Day 1106: Hearing God's word – Acts 10 vs 19 - 33

19-20 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21-22 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 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. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

24-26 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27-29 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30-33 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” Acts 10:19-33 English Standard Version

As Peter pondered over the meaning of the vision he'd seen, the Holy Spirit gave him the answer. He tells Peter that three men whom He, the Holy Spirit, had sent, were looking for him, and that he should go with them without any hesitancy!

Notice how the Holy Spirit has taken such an active role in building the Church that Jesus died for. In the ten chapters of Acts we've read so far, the Holy Spirit has been mentioned at least 28 times. Ever since the day of Pentecost He has filled Gods people, and He is referred to as 'the gift of God'. (Acts 8:20). And we see that He is not just a 'force', but a person. He can be lied to, and this is the same as lying to God. (Acts 5:4) He enabled Stephen, the first martyr, to see that Jesus was waiting to receive Him. (Acts 7:55-56) He directed Philip to join the Ethiopian in his chariot, to explain God's word. (Acts 8:29) We see too that He brings comfort to God's people. (Acts 9:31)

What are the two significant statements Peter makes when he gets to the house of Cornelius? (vs 24-29)

The first is to tell Cornelius that he too is a mere man, and ought not to be worshipped! Contrast that with Jesus Christ. We read that, when He ascended into heaven, the disciples “worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:52) And then, Peter tells Cornelius that God had shown him that he should not call any person common or unclean. This was a huge step for someone brought up as a Jew to take. And God had used a vision to make it happen.

And so Cornelius tells Peter of his own vision, and then says: “Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God - to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” Oh that we might have the same conviction as Cornelius had when it comes to hearing God's word from the servant He sends. And may the Holy Spirit send us to those He wants to hear God’s message of Christ.