Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-04-01
PETER AND
CORNELIUS
s.,iay Sess.l Lssse. fsr Aprl 4, 1901
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TExT.-'In every nation he
that fearsth him. and workcth righteous
aess, Ia accepted with him.'-Acts. 1876.
TIME.-ss-40 A. D.
PLACES.-Joppa and Caesarea. 1.-THE
traditional house OF Simon the tanner
Ii q typical eastern dwelling. with heavy
barred gateways and a f~orbidding. win
dowless exterior. The waves Of the Medi-
~tsrranean beat against the low outer
wall. whilc In the courtyard 10 a spring
OF pure water which tradition tells US
wal used by simon."-Rev. Francis
q. Clark. D. ID.
RULERs.-Herod Agrippa, king Of Ju.
dea and 6amaria Caligula, emperor OF
Rome
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
1.-THE main purpose Of the book Of
the Acts 10 to untold the broadening
spirit and form Of the church Of God"
Theodore T. Munger, d. d. This
chapter Acts 10Y is parallel in i'm
portance with that which depicted the
scenes Of Penticost."-David o. Mears.
D. D.
Cornelius was q centurion, CORE
spending to our captain, the head OF
. company Of soldiers numbering 100
when full. This company was part OF
the cohort called the Italian band"
because made up of Romans born In
Italy.
"a He was "a devout man, and one
that feared God" The words have q
technical sense" says McGiffert. and
God Of the Jews, but was not formally
. ~proselyte. (2) He was a good hus-
band and father, and led "all his
house" in his W righteous ways. CD
He was liberal, and gave much aims
to the people" az He was not only
outwardly devout. but inwardly pious,
and prayed to God always" In these
secret prayers we may be sure, from
the sequel, that he sought for a better
knowledge Of God and Of Gods will,
for that Is what was given him ". ~.
(5) Moreover acts 10: 22). Cornelius
carried his religion into practical az
fairs. where he was just and fair deal
ing; and (6) as the result Of It all, he
was held in high honor by the Jews
themselves ACTS 10: 22), as we'll as
by the Gentiles. 1t would nave been
impossible to find a better man for
Gods purpose, or one who would have
appealed more strongly to Peter.
THE sixth hour" (noon) vas "a set
time OF devotion with pious Jews
Geikie. Peter had retired from his
comrades In toll. for perhaps he helped
Simon in his tannery, and nowhere
better than upon the h~ousetop" could
he find privacy and quiet fer prayer.
The roofs OF eastern houses are fiat,
and often surrounded with a parapet
three or four feet high, which would
screen Peter from observation as he
knelt. He was very hungry" for he
probably had not yet broken his fast"
-Rackham. They were preparing
food below, and perhaps tho SAVIOR Of
1t rose to the housetop. hut before
1t was ready Peter "fell into a trance"
The Greek word for trance Is different
from the word for Cornelius vision.
4 vision Ia something seen outside
ones self; a trance Is the condition OF
ones mind. that ices inner visions.
One Is not asleep, and 1t Ia not q
dream, but a peculiar exaltation Of
the spirit. In this trance Peter saw,
let down from the sky. a great sheet,
like the wind.stretched canvas OF the
craft on the Lake of Gal.lee. "-Lumby.
1t was full Of animals, many Of them
the wild beasts and reptiles which the
Jews considered unclean. Three times
Q mysterious voice babe Peter rise
H,o,~ hlo lx~nao md ala, nnI ont thA
shocking food, three times he refused
in horror, three times he was hidden
to make nothing unclean that God
had cleansed by bidding him partake
Of 1t, and then the great sheet vas
lifted and disappeared In the sky.
The messengers from Cornelius
had made inquiry for Simon's house"
(the Greek word implies a careful
search through the streets). and while
Peter was m%editating on his vision,
they were even then at the gate, and
calling for him. Before word OF his
visitor could reach him, the Holy
Spirit In some way made Peter con.
scious OF their coming, and babe him
go with them.
The outstretched sheet which Peter
saw In his vision signified the whole
world, and the four corners symbol.
ICED the directions. north. south. east
and west, In which the gospel was to
be carried. The contents OF the sheet
showed that all men YER to be
reached, the lowest races az we'll as
the highest. savage and civilized. poor
and rich, ignorant and wise. II was Q
perfect symbol Of foreign missions.
From every nation on earth immi.