Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-04-01
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR APRIL 4.

INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR APRIL 4.
Subject: Peter and Cornelius, Acts
1O:1-48-Golden Text, Acts 10:
35-Commit Verses 13-15-
Commentary or Days Lesson.
TINE. "A. D. 40. PLACES
Caesarea and Joppa.
EXPOSITION. -. A Cody Sol
! der, 1-8. The central figure Of this
lesson is a captain in the Roman
army. n barracks at Caesarea
would seem to be a most unlikely
F! place to find the first Gentle convert
to Christianity, but there is where~he
was found. Cornelius was a God
tearing man. He was one who did not
Keep his piety to himself, but called
upon his whole household to share it
with him.. He was a man of prayer
ana a generous giver. He prayed for
light (cf. VS.. 81, 32) and followed
Il light when it was given. It was
because he asked for light that he
got it (cf. James 1859. The aims he
| gave to others had much to do with
Gods giving the saving truth to him
". 4:cf. Luke 6:3S; Prov. 21:13: 2
Cor. 9:6-S). Cornelius does not
seem to have been a proselyte ofsthe
Jewish faith ". %; CT. Oh. 11:3) and
ne certainly was not as yet a saved
man Gen. lib, 14), but he was on
the road that leads to salvation. He
became a saved man by believing on
Jesus Christ ". 40; c.. Oh. 15:7-9).
There are those who contend we
should never get a man to pray until
ne is definitely saved, but it was in
answer to prayer that Cornelius go
the light by which he was saved. OF
course, ii a man is a deliberate rebe
against God, we should not gel him
to pray; for the prayer of such a one
IS an abomination unto God prov.
1873; 2S:9; Is. 1911, q. But a man
may pc a sincere seeker after truth
IKE Cornelius, though he has not vet
icund the truth. There is nothing
peter for him to do than to pray
tJames I'D. God will always lead
INTO light all those who sincerely de-
sire it (John It'd. 1t was while
cornelius was praying that the first
leadlngs came to Cornelius. It is
Wpen we draw lear unto God that
ae draws near unto us Gas: 4:8)."
cornelius was frightened by the CO.
iest1al visitor as sinful mar always is
ny the approach OF the supernatural
lc1' Dan. lO:l1; Luke 1:12-19: "a:
o.. But Cornelius while frightened
maintained his equilibrium and was
ready to obey; he was every inch a
IN soldier. He was encouraged
by Icing told that God had noted and
remembered his prayers and aims
His prayers and aims did not save
MIN Och. 11:13, IA; 1O:43). but thew
had prepared the way for his saliva.
ton. God takes note of sincere nrav.
er and OF the aims that accomnanv
them. Praying and giving should al,
ways GO hand in hand Il John 3:16
~. Cornelius faith was mt tn q !
severe test; he was told to send to . |
certain unknown man who would fell |
MN what he ought to do (cf. CHI ~.
~. The angel himself might have !
told Cornelius this, but it is the Man |
OF God to have the way of life made |
PLAIN to man by man (cf. Oh. 9:6-17.
$3.50. Cornelius proved his. faith
Dy MS prompt obedience. Cornelius,
plety was OF the communicative sort.
Tor the soldier who waited upon him !
continually was also a religious man
Ii. Peter Prepared to Preach the
gospel to the Gentiles, 800. While
zoo prepares II man to hear the
Gospel, He also prepares another
man to preach it to him. It certainly !
cannot be explained away as emntv
creams OF a fevered imagination that |
cornelius at one end of the line saw
an angel who babe him send for !
Feter, n that Peter at the other end |
ol the line should have a vision nre. |
parlng MIN for the call just before
the messengers arrived, and should
lear the voice Of the Spirit bidding
MIN go. There is. beyond question .
supernatural world and a Dossihi1itv
OF present contact between the sinner.
natural world and human life. His.
tory demonstrates this. One can no |
an Atnelst or a Deist or Agnostic only
by deliberately shutting his ewes to !
the established facts of history. Note
now the supernatural and natural
play into n another. in Bible his
tory: Peters hunger was natural. and |
tnere is nothing more natural than
mat a hungry man cream of eating
put God gave supernatural direction
10 the dream that had a natural ori. !
gin. God knows how to time thines
just right. Just when Peter was in
a perplexlty about the meaning Of |
the vision OF unclean beasts, the "un.
clean" Gentiles are asking for him at
me gate. The Spirit was very def
mite IN His words to Peter. He told
MN just how many men there were |
az the gate asking for him ". 10y
Peter had a very practical test as to
whether it was the Spirit of truth
tnat was speaking to him. How M
IKE the confused and uncertain OF.
tentlnes mistakenly voices that people
tel US are voices of the Spirit. When
the Spirit sends there is nothing LETT
to DO but to 60 and that without
Goun1lng, even though we do not I'M
derstand at all ". 2O). Peters faith
was equal to the occasion. he obeved
orders. 1t was while Peter was IN
prayer that the guidance came to him
". 81.