Middletown transcript., 1916-04-15
LESSON FOR APRIL I6
PETER AND CORNELIUS.
LESSON TExr-Acts 1o:1-a.

its 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-S). ID
His position. Caesarea was on the
great sea and was the political capital
of Judea. It was about seventy miles
from Jerusalem and thirty from Joppa.
Cornelius, who was captain Of band
of men born in Italy, was 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
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. It 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 (11:13,
14). Cornelius was a man of a vision,
not of dreams or of frances, for this
vision came in the open daylight ".
SO). when an angel, looking like man,
appeared unto him. His fear was
calmed and he was informed that his
prayer, for he was a seeker after
GOO" 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 un-
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
1t is mans province to witness for
God. There is not a recorded Bible
conversion without some human In
strumentality. 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).
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
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. |
Again God uses a dream, linking the
natural and the supernatural. A hun
cry man dreams of food, a very COM
mon occurrence, and God gave super
natural 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 have a full and
sufficient revelation in the Word for
0ur guidance. Many confused, uncer-
tain and often mistaken voices are
often related to US as the spirits ut
.erances, yet the practical test that
Peter was given ought to warn and
each us regarding all such claims.
Here are Cornelius servants, come in
obedience to Gods revelation and COM
nand; here is Peter confronted by an
of presenting the gospel
o those whom he had considered "un-
,lean." Peter was a spirit-enlightened
md guided man, and so it was easy for
lin to interpret his own dream in the
light of this evident opportunity; wit
less DR.. A. ]. Gordon's famous dream.
But the spirits directions were full
nd explicit, arise, get thee down, and
20 with them nothing doubling" No
agary or mysticism about that If
nen Of today would as readily obey
he plain command Of the word Of
iOd, like results would accrue.
III. The Prepared Ones Meet Tvs.
3-33). Cornelius had his whole house
old ready when Peter arrived ". 24),
erhaps more people than on the day
the first great Pentecost. He said.
We are all here present in the sight
t God to hear all the things that have
cen commanded thee Of the Lord"
his is a great stateme 1t if we con-
der its full content. Peter refused to ,
ccept worship, that alone belongs to
hrist ". 25) and he explained how
cd had thrust him outside Of the cir
le Of Jewish believers. He then re- :
earsed what God had done and as. :
erted that HE is no respecter of per &
1ns," and that in response to those I
/ every nation who work righteous 6
ess God had sent forth Jesus for the :
aviation of men, Q) That men might :
ave peace through him ". 36); (2) c
hat he might be Lord over all; (S) ?
hat he had been anointed with the .
oily Spirit and power; (4) That he e
ad been crucified Il Pet. 1; 18, 10; 6
24); (5) That God had raised him Z
ON the dead; co. That he is to be
10 judge, and CD That because of
hat he had through the name !.
Jesus"-all that believe shall have =
emission of SINS" (This is a good -
rmon outline.) Following this won :,
'rful sermon, there occurred the Gen
10 Pentecost Tvs. 4446). >,
The manifestations of this Pentecost a.
ere similar to the first; amazement, Il
ngues, the magnifying Of God and =
e exaltation of Jesus. =,
Peter and the six Jews who accom- :
MED him were amazed" at these E,
manifestations, and they q