Arizona republican., 1916-04-15
International Sunday School Lesson
 for April 16
PETER AND CORNELIUS

ton between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all tlat call upon him. Rom. 10 l..
 Lesson Text.-Ac. 10: 1-25. Com init Vs. l3-l5.
 CD There was a certain man in Ccsarea called Cornelius. centurian of the band called the Italian band, l3) A dcvout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much aims to the people. and prayed to Cod always (3) He saw in 2 vision evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God com ing in to him. and saying unto him, Cornelius GD And when he looked on him. ne was afra i'd. and said What is it Lord? And he said unto him. Thy prayers and thine aims are come up fer a memorial before God. (5D And now send men to Joppa. and call for che simon whose surname is Peter: (6) He lodSeth with one simon a amer. whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do tD And whom the 3nge which Spakc unto Cornelius was departed. he called two of his house. hold servants. and a devout soldier of .hem that waited on him continually; (S) Aid when he had declared all these things uifto them. he sent them unto Joppa. fa) on the morrow they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city. Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: (l0) And he became very hungry. and would have eaten: but while they made ready. he fell into q trance. CID And saw heaven opened and 9 certain vessel descending unto him. as it had been a great sheet knit It the four corners. and let down to the earth: 12) Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth. and wild beasts, and creeping things. and fowls of the air. G3) And there came q voice to him, Rise. Peter: kill. and eat. 14 But Peter said. Not so Lord: for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclcan. GO And the voice spake upto him again the second time. What God hath cleansed. that call not thou Common. tl6) This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
 Time-A D. io PIace.-Joppa, Caesarea.
 Expoeition.-I How God guided Cornelius Is. The central figure of this lesson is captain of the Roman arr1v. The barracks at Caesarea would seem to be most unlikely place to find the first Gentle con- vert to Christianity. hut there is where he was found. Cornelius was 2 Godfearing man. He was one who did not keep lis piety 10 himself, but called upon his whole househcld to share it with Tim. He was man of prayer anG q generous giver. He prayed for light (cf. vs. 31-32) and followed the light when it was given. It was because he asked for light that hc got it tcf. Jas. l. 3. The aims ne gave to others had much to do with Gods giving the saving truth to nin (v. If. Lu. 6: 3S). Cornelius does not seem to have been a prose i lyte of the Jewish faith ~. 2S and ch. II: 3. and ne certainly was not as yet T saved mar. (ch. II: 13-14h ] But he was on the road that leads ! to salvation. He became saved l man by believing on Jesus Christ N. 1 a5: oh. l5: 7-N. There are those who 1 contend that we should never get q man to pray until he is definitely saved. but it was in answer to prayer ! that Cornelius got the light by which 1 he was saved. of course. if a man is 1 2 deliberate rebel against Gcd we we should not get him to pray, for his prayer is an abomination unto 1 God tProv. F. s; 2S: 9). but. a man may he a sincere seeker after truth like Cornelius. though he has not as yet found it. and he has right to rray to God 10 show him the truth ond God will show it. just as te did to Cornelius. There is nothing better for him to do than to pray (cf Jas ! i: 3. God will always lead into the linht all men who sincerely desire it Uno :: .O. It was while Cornelius was praying that the first leadings i came to Cornelius. it is when we draw near unto God that He draw s near unto us fJas. {: S. Cornelius was frightened b., the celestial visi-
 
 tor. as sinful man usually is by the appToech of the supernatural fcf. Dan 10: II; Lu. i: 12>2a: 24: 3. But Cornelius. while frightened. main taircd his equilibrium. and was ready % obey. He was every inch a Roman soldier indeed. He was encOura ged hv being told that God had noted and remembered his prayers and aims. His prayers and aims had not saved him
 (ch. IL 13, IA: 10: 43), but they had prepared the Way for his salvation Cod takes note of sincere prayers and the aims that accompany them Cornelius faith is put to a severe test
 He is told to send for a certain un-
 known man. who will tell him wha
 he ought to do (cf. ch. II. 13. 14)
 The angel himself might have toIt
 Cornelius this. but It is the plan o
 God to have the way of life mad, plain to men i,y men (cf. oh. 9: s; s:
 s6). The conversion of Cornelius wa!
 Q miraculous conversion if there eve