From whence the vision and the power?

 “Adventure at Caesarea”

(Acts 10:1-24, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, March 25, 2012)

[10:1] At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, [2] a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

There was a man, a Gentile, named Cornelius. Though he was not a Jew, he had a great interest in the God of the Jews. He was not alone in this. There were many Gentiles in the 1^st century who were interested in worshiping the God of the Jews. They were unwilling to become Jews, but many of them attended synagogues.

Luke, the author of Acts, gives us some details about this man allowing us to place him as a historical individual; his location, his profession, his assignment. These matters are not Luke's chief concern. He emphasizes his spiritual life. Cornelius was a devout man, a worshiping man; a man who feared God, a man who heard God's Word proclaimed and understood that it was a word for him that he needed to obey. He followed devotional practices that were for him and for all his household. His faith was generous and compassionate. He helped the poor. Finally, Luke tells us that he prayed continually to God. The adventure that we have recorded in this chapter and the next one blossoms forth from God through this great man's devotional life.

[3] About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” [4] And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. [5] And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. [6] He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” [7] When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, [8] and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

While Cornelius was praying he saw an angel clearly in a vision. An angel of God spoke to him by name. He was terrified.

The angel mentioned the very things that Luke drew attention to. The prayers and generous giving of this devout Gentile were commendable. They had ascended to the God of the Jews as an acceptable offering. Cornelius had been chosen by God for this special moment in the history of God's saving plan. This moment would mark the true beginning of God's great work among the nations of the world. There had been very generous hints of this plan throughout the Old Testament and in the ministry of Jesus. Already in Acts we have seen the buds of a Gentile spring in the Pentecost tongues, in the salvation of an Ethiopian eunuch, in the mission to Samaria, and in the commission God gave to Saul of Tarsus. But this man, his family, and his close friends would receive a great pouring out of the Holy Spirit spontaneously from heaven, a second Pentecost, a Gentile Pentecost this time, that would be unstoppable.

God did not reveal all that right away. He just told him to send his men to get Peter and bring him to Caesarea from Joppa. God had more work to do in Joppa before the true adventure of the Gentile mission would actually begin.

[9] The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. [10] And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance [11] and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. [12] In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” [14] But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” [15] And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” [16] This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.Peter is the second godly man in our passage. He too has a regular habit of prayer, and this adventure further blossoms forth now from his prayer life. He too has a mysterious vision, an experience that confronts Peter and prepares him for what is to take place. When God says that something is clean enough for a Jew to eat, and when says “Eat!”... we best eat. When God has made Gentiles clean enough for Jews to visit, when He says, “Go there!” … we best go.

[17] Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate [18] and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. [19] And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” [21] And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” [22] And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” [23] So he invited them in to be his guests.

Peter did not immediately understand the thrice repeated vision, but when the next thing happened, he knew what it was all about. Not because Peter had such great interpretive insight... The Spirit of God made it all clear. “Three men are looking for you. Accompany them without hesitation.” God can make something plain to those who make a habit of hearing and obeying Him. Peter said, “I am the one you are looking for.”

The visitors recommended Cornelius to Peter, but they really did not need to. He was prepared to go where the Lord would have him go, and to say whatever the Lord would have Him say. So...

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. [24] And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

So the next day, they left together, along with some of the members of the church in Joppa, the church that had just received their beloved Tabitha (Gazelle) alive again from the dead. Peter was ready, but what would it all mean? Cornelius was ready too. So ready that he called together his relatives and close friends, not even knowing what would happen next They needed to trust the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had sent His only-begotten Son not only for the salvation of the Jews, but also for the salvation of the Gentiles.

Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

(Psalm 117)

Jesus allowed His life to spring forth from His communion with His Father, and His obedience to His Father's Word. So did Peter and Cornelius. Why should our lives be different than that?

1. What do we know about Cornelius?

2. What was Peter's struggle?

3. What was the Lord's instruction concerning the visitors from Cornelius?

4. How open was Cornelius to the message God would bring to him through Peter?

OT Passage: Psalm 117