Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-04-13
LESSON FOR APRIL is
PETER AND CORNELIUS.
lesson TEXT-Acts 10:1-23.

hoo ~ icSioiity iou W Wv ~
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 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). Cd
His position. Caesarea a on the
great sea and was the political capital
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. 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,
~. Cornelius was a nan of a vision.
not Of dreams or Of frances. for this
vision came in the open daylight ".
3O). when an angel. looking like a man,
appeared unto him. His fear was
Gained and he was informed that his
prayer, for he was a Seeker after
God" had been heard. The memorial"
". ~ spoken Of was that part of the
meal offering which the priest burned
upon the altar and which assembled In
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 onle human in
s~trumentality. Cornelius, soldier that
he was, at once obeyed instructions
and sent out two devout retainers
after Peter. Man alOn0 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 t., 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, rs it were. his
right hand IN 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
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
" u 6uludISC 40 wv nave u lull anu
sufficient revelation in the Word for
our guidance. Many confused. uncer-
tain and often mistaken voices are
related to us as the spirits ut
terances, yet the practical test that
was given ought to warn and
teach us regarding all such claims.
Here are Cornelius servants, come in
obedience to Gods revelation and com.
here is Peter confronted by an
opportunity Of presenting the gospel
to those whom he had considered "un.
Peter was a spirit.enlightened
and guided man, and so 1t was easy for
him to interpret his W dream in the
light of this evident opportunity: wit
ness DR.. A. J. Gordon's famous dream.
But the spirits directions were full
and explicit, arise, get thee down. and
90 with them nothing doubling" No
Vagary or mysticism about that. II
men of today would as readily obey
he plain command of the word OF
God, like results would accrue.
III. The Prepared Ones Meet Tvs.
Cornelius had his whole house
lold ready when Peter arrived ". 24),
perhaps more people than on the day
If the first great Pentecost. He said.
are all here present in the sight
II God to hear all the things that have
,een commanded thee of the Lord"
This Is a great statement If we con-
'ider its full content. Peter refused to
Lccept worship, that alone belongs to
Ihrist ". 25) and he explained how
Tod had thrust him outside of the cir.
lie Of Jewish believers. He then re-
learsed what God had done and as.
'erted that HE is no respecter Of per.
ons," and that in response to those
n every nation who work righteous.
less God had sent forth Jesus for the
aviation Of men, (1) That men might
ave peace through him ". 36); (2)
hat he might be Lord over all; (3)
hat he had been anointed with the
Ioly Spirit and power; (4) That he
ad been crucifed Il Pet. 1; IS, 10;
:24); (5) That God had raised him
rom the dead; CO. That he is to be
he Judge. and ca That because of
hat he had done-'through the name
Jesus"-all that believe shall have
of SINS" (This is a good
outline.) Following this won.
sermon, there occurred the Gen.
10 Pentecost Tvs. 44-46).
The manifestations Of this Pentecost
ere similar to the first; amazement,
the magnifying of God and
lie cxaltation of Jesus.
Peter and the six Jews who accom-.
anicd him were amazed" at these
%entecostal manifestations. and they
ere tho ones who administered bap-