. Peter would tell him about Jesus. Cornelius prayed and did kind things. But that could not take away his sin. He needed to hear about Jesus. Cornelius obeyed right away. God hears you when you pray too.

Cornelius loved God and prayed often. God heard every prayer. God sent someone to tell him about Jesus.

Waiting and ready. When Peter arrived, “Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends” (10:24). He wanted the people he loved to hear God’s message too. At Peter’s feet. Cornelius “fell down at his feet and worshiped him” (10:25). He most likely wanted to honor the man God had sent. Only a man. “But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself am also a man’” (10:26). Peter knew that worship belongs to God alone. He would not take what belongs to God. A Jewish rule. Peter told them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation” (10:28). Jewish people kept apart from Gentiles so they would not become unclean. What God had shown him. But Peter went on, “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (10:28). Common and unclean meant not fit to come near God’s people. God had changed Peter’s mind. No arguing. “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for” (10:29). Before God. Cornelius told about the angel and said, “Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God” (10:33). They were ready to listen and obey. What we learn. Give worship to God alone. And like Cornelius, invite the people you love to hear about Jesus.

A full house (10:24). “Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.” He had sent for Peter four days earlier, and he gathered the people closest to him to hear the message. Worship refused (10:25-26). “Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself am also a man.’” Peter knew he was a servant, not the Savior. Worship belongs only to God. Unlawful (10:28). “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation.” Jewish custom kept a Jew from entering a Gentile’s home or sharing his table, so that he would not become ceremonially unclean. Shown by God. “But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Common meant ordinary and unholy; unclean meant unfit to come near God. God had taught Peter to see no person that way. Without objection (10:29). “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.” The Greek word is anantirretos (say: ah-nan-teer-RAY-tohs), without speaking against. Peter came without a word of argument. Four days (10:30-31). Cornelius told how “behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,” and said, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.” Present before God (10:33). “Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” They received Peter’s message as God’s own word, and they came to hear all of it. Application. Honor God’s servants, but worship God alone. Come to His Word ready to hear all of it, and bring others with you.

Cornelius did not wait alone for Peter. He invited his relatives and close friends. He wanted them to hear God’s message too. When Peter came in, Cornelius fell at his feet. He worshiped Peter. But Peter would not let him do that. Peter said, “Stand up! I too am only a man.” Only God should be worshiped. Jewish people did not usually visit the homes of Gentiles. But God had shown Peter that he should not call anyone unclean. So Peter came without arguing. Cornelius said they were all there before God. They were ready to hear everything God wanted to say. You can invite your friends to hear about Jesus too.

Cornelius bowed down to Peter. Peter said, “Stand up! I too am only a man.” Only God should be worshiped.

No favorites. Peter began, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality” (10:34). To show partiality means to have favorites. God does not love one nation more than another. Every nation. “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (10:35). God welcomes people from every country who come to Him. Is being good enough? No. Peter did not stop there and send everyone home. He told them about Jesus, because only Jesus can take away sin. Lord of all. Peter preached “peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all” (10:36). Jesus is not only for one nation. He is Lord of everyone. Doing good. God anointed Jesus “with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (10:38). Oppressed means pushed down and hurt. The cross and the empty tomb. Jesus was killed “by hanging on a tree,” which means a cross (10:39). But “Him God raised up on the third day” (10:40). Peter and the others even “ate and drank with Him” (10:41). Judge and Savior. Jesus is the “Judge of the living and the dead” (10:42). And “whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (10:43). Remission means our sins are forgiven and sent away. What we learn. Jesus is for every person in every nation, and that includes you. Trust Him, and He will forgive your sins.

No partiality (10:34). “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” To show partiality is to judge by the face, by how a person looks, where he comes from or how important he is. God does not do that. Accepted (10:35). “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Does this mean good works save? No. Cornelius already feared God and did right, yet God sent Peter to tell him the way of salvation. God welcomes the seeker from any nation and leads him to Christ. Lord of all (10:36). “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.” The message began with Israel, but its Lord rules over every nation. Anointed (10:38). “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” Christ means the Anointed One. Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” On a tree (10:39-41). “Whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly.” The apostles were witnesses who “ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.” Judge (10:42). Jesus “was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Every person will one day stand before Him. All the prophets (10:43). “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Isaiah wrote that “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Whoever means anyone, Jew or Gentile. Application. The gospel is for every nation because Jesus is Lord of all. Never think anyone is too far away or too different for Him.

Peter said that God does not have favorite people. It does not matter which country you come from. God welcomes people from every nation who come to Him. Does that mean being good is enough? No, it does not. Peter went right on to tell them about Jesus. Jesus is Lord of all people. He went everywhere doing good and healing people. Then He died on a cross. On the third day God raised Him to life. Peter saw Jesus alive and even ate with Him. One day Jesus will be the judge of everyone. Peter said, “Everyone who believes in Jesus will be forgiven.” Jesus is for everyone, and that means He is for you!

God loves people from every land. Peter told them about Jesus. Jesus died and rose again to forgive us.

The Spirit falls. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word” (10:44). They believed what they heard, and God gave His Spirit. Astonished. The Jewish believers who came with Peter “were astonished… because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also” (10:45). God gave Gentiles the very same gift. Praising God. “For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God” (10:46). Speaking with tongues means speaking in languages they had not learned. To magnify God means to praise Him and show how great He is. The Spirit today. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer. He still gives gifts today, to help others, and they are to be used in love and in order: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Baptized. Peter asked, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (10:47). They believed first, and then they were baptized. Baptism does not save; it is a picture of dying to the old life and rising to a new life with Jesus. The keys. Jesus once told Peter He would give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). Many Christians see Peter using those keys here, opening the door of the gospel to the Gentiles. Stay with us. “Then they asked him to stay a few days” (10:48). Most likely they wanted to learn more about Jesus. What we learn. When you trust Jesus, God gives you His Holy Spirit too. Thank Him, and show others that you belong to Jesus.

Interrupted (10:44). “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” God did not wait for Peter to finish. The hearers believed, and God gave His Spirit at once. The gift (10:45). “Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” The Greek word for gift is dorea (say: doh-reh-AH), a free gift, never a wage. The circumcision means the Jewish believers. Tongues and praise (10:46). “For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” Just as at Pentecost, God gave a sign everyone in the room could hear. The Spirit’s gifts are still for today, given “for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12:7) and used “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Water (10:47). “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” They had believed and received the Spirit; baptism followed. Baptism does not save. It pictures being “buried with Him through baptism into death” and rising to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). In the name of the Lord (10:48). “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” They were baptized as people who now belonged to Jesus. The keys. Jesus promised Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). Many Christians see Peter using them three times: for Jews at Pentecost, for Samaritans in Acts 8, and here for Gentiles. A few days (10:48). “Then they asked him to stay a few days.” A Jewish apostle now stayed as a guest in a Gentile home. Application. God gives His Spirit to everyone who believes, from every nation. If you belong to Jesus, His Spirit lives in you; let Him use you in love.

Peter was still speaking when God did something wonderful. The Holy Spirit came on everyone who was listening. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed. God gave the same gift to Gentiles too! The new believers spoke in different languages. They praised God. The Holy Spirit lives in everyone who trusts Jesus. Then Peter had them baptized. Baptism does not save us. It shows that we belong to Jesus. It is like a picture of a new life with Him. Jesus once said Peter would have the keys of the kingdom. Many Christians see Peter opening the door for Gentiles here. Then the new believers asked Peter to stay for a few days.

The Holy Spirit came on everyone who listened. They praised God and were baptized. Baptism does not save. It shows we belong to Jesus.