Cornelius “prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2). One afternoon an angel told him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4).
Come up. Prayers do not get lost on the way. Cornelius’ prayers went all the way up to God.
A memorial. A memorial is something that helps people remember, like a photo of someone they love. God does not forget anything. The angel was telling Cornelius that not one prayer had been missed.
His gifts too. Cornelius’ gifts to the poor came up before God too. God sees kindness that no one else notices.
He hears us. John wrote, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). God sees you, and He is listening.
Always listening. Think of a friend who stops everything to listen to you. God listens like that, all the time.
Talking with God. Prayer is simply talking with God. You can thank Him, tell Him you are sorry, ask Him for help, or pray for someone else.
Heard. Cornelius said the man in bright clothing told him, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard” (Acts 10:31). God heard the prayer of a Roman officer in his own house.
Any place. Cornelius prayed at home in the afternoon (Acts 10:30). You do not need a special building to pray. You can talk to God anywhere.
According to His will. That means asking for the things God wants. God always hears, and He answers in the way that is best.
When I call. David wrote, “The Lord will hear when I call to Him” (Psalm 4:3). Cornelius called on God, and God heard him.
God’s best answer. God answered Cornelius in the best way. He sent someone to tell him about Jesus.
Why it matters. Cornelius’ prayers could not take away his sin. Only Jesus could do that. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day.
What we learn. God sees and hears the people who pray to Him, and He loves to lead them to His Son.
What to do. Talk to God every day. Tell Him what is on your heart, and thank Him that He listens.
A psalm says this about God: “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them” (Psalm 145:19). That is exactly what God did for Cornelius.
Those who fear Him. Cornelius was “one who feared God with all his household” (Acts 10:2). To fear God means to honor Him as God and want to please Him.
Near to all. The verse before says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him” (Psalm 145:18). All means all, Jewish or Gentile.
The real need. Cornelius prayed and gave to the poor. But what he needed most was to be saved from his sin.
What you must do. The angel said that Peter “will tell you what you must do” (Acts 10:6). God did not leave Cornelius guessing.
A person, not an angel. God could have let the angel tell the good news. Instead He sent Peter. God loves to use people to tell others about Jesus.
Without delay. Cornelius sent for Peter right away. When Peter arrived, Cornelius said, “you have done well to come” (Acts 10:33). He was eager to hear God’s message.
The message. Peter told them about Jesus, who died and rose again. He told them that everyone who believes in Jesus is forgiven, from every nation.
Saved. That was how God saved Cornelius. His prayers were heard, and the answer was Jesus.
Not by being good. Cornelius was good in many ways, but being good could not save him. “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).
His whole house. God answered more than one person. Cornelius’ relatives and close friends heard the good news too (Acts 10:24).
The cross. Jesus never sinned, but He died on the cross for our sins. On the third day God raised Him from the dead.
For you. God still hears people who cry out to Him. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
What we learn. The best answer to any prayer is Jesus. God hears, and He saves everyone who trusts His Son.
What to do. If you have never asked Jesus to save you, you can ask Him today. Then pray for a friend who needs to hear about Him.
Complete all sections to finish!
Read each section and answer the questions correctly.