-November 15, 2022-
Good morning, happy Tuesday,
“And they said, ‘Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to house, and hear words from you.’”
(Acts 10:22).
Cornelius was the only named centurion in the Scriptures. He lived in Caesarea, and was a part of a Roman regiment or cohort called the “Italian Regiment.” He was a devout man who feared God, along with his whole household. He was a Gentile who gave charitable gifts generously and was well respected by all the Jews. His story is found in Acts chapter 10. He was religious but not yet saved. God knew his heart and arranged for him to meet with Peter to hear the gospel.
Whenever someone is searching and their heart is open, the Lord will bring the gospel to them. There are so many religious people who think they are saved by what they do. It is often harder to win them to Christ since they think they are good enough to get to heaven on their own. They, like all of us, must come to Christ as lost, unworthy sinners, and have a sense of their need of a Savior.
First, the Lord showed Cornelius that he needed to call Peter to speak him. Peter was not far away at this time for he was staying with a certain tanner named Simon in Joppa at his house by the sea. At the same time, God spoke to Peter to go to Cornelius. At the beginning, neither man knew what God was orchestrating. The Gentiles had not yet heard the gospel. When they met, each of them told the other what God had showed them.
Cornelius had gathered all his relatives and friends to hear from Peter. Peter preached Jesus to Cornelius and all present and they believed the gospel and got saved. The Holy Spirit came upon them and Peter baptized the first Gentile converts to Christ. Peter referring to Christ, said in Acts 10:43, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” The Jewish brethren who had come with Peter were astonished by the conversion of the Gentiles. The door was now wide open to win them to Christ, thus bringing Jews and Gentiles into one body in Christ, the Head of the church.
Jesus had told the apostles in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” God used Peter to open things up for the Gentiles. God shows no partiality but is rich in grace and mercy to all people, Jews and Gentiles. It was to Peter, Jesus said,”And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Let us, like Peter, be God’s instruments to reach out to our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers for Christ. Some will believe, others will not. Cornelius reminds me of Matthew the tax collector who gathered all his friends to hear Jesus. Cornelius was the first Gentile saved along with those he had gathered together. We have the good news for all people. Let us share it!
Have a blessed day passing on the truth. Stay safe and healthy.
Sowing the seed of the gospel,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 