The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-15
INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
By q. o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course OF the Moody
Bible Institute. ChicaRo.)
Copyright. 1915, wsrtsrn Ss~spGpsr Enion.l
LESSON FOR APRIL 10
Z AND
.EssoN TEXT-Acts 1o:l.sa.

all that call upon hItn.-Ron. IDLE,
Thus far Christianity had to do with
Jews and jewish proselytes only. Nov
Its circle begins to widen SO as to In
clude the GentIles. The central fig
ure OF this lesson. Cornelius. was q
captain commanding one hundred men
in the Roman army. Tho 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.
Il a Prepared Convert fvs. 1-S). ~
His position. Caesarea was on the
great sea and was tho political capital
of JuSea. 1t was about seventy miles
from Jerusalem and thirty from Joppa.
Cornelius, who was captain of a hand
of men born in Italy, was a Roman
citizen, and perhaps had been connect
ed with the great Roman general
Ii Scipio. ~ His character. lie was a
man of promptness, appreciation and
obedience, ". 33). He was also a
God.fearing man, whose pIety included
his whole household. He was u a
of prayer and generosity (vs. 81, 32),
for he gave much aims" to both Jews
and Gentiles. Tho result was that he
was honored greatly by nlI, especially
by tho Jews. 1t does not seem that
Cornelius was a proselyte to the Jewish
faith Tvs. 28-11:3G and he certainly
was not as yet a saved man (1l:l3t
d4). Cornelius was q man OF a vision,
not of dreams or OF frances, for this
vision came in the open daylight ".
800, when an angel. looking like a man,
appeared unto him. His fear was
Gained and lie was informed that his
prayer, for he was a Seeker after
God" had been heard. The memorial"
". ~ spoken of wal that part OF the
meal Offering which the priest burned
upon the altar and which assembled uu.
to the Lord as a sweet SAVIOR (Ses
also Nal. $3.50. Cornelius is put to
q strange test. He is to send for an
unknown man to receive instruction.
The angel was not to cnlighten him, as
It is mans province to witness for
NGod. There is not a recorded Bible
conversion without some human in.
l~trumentality. Cornelius, soldier that
tyhe was, at once obGyed instructions
and sent out two devout rctainers
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, il
we obey God we can preach better
than Gabriel. God laid. as 1t were, his
right hand on Cornelius. and his left
upon Peer. and drew them together.
Again Gcd uses = dream. linking the
natural and the sui Hfaatural. y hun.
CRY nan dreams Of food, Il very com.
mon occurrence. AID God gave super.
natural G;iCCiiGn to . natural dream.
God kne%s the right time to do the
right thing. We do not need dreams
for u guidance as VIC have q full and
sufficient revelation in the Word for
our guidance.
III. The Prepared Ones Meet Tvs.
1888. Cornelius had his whole house
hold ready when Peter arrived ". 24l.
perhaps more people than on the day
OF tho first great Pentecost. 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 a great statement if we con.
slider its full content. Peter refused to
NJ aaanok r,o1r6In - - t6o% nIpr1n LaIpAna -
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 rcspecter 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 mon. ~ That men might
have peace through him ". 36); t2)
That he might BIO Lord over all; (3)
That he had been anointed with the
Holy Spirit and power; a. That he
had been cruciled Il Pet. /; IS, 10;
1920; (5) That God had raised him
from the dead; t6) That he Is TO be
the Judge, and ~ 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.l Following this won
derful sermon. there occurred the Gen.
>ile PentecoBt Tvs. 44-46).
Practical. Cornelius had a lack,
and he went to God to have 1t up
piled ". ~. 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 tho world and
that the Pentecostal program was for
all mankind.
This occasion taught Peter and the
church that hencerorth we are to re.
gard all men as brothers and seek to
win them for their Savior and ours.