The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-04-15
INTERNATIONAL
SUMXSQlOOL
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago.)
Copyright, 1916, Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR APRIL is
PETER AND CORNELIUS.
.EssoN TEXT-Acts 1O:1-23.

ton between Jew and Greek; for the
same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto
all that call upon him.-Rom. 1912.
Thus far Christianity had to do with
Jews and Jewish p%roselytes only. Now
it's circle begins to widen so as to in
clude the Gentiles. The central fig
ure of this lesson, Cornelius, was a
captain commanding one hundred men
In the Roman army. The chasm be-
tween blacks and whites, which so
widely exists in America, is nothing
compared to that which divided the
Jew and Gentle. We take the whole
story of Cornelius in today's lesson
and consider the Easter story next
week.
1. A Prepared Convert Tvs. 1-8). CD
His position. Caesarea was on the
great sea and was the political capital
of Judea. 1t was about seventy miles
from Jerusalem and thirty from Joppa.
Cornelius, who was captain of a band
Of men born in Italy, was a Roman
citizen, and perhaps had been connect
ed with the great Roman general
Scipio. (2) His character. He was a
man of promptness, appreciation and
obedience, ". 33). He was also a
God-fearing man, whose piety included
his whole household. He was a man
Of prayer and generosity Tvs. 81, 32),
for he gave much aims" to both Jews
and Gentiles. The result was that he
was honored greatly by all, especially
by the Jews. 1t does not seem that
Cornelius was a proselyte to the Jewish
faith Tvs. 28-11:3), and he certainly
was not as yet a saved man Q1:13,
14). Cornelius was a man of a vision,
not of dreams or of frances, for this
vision came in the open daylight (v.
800, when an angel, looking like a man,
appeared unto him. His fear vas
Gained and he was informed that his
prayer, for he was a seeker after
God" had been heard. The memorial
". A. SPOKEN Of was that part of the
meal offering which the priest burned
upon the altar and which assembled I'M
to the Lord as a sweet SAVIOR (See
also Nal. 3:16). Cornelius is put to
a strange test. He is to send for an
unknown man to receive instruction.
The angel was not to enlighten him, as
it is mans province to witness for
God. There is not a recorded Bible
conversion without some human in
st~rumentality. Cornelius, soldier that
he was, at once obeyed instructions
and sent out two devout retainers
after Peter. Man alone could finish
the work of the angels,
II. The Prepared Preacher Tvs. 9-23). 7.
Tanning was considered an unclean
occupation, but in Simon's house was
the man God wanted to use on this
occasion. No matter how poor a
preacher, or unlikely the situation, if
we obey God we can preach better {
than Gabriel. God laid, as it were, his
right hand on Cornelius, and his left
upon Peter, and drew them together. j.
Again God uses a dream, linking the :
natural and the supernatural. A hum
cry man dreams of food, a very com-
mon occurrence, and God gave super
direction to a natural dream.
God knows the right time to do the
right thing. We do not need dreams
for our guidance as we nave a full ans
sufficient revelation in the Word for
our guidance.
III. The Prepared Ones Meet Tvs.
Cornelius had his whole house
hold ready when Peter arrived (v. 24).
perhaps more people than IN the day
If the first great PGntecost. He said.
We are all here present in the sight
- Odd RI h0or oil tho fhinoC fhof have
)een commanded thee of the Lord"
This is a great statement if we con-
;ider it's full content. Peter refused to
.ccept worship, that alone belongs to
Christ (v. 25) and he explained how
Tod had thrust him outside of the cir
lie Of Jewish believers. He then re-
learsed what God had lone and as
serted that He is no respecter OF per
ons.'' and that il response to those
q every nation who work righteous
.ess God had sent forth Jesus Tor the
Aviation OF men, % That men might
ave peace through him (v. 36); %
hat be might be Lord over all, CD
hat he had been anoinIed with the
Holy Spirit and power; "a That he
au OSSu CluLlliCd " 4 w L iof -
pa; 90 That God had raised him -
rom the dead; Co That he is to be
he judge, and ~ That because OF
hat he had done-'through the name
[ Jesus'-all that believe shall have
remission of sins" tIhis is a good
outlined Following this Won
erful ermon there occurred the Gen
lie Pentecost Tvs. 44-46).
Practical. Cornelius had a lack,
nd he went to God to have it sup
lied ". A. Peter found his enlight-
nment in prayer.
God revealed his regard for all man
ind, and that Jesus Christ can and |
ill save all who come to him by
nth.
At Caegarea the infant church dis
overed that its field is the world n
the Pentecostal lrogram was for
IL mankind. |
This occasion taught Peter and the