Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-04-16
GOLDEN TENT.-God 10 no rcspccter
Of persons-Acts IO:3I
LACE. -Caesarea. and Joppa

The Genules Pertecost. Ioii-IS
| TIME.-A. ID. 81
| PLACE.-Caesarea. and Joppa
NOTES AND COMMENTS
Jewish Bigotry The Jews regard
| ell all other peoples as common and
unclean." They looked upon them
selves as Gods peculiar, chosen peo-
pie. and upon all others rs outcasts
from Gods mercy. The disciples of
Christ were not as yet emancipated
from this view. and hence the Cos
pei could make hut little progress
| among the Gentiies. In their recep-
ton OF the Samaritan converts, how
ever, they had made long step in
the right direction. But for the
church to become zcalously mission
airy. it needed that this barrier
should be broken down altogether.
The Two Nisions.-Co name
does not necessarily prove that he
was of noble birth, though there
were Roman mobiles so named. Nei-
Their does his office prove him to
have been of very high standing
among the Romans. His almsgiving
indicates that he had some means.
and he may really have been of high
rank. Openly" seems to Indicate
that the vision came TO him in broad
daylight when he was awake. The
object of the errand upon which he
was To send his servants was left for
Peter To explain when he came. The
messengers were i'm sympathy with
him in his faith and hope. Peter
N ha1s L.
for the journey to Cornelius than the
centurion needed to persuade him to
send for him. The vision was in
tended to teach him that Gods spir-
IT was not bound by Mosaic restric-
lions. He needed. however. the di-
rect and plain directions of verses
10, 20, before he would grasp the
teaching.
Peter and Cornelius.-S Since God
had commanded that Peter be sent
for. He seemed to Cornelius worthy
OF great respect, so he met him at
the door and bowed to the ground
before him. The gathering that had
assembled at Cornelius invitation
was larger than Peter expected. but
he began by asking in due form
what was wanted.
The Gospel Preached The discov.
cry that Peter announces i'm verses
81, IS was not that sincerity and
unselfishness are the only uualifica.
tons needed 10 come To God, but
that no race or birth disqualifes
sincere soul from coming through
Christ. Romans living in Caesarea
might not have learned about Jesus.
but Peter was probably right in sup
posing that his audience knew of the
Lord, since men as much interested
as were Cornelius and his compan.
ions i'm the Jewish religion would Ger.
tainly have heard about the new
sect and its Master. The summary
OF the apostolic preaching Tvs. NJ
43) is one of the most admirable
from literary point Of view. any
where TO he found II shows cleor-
~ and briefly the character Of Jesus
the quality Of His work. the reality
of His death and resurrection. Ills
final authority and the purpoec of
Ills work. II bears the character Of
testimony from personal knowledge
The Gentiles' Pentecost The CON.
version OF the Geutiles 10 whom
Peter spoke was less distinctly mor-
al than intellectual. their moral sub
mission go God having been mado
before. The gift Of the Holy Spirit
was sign of their full acceptance
or the Christian faith The form a.
the manifestation was almost cxoct.
~ ike that At Pentecost. and wa.
probably determined by the ncc4
that Peter should he perfectly salts.
fed ~ its grnuineness. The ban
tism following was matter az
course; 10 have refused it would have
been an insult TO the Holy Spirit.
PRACTICAL POINTS
God is no respecter 81 persons. No
accident Of fortune. position or race
commends one in His sight.
That person is acceptable in Ills
sight who fears God and ,yorketb
righteousness, no matter what his
race may be.
In every nation there rge those
who are acceptable to God. because
they are trying TO work righteous
ness
Those in every nation who are nc
ceptable to God should be brought to
3 fun knowledge OF Christ.