Acts 10:20-48 GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS Peter's experience with the Lord had prepared him for the work ahead of him. The Holy Spirit had also been working with Cornelius to prepare him to receive the message of the Gospel. There was no question this generous, respected man was sincere in his fear of God, but being earnest in one's desire to find God does not make one righteous before God. Faith in Christ saves the lost soul, and Cornelius had yet to hear of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. There are many hindrances to a person hearing the Gospel. Peer pressure, religious prejudice, false teaching are only a few of the barriers that keep people from the Savior. The Jews and Gentiles in the early days of the church were separated y culture and national barriers. Jews were hostile to the Gentiles and the Gentiles looked on the Jews with distain. So for Peter to be designated by God to open the door of the Gospel to the Gentiles was a great act of huge and lasting proportions. In spite of what he felt personally, Peter was willing to obey what the Spirit of God directed. The Gospel was now for everyone. "God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Peter wisely took others with him when he went to Caesarea with the three men Cornelius sent. "In the mouths of two or three witnesses let every word be established." To cross a centuries old barrier was no small matter. Any outreach work today to which God sends His servants needs more then one person so they can witness the scriptural and moral integrity of both the laborer/speaker and the hearer. Those who are longing for peace with God need to have someone to guide them to the Savior by pointing out the truth as to who the Lord Jesus Christ is. Peter's short message is a clear, precise presentation of the Gospel that can serve as an example to us. He identified the Lord Jesus very specifically. He told the hearers of His perfect life of service, of His death and of His resurrection. He also testified of his own personal connection with the Lord when He was here, and his responsibility now to publicly testify that Jesus Christ is the One and Only Savior and Judge.
The length of a message does not necessarily make it effective. It is the content that counts. We should always have a definite goal in view when we speak. The ultimate objective is that people know who the Lord Jesus is and they must come to Him by faith for salvation. The Holy Spirit guides one who is led by Him to speak about the Lord Jesus Christ and direct the hearers through the scriptures to believe on Him. The prophets of old are witnesses as to the result of faith in Christ. We have many New Testament Scriptures as well that assure people when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, they have eternal life.
But assent to the facts was not all that Peter expected and the Holy Spirit disturbed the meeting with proof that what he preached was understood and accepted. Through the "hearing of the word" the Holy Spirit gave life to those who believed. The on-lookers who came with Peter could see for themselves that "God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him."
There was evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit when the Gospel was first preached to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Then again similar evidence was given as a result of the preaching of the Gospel to the Samaritans. New evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the Gentile believers was seen by those Jews who saw before their eyes proof of salvation being granted to the Gentiles. In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost the evidence was seen and heard that the Holy Spirit had come to the Jews. Now in Cornelius' house as soon as "remission of sins" was preached, evidence was seen of the Holy Spirit coming on the Gentiles. Peter and the Jewish brethren with him now knew the Gentiles were included in the plans of God. When Cornelius and those in his house believed on the Lord Jesus Christ there was no question as to their salvation.
Believers are baptized after they receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives life. Baptism is the testimony on the part of the new believers to the fact they have eternal life and "are risen to walk in newness of life." When people are saved by God's grace, it is important that they have instruction as to what this new life is and how to conduct themselves as a "new creation in Christ Jesus." The on-going fellowship of believers is needed and how this is to be done is contained in the commission the Lord gave when He said, "... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," - and Peter fulfilled that mandate. We are not done with our responsibility to new believers, until we can see evidence, they are practicing what the word of God teaches. It will probably take much longer today in some places because some have to unlearn wrong things, before they can learn those right things the scriptures teach.
One man was praying in earnest supplication - Another man praying was a faithful servant with dedication - Neither fully realized they were the objects of divine initiation - By God who is no respecter of persons.
One had a visitor from God when he was in deep concentration - The other had a vision when he was in quiet contemplation - Both were chosen by God who planned a special time of visitation - By God who is no respecter of persons.
One man was a Gentile sent to keep peace by foreign occupation - The other was a Jew, a son of God's chosen earthly nation - For them to be brought together by God was a remarkable situation By God who is no respecter of persons.
One may be young and worldly wise with a secular education - Another may be old and was taught by those with a different orientation - And God brings them together to learn with earnest consideration - From God who is no respecter of persons.
One needs to hear the clear Gospel that he might find God's salvation - The other need to commit himself to preach with faithful consecration - And present the Gospel of God's grace to one ready to hear by holy preparation - Of God who is no respecter of persons.
"I am looking on that scene of two cultures, two religions, two diverse men, Gracious Father, and I am moved in my spirit by the richness of Thy grace. I am here today because of what happened then. By Thy infinite foreknowledge through that door opened to the Gentiles, I have been blessed. And now in this distant place on the far part of the world, Thy grace is still reaching out to people in this land. I praise Thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."
Acts 10: 30-31. “And 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, and said, “ Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are has in remembrance in the sight of God.”’”
IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. The head is bent low; the posture revealing – Earnest entreaty; a recognition of need; an acknowledging of insufficiency. Low murmuring of words intended for the Hearer only –
Words of respect, honor, exaltation, entreaty that must be said from a searching heart. A quiet dignity befitting one who is coming into the presence of a Greater – Again, and again, the searcher-seeker comes for comfort, solace and inner peace.
The table is spread; others sit to eat: the wife, the children, the servants But his need is too great to be filled with the food of a fleshly appetite. Within the soul is the cry for fullness, fulfillment that cannot be found The hunger for righteousness is overwhelming all other needs. The desire transcends all other occupations as the inner man hungers – Again, and again, the hungered soul comes longing for satisfaction.
The paycheck comes and is cashed; bills and change placed in safe-keeping – There are hungry people in the streets; homeless need shelter; the orphans are wanting. On every hand there comes the calls for help, and the alms are given – Not for personal gain is this largesse passed on, but to meet obvious needs. In the name of Him that is Holy, is this dispensing of grace given – Again, and again, the hungry are fed; the homeless are warmed – the emptiness remains.
Above, unseen, aware of all that is done and thought and wanted and needed – Is God: all-seeing, all-knowing, in every place, watching every act and reason. Of all the people doing the same things but for different reasons – God sees – And God then acts through His servant, righteous but unknowing, ready but not willing. And God “kills two birds with one stone;” He teaches His messenger – He reaches the longing soul of a man hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
The two come together; this is unheard of – it is not to be done, but it happens – Because both men live and move and think – in the sight of God. They are aware, each in their own way, from their own cultural background – “God is God, and I am empty until God fills me with Himself. My soul is hungry, my heart is sad, my life is empty, the efforts useless” – Until both humbled men, meet each other and are joined as brothers – in the sight of God.
And I too, in this place of reflection and careful consideration wait expectantly – For what do I wait? Readiness in my soul: filling and preparing me – in the sight of God. From the words I read to enlighten; to give me thoughts and understanding to pass on – From the scattered thoughts that gel into an orderly presentation – in the sight of God. I wait, and wonder, and worship, and watch for those opportunities to find the hungry – And then to pass on what God has given me to them, that they might know they live – In the sight of God.
“O God of all grace: I am reviewing this important, world-changing event of the Gentiles and Jews being brought together in one body, and I am brought to praise Thee here. I am in the middle of a Jewish neighborhood today. I can sense how important it is to be led by Thee to individuals. There is no sense of contact at random. If there are those to whom I am sent – make it clear to me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”