The National tribune., 1892-10-06
SUNDAY MEDITATION,
A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for Oct.
Is, 1892.
Subject: St. Peter and Cornelius. Acts,


indicated above.l
INTRODUCTION.
We come now to very interesting story-a
grand turning point in the ministerial life of
st. Peter-an emphasizing of the broadness of
Christianity as compared with Judaism-the
formal presentation of Christ to the Gentiles.
We may well rejoice this incident occurred, IL
for no other reason. because it gave st. Peter
opportunity to set forth more fully the exact
status of all mankind in the matter OF saliva
ton. The Apostle became man equal to his
commission. which required him to 20 into all
the world and to preach the Gospel to every
creature. He needed his experience in the
case quite much as Cornelius needed guld-
ance. A man with such narrow ideas as those of
Peter was untitled to undertake an enterprise
which swept aside all pettness, clannishness,
senseless individuality, National prejudiees,
and religious intolerance. One enjoys the cos
mopolitap tone of ST. Peter after the expert
ences at the house Of Cornelius. There are
breeziness, freedom, generous outreachings, no.
Bile impulses, broad sympathies.
l. Data.
The subject really covers the entire 10th
chapter OF the Book of the Acts, but we give
attention in special to verses l to ID, in
elusive.
9. Time
We date at about A. d. IL.
3. Places.
Two cities must be studied. Joppa and Gaze
sarea. Joppa, the stopping place of st. Peter;
CRsarea, the home of Cornelius. AS to Joppa
see lesson for last week. Ceasarea was the
capital of Palestine under Roman government
Like Joppa, it was on the coast of the Medi-
terranean. In straight line Caesarea is about
% miles north Of Joppa and Joppa is about 40
miles northwest of Jerusalem. CRsarea Is
about So miles northwest of Jerusalem. 1t is
about midway between Joppa and Cape Car
mel, somewhat nearer the latter. Herod the
Great magnifed the city very materially, and
named it Csesarea in honor Of the Emperor
Augustus. st. Paul suffered imprisonment there
for two years.
4. Cornelius.
He was of what was called the "Cornela
Gems" (house, family, clam. To it belonged
the Scipios Syla the mother Of the Gracchi.
The Roman Governor at Casarea kept about
him bodyguard, called the Italian Band
tcohort) because composed of soldiers brought
into service from Italy instead of from Syria or
any foreign land. Such band would be more
reliable. We notice, Q. g., that English Head
quarters in India are provided as rule with
soldiers from the English army instead OF ma
tives.
Cornelius was a centurion, go called because
he commanded a military company OF 100 men.
Other centurions are mentioned in the New
Testament /, the centurion whose servant
was sick of palsy. (St. Mt, S:5-13.) 2, the
centurion in command at the crucfxion. Ut:
54) 3, Julius. tActs, 27:l
S. Verses to 8, Inclusive.
These verses relate to Cornelius. They show
he was man Of fine principles, and, though not
a Christian in name, but in one sense mere
seeker yet far in advance, in many respects, OF
hosts of persons claiming to be aud admi tied to
laT Ir,ct Ha n1ad pcfr He ypQG
devout He feared God that is TO say, honored
God, and had such respect for all the commands
of God that he walked circumspectly. He
gave religious attention to his family. He was
liberal to the needy. He kept up the practice
of prayer. What lacked he? We see in verse
6 that something yet remained for him to do.
God, through the Holy Spirit, instructed him
what steps to take, and the centurion observed
all said directions soied eyed - hes9q
6. Verses to 10, iaclusiue. =.
The three men appointed by Cornelius at the
suggestion of God to wait on st. Peter would
not have been received by him had not God
prepared the mind Of st. Peter. We remember
the details of the ceremonial law of the Jews
st. Peter was a stckler for these. But God
taught him lesson of liberation. The Apostle
began to get the idea into his mind that Cen
tiles were to have chance for salvation under
the Christian dispensation. st. Peter conld
practical, visible commentary. God, who
chose the Jews originally. had right to add the
Gentes. Men not to dictate to God. He
who made laws can change them or add to
them.
The exact methods by which God instructed
Cornelius and St Peter may not be in range of
explanation. We find both Cornelius and
Peter clearly understood the revelations, and
in such complete detail as to BIO able to carry
them out to full effect.
z. Suggestions.
/. Be devout. (V.1) Cultivate reverential-
ness. Have respect for religious concerns
places, practices All this implies thonghtful.
ness as contrasted with frivolity. 1t is much
in mans favor that he has religious bearing,
evident comprehension Of the significance of
life and its duties, profound regard for the
Church, and its doctrines and ordinances. We
despise sanctimoniousness, manufactured So
lemnity OF manner. cant and "put-on" piety,
but we must admire sincerity, solidity Of char
acter weightiness of thought.
z. Soldiers may cultivate piety. 1t is not
inconsistent with Christian principles for SOL
diers to be devout There are many who do
not think the bearing of arms congruous with
piety, and all such have the profound respect of
the Christian world. But they who hold that for
certain occasions we may have soldiery must
allow that it is fitting such men carry religious
principles into their calling. We have not all
the particulars, and are not able to determine
whether Cornelius continued to be centurion
after his baptism into the Christian Church.
Whether he could consistently remain GEN.
turion is another question.
3. Let the family be unit religiousy. 1t is