The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-03-30
Jl7s
5Sn7oasy School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR APRIL 4.
Subject: Peter and Cornelius, Acts
1O:1-4S-Golden Text, Acts 1Os
Commit Verses 1915

1O:1-48--Golden Text, Acts los
35- Commit Verses 1915.
Commentary on Days Lesson. Z
TIME. - A. D. 40. PLACES
Caesarea and Joppa
EXPOSITION. X Cody Sol.
der, is. The central figure Of this
lesson is a. captain in the Roman
army: The barracks at Caesarea
| would seem to be most unlikely
Place to ind the first GENTLE convert
to Christianity, but there is where ha
was found. Cornelius was a Cod
fearing man. He was one who did moi
Keep his piety to himself, but called
upon his whole household to share IN
with him. He was a man Of nrayer
and a generous giver. He prayed for
light lcf, vs.. 81, 32) and followed
| the light when it was given. 1t was
because ne asked for light that he
got It (cf, James 1850. The aims he
gave to others had much to do with
GODS giving the saving truth to him
". &: CT. Luke 6:38; Prov. 21:13; ID
Cor. 1850. Cornelius does not
seem to nave been q proselyte of the
/ Jewish faith w. %; CT CHI 11:3) and
he certainly was not as vet saved
man Och. 11:13, 14), but he was On
the road that leads to salvation. He
became saved man by believing on
| Jesus Christ ". AZ; ct. CHI. 15:7-9).
There are those who contend we
| should never get man to pray until
he is definitely saved, but it was in
answer to prayer that Cornelius got
! the light by which he was saved. or
course, ii man is deliberate rebeN
against God, we should not get him
to pray; for the prayer of such a one
is an abomination unto God prov.
1853; 1888; Is. 59:1, ~. But a man
may be sincere seeker after truth
like Cornelius, though he has not VET
| found the truth. There is nothing
better for him to do than to pray
| James 1:5). God will always lead
| into light all those who sincerely de-
sire it (John 7:17) 1t was while
Cornelius was praying that the first
leadings came to Cornelius 1t is
when we draw near unto God that
He draws near unto us Gas. 4:8).
Cornelius was frightened by the ce-
lestial visitor as sinful man always is
by the approach of the supernatural
| (cf Dan. 1911; Luke 1:12-19; 24a
I'D. But Cornelius while frightened
maintained his equilibrium and was
ready to obey; he was every inch a
Roman soldier. He was encouraged
by being told that God had noted and
remembered his prayers and aims.
His prayers and aims did not save
him (ch 11:13, IA; 10:43). but they
| mad prepared the way for his saliva
ton. God takes note of sincere pray
! er and of the aims that accompanv
them. Praying and giving should all
ways go hand in hand Il John 3:l6x
~ GorueliuS' faith was put to
severe test; he was told to send to a
certain unknown man who would tell
MIN what he ought to do (cf CHI. SI1l
| l4). The angel himself might have
told Cornelius this, but it is the plan
OF God to have the way of life made
plain to man by man Get. CHI. 9,6-17.
1920 Cornelius proved his faith
by his prompt obedience. Cornelius
piety was of the communicative sort:
for the soldier who waited upon him
continually was also a religious Amafly
Ill. Peter Prepared to Preach the
Gospel to the GentIles, 9-2O. While
God prepares one man to hear the
Gospel, He also prepares another
man 10 preach 1T to him. 1t certainly
cannot be explained away as empty
dreams of fevered imagination that
cornelius at one end of the line saw
an angel who babe him send for
! Peter, and that Peter at the other end
OF the line should have a vision pre-
parlng him for the call Just before
the messengers arrived, and should
near the voice of the Spirit bidding
MIN go. There is, beyond question. q
( supernatural world and a possibility
OF present contact between the surer-
natural world and human life. His.
tory demonstrates this. One can he
an Atheist or Deist or Agnostic only
by deliberately shutting his eyes to
the established facts OF history. Note
now the supernatural and natural
play into one another in Bible his
tory: Peters hunger was natural. and
there is nothing more natural than
that a hungry man dream of eating.
put GOD gave supernatural direction
10 the dream that had natural orr
gin. God knows how to time things
JUST right. Just when Peter was in
perplex1ty about the meaning OF
the vision OF unclean beasts, the ''un.
cream Gentlles are asking for him at
the gate. The Spirit was very def
mite in His words to Peter. He told
him just how many men there were
at the gate asking for him IT, l9),
Peter had very practical test as to
whether it was the Spirit of truth
that was speaking to him How UNI
like the confused and uncertain (of-
tentimes mistakenly voices that people
tell US are voices of the Spirit. When
the Spirit sends there is nothing left
to do but to go and that without
doubling, even though we do not un.
derstand at all ~, 20). Peters faith
was equal to the OCCASION he obeyed
orders. 1t was while Peter was in
prayer that the guidance came to him
". 81.