The Raymer enterprise., 1916-04-13
LESSON FOR APRIL 16
PETER AND CORNELIUS.
LESSON TEXr-Acts 10.1.9a

ton between Jew and Greek. for the
same Lord Is Lord Of all. and IS rich unto
all that call upon him-Rom. 10:l2
Thus far Christianity had to do with
Jews and Jewish proselytes only. Now
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 ehasm 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.
l. A Prepared Convert Tvs. 1-S). %
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 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
man OF promptness, appreciation and
obedience, ". 33l. He was also
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 proselyte to the Jewish
faith Tvs. 2S-l1:3), and he certainly
was not as yet saved man (1:13,
14). Cornelius was a man of vision,
not Of dreams or of frances, for this
vision came in the open daylight (v.
30l, when an angel, looking like a man,
appeared unto him. His fear was
calmed and he was informed that his
prayer, for he was seeker after
God" had been heard. The memorial"
(v. ~ 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 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 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 a
preacher, or unlikely the situation, II
we obey God we can preach better
than Gabriel. God laid, as 1t were, his
right hand on Cornelius, and his left
upon Peter, and drew them together.
Again God uses dream, linking the
natural and the supernatural. A hun
cry man dreams of food, very COM
mon occurrence, and God gave super
natural direction to natural dream.
God knows the right time to do the
right thing. We do not need dreams
for our guidance as we have full and
sufficient revelation in the Word for
our guidance.
iii. The Prepared Ones Meet Tvs.
23-S3). Cornelius had his whole house
hold ready when Peter arrived ". 24),
perhaps more people than on the day
of the first great PeItecost. He said.
I'VE are all here present in the sight
of God to hear all the things that have
been commanded thee of the Lord"
This is great statement IL we con-
slider its full content. Peter refused to
accept worship, that alone belongs to
Christ ". 25) and he explained how
God had thrust him outside of the cir.
Gle OF Jewish believers. He then re.
hearsed what God had done and as
serted that He is no respecter of per.
sons" and that in response to those
in every nation who work righteous
ness God had sent forth Jesus for the
salvation Of men, ~ That men might
have peace through him ". 36); (2J
That he might be Lord over all; (3)
That he had been anointed with the
Holy Spirit and power; "a That he
had been crucified Il Pet. L; Is, 10;
2:2D; (5) That God had raised him
from the dead; (6) That he is to be
the judge, and (7) That because of
what he had done-"through the name
of Jesus'-all that believe shall have
remission of sins" (This is a good
sermon outline.) Following this won
derful sermon, there occurred the Gen.
tile Pentecost Tvs. 44-46).
Practical. Cornelius had lack,
and he went to God to have 1t sup.
piled ". Az. Peter found his enlight.
eminent in prayer
God revealed his regard for all man.
kind, and that Jesus Christ can and
will save all who come to him by
faith.
At Caesarea the infant church dis.
covered that its field is the world and
that th% r r.ntecostal program was for