The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-04-01
JHe
S,a7ooq-ScRoof
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR APRIL 4.
Subject: Peter and Cornelius, Acts
1O:1-4S-Golden Text, Aets 10:
So-Commit Verses 13-15-
Commentary on DAVIS Jesson


S5-Commit Verses 13-15-
Commentary on Days Lesson.
TINE. A. D. 40. Places
Caesarea and Joppa.
EXPOSITION. II. A Cody Sol.
dier, 1-S. The central figure Of this
lesson Is a captain in the Roman
army: The barracks at Caesarea
woula seem to be a most unlikely
place to find the first GENTLE convert
20 christianity, but there is where he
was found. Cornelius was a Cod
rearing man. He was one who did not
Keep his piety to himself, but called
upon his whole household to share ft
with him. He was a man of PRAYER
ana generous giver. He prayed for
light lei. VS.. 81, 32) and followed
the light when 1t was given. 1t was
because he asked for light that he
got 1t (cf. James 1:5). The aims he
gave to others had much to do with
Gods giving the saving truth to him
". A: CT. Luke 6:3S; Prov. 21:13: 2
Cor. 1863. Cornelius does not
seem to have been a proselyte of the
JeWlsh faith ". 2S; cf ch. 11:3) and
ne certainly was not as yet q saved
man tch. 11:13, 14), but he was on
tne road that leads to salvation. He
became saved man by believing on
2ssus T Christ ". AZ; CT. ch. 15:7-9).
There are those who contend We
Snouid never get man to pray until
he is definitely saved, but II wac IN
answer to prayer that Cornelius got
the light by which he was saved. or
course, IL man Is deliberate rebel
against God, we should not get him
10 pray; Tor the prayer OF such a one
Is an abomlnation unto God (Proy.
1873; 2S:9; Is. SOL, p. But a man
| may be sincere seeker after truth
IKE Cornelius. though he has not vet
icund the truth. There is notbin q
better for him to do than to praY
| l1ames l:5). God will always lead
INTO !lsht all those who sincerely de-
sire IL tJohn TAD. 1t was while
cornelius was praying that the first
ieauIhss came to Cornelius. 1t is
Wnen we draw near unto God that
ne draws near unto us (Jas. 4.S)
Cornelius was frightened by the o..
lestial visitor as sinful man a,yavs :,
Dy the approach of the supernaturaI
yer. Dan. 10:11; Luke 1:i2-19. "a.
o.. But Cornelius while frightened
maintained his equilibrium ard vas
reauy 10 obey; he was every inch a
nonan soldier. He was encoura eed
ny telng told that God had noted and
Ieiiehpered mis- prayers and aims
J his prayers and aims did not save
MIN (ch. 11:13. IA; 1O:43), but thev
mad prepared the way for his saliva,
| tlon. God takes note of sincere nrav-
er and OF the aims that accomnanv
mem. Praying and giving should al.
ways go hand in hand II John 3:16-
II). Cornelius faith was mt r. .
ssseIe test; he was told to send to a
SSItaln unknown man who would tell
I'M nm "aat ne ought to do (cf. ch. II:
80! ~. me angel himself might have
tolo cornelius this, but it is the pIan
OF God to have the way of life mada
PLAIN to man by man (cf. CHI e.e-1T.
s:zo!. Cornelius proved his faith
Dy MS prompt obedience. Cornelius,
plety was or the communicative sort.
ior the soldier who waited upon him
continually was also a religious man
III. Peter Prepared to Preach the
Sospel to the Gentiles, 9-2O. While
zoo prepares one man to hear tho
Gospel, He also prepares another
man TO preach it to him. 1t Certainly
cannot be explained away as emn nty
dreams dreams or a fevered Imagination that
Cornellus at one end of the line saw
an anger who bade him send for
ter, ana that Peter at the other end
VI tne nne should have vision pre-.
th pharihg MIN for the call just before
t messengers arrived, and should |
h, hvar the voice OF the Spirit bidding
hlm go. There is, beyond Question
supernatural world and a possibilit~
OF present contact between the sinner,
natural world and human life HE
eory demonstrates this. One can he |
an Atneist or Deist or Agnostic onIv
Dy dellberately shutting his ewes to
the established facts of history. Note
noW the supernatural and natural
play INTO one another in Bible his
.oIy' feter's s hunger was natural and
tueIe Is nothing more natural than
.hat hungry man dream of eating .
ouL, 1ou gave supernatural direction
10 the dream that had a natural ori-
gin: God knows how to time th;ne.
just right. Just when Peter was in
a perplexity about the meaning ri |
the vision of unclean beasts. the "un.
ciean Gcntiles are asking for him AZ |
tne gate. The Spirit was very def.
hite IN His words to Peter. He told
MN Just how many men there were
at tne gate asking for him ". 19)
rSter had very practical test as tc
Whether 1t was the Spirit of truth
.nat was speaking to him. How un.
ke the confused ald uncertain (of. |
tensimes mistaken) voices that people
zen US are voices of the Spirit. When
the spirit sends there is nothing left
10 90 put to go and that without
aouDting, even though we do not nm.
derstand at all ". 2O). Peters faith
was equal to the occasion. he obeved
orders. 1t was while Peter wa. IN
prayer that the guidance came to him
". 81,