Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-17

tus Caesar. II became the Roman capt.
tal and the pagan metropolis OF Palestine:
skmcaaonistic Note'1Mhle reter was
Joppa and Caesarea-l. Paul, now thirty
eight or thirty-nine years OF age. was
living apparently In retirement IN Tar
Of the Church of Jerusalem, fleeing from
the persecution that arose about 5teph-
en-. had reached Antioch OF Syria, one
OF the three greatest cities Of the antique
world. and were now preaching the Cos
pei TO Gentiles as well as Jews-an un-
heard-of thing. 3. The disciples were hrst
called christians lin Antioch a. FER
haps a little later than this January "a,
A. d. Az, the emperor Caligula was as
Fascinated, and claudius succeeded him.
5. Herod Agrippa was made king OF Jul
dea and Samarla.
Cornelius.-All we know Of this man Is
told In Acts. His name suggests that he
was a Roman by birth, and OF noble
blood. His army. rank was equivalent to
that of captain In our modern armies
"a centurion of the Italian band" He
was not q Jewish proselyte (aA is made
Ralsssin by Acts IL; :. q, but was ss n ass,ersns,
God, and regulated his household on re-
ngiou principles. He was kim to the
poor, and his a~lmsgiving contrasted
sharply with the practice of most Roman
officers, who plundered the provinces.
The full text follows. 81 And said. Cor
nelius. thy prayer is heard. and thine
aims are had in remembrance in the
sight OF God. 80 Send therefore to Joppa.
and call hither Simon. whose surnam is
Peter; he is lodged in the house OF one,
when he cometh. shall speak unto thee.
80 Immediately therefore l sent to thee;
and thou hast well done that thou. art
come. Now therefore are we all here
present before God to hear all things that
are commanded thee of God. "a Then
Peter opened his mouth. and said, OF a
truth 1 perceive that God is no respectef
OF persons: 35 But in every nation he
that feareth him. and worketh righteous
ness, Is accepted with him. 36 The word
which God sent unto the children OF Is
rael, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: he
is Lord of all: 81 That word, l say, We
know, which was published throughout
MI ludea, and began from Galilee. after
the baptism which John preached; IS
How God anointed Jesus OF Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost and with power:
who went about doing good, and healing
GOO was with him. 80 And we are wit
nessss of all things which he did both In
whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
~ HIM God raised up the third day, and
showed him openly; Al Not to all the
peopsel put unto witnesses CHOSEN neroTe
with him after he rose from the dead. AZ
And he commanded us to preach unto the
people. and to testify that it is he which
quick and dead. 43 To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name
whatsoever believeth in him shall receive
VI ohiE. II hiit = ~
spake these words. the Holy Ghost fell
ON all them which heard the word.
HINTS TO THE TEACHER.
These words contain The outline of a
notable sermon, preached on an occa-
sion which marked an epoch in the his
tory of Christianity. On that day the
door was. formally opened for the ad,
mission of Gentiles into the Church, and
a divine attestation was given to the
event by the renewed descent of the Holy
Spirit.
L. The preacher was Simon Peter, a
man, and not ar angel: a man of min
gled gold and duet, not perfect, but loyal
to Christ; a NAH with al experience of
sin and salvation; a man of clear views
munion with Christ. God can make great
use of ouch a man as this.
II. The cong1 egation was small, but
some of the grextest sermons in the New
of one or two: for example, the Samari-
tan woman John ~, Nicodemus John
81, the Ethiopian treasurer acts 81. This
audience was a little roomful of Gentiles
just emerging from idolatry. But among
them was Cornelius, a sincere seeker
after God. Note his traits as shown in
eous. though a soldier in a camp. 2. Cen
erous In giving. Verse 2. Strong in
cody influence, even the soldiers around
in communion with God. s. Obedient to
the divine command. Such a eek as
this will surely find the way to God.
III. The theme o. the discourse was
salvation through Christ. Notice how
much is told concerning Jesus in this ser
mon. There is almost an epitome of his
life in Peters compact ~utterances: an
anointed Jesus: a working Jesus; a cru
Gifted Jesus; &. risen Jesus. Jesus the Re-
deemer, the forgiven of sins. the Judge OF
the world; but most of all the great truth,
now stated boldly for the first time. that
all men, of every nation. may find saliva
ton through Christ.
~. The appeal in this sermon was two
fold-to personal experience and to Holy
Scripture. Peter spoke out Of his W
Knowledge, 1--WE are witnesses" and out
of the word, ITO him give all the proph-
cts Witness" These two sanctions are
united in every true Gospel sermon. The
teacher, as well as the preacher, needs
and the testimony of his own experience.
". The effect Of the discourse was faith
lowed by the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost was repeated, with all its di-
vine Manifestations: When preacher
and hearers surrender their hearts to the
Influences Of the Spirit the effect of the
Gospel is as immediate, direct, and SUI
~pernatural now as then.