Evening star., 1925-06-06

Our lesson presents an event that is
second only to Pentecost in the magni-
tude of it's results in tke history of the
apostolic church. Here in Peters
broadening vision we have the ac-
count of how Christianity emerged
from the Jewish limits ewithin which
it was Graded to become a religion
Tor the world. In the protest of the
Jerusalem Church against Peters So
cial fellowship with uncircumsized
men we see how the teachings of
Moses, who forbade social and reli-
Slous intercourse with the heather,
sought to limit Christianity to the
pfeceptS, principles and practices of
Judaism. The story of the reception
OF the first gentle into the Christian
fellowship forms a drama that in
three acts reveals the successive steps
by which the Divine Hand nodded
she progressive preliminary steps that
inaugurated new age
Two visions brought Peter and
Cornelius together and by the exten-
sion OF the Christian brotherhood
started the new faith along the lines
that sought to remove the racial and
religious prejudices of centuries. In
both cases it was while thew were
alone communing with God in PRAYER
mat His Holy Spirit prepared them
py their visions for the new era God
directed Cornelius, the pious. prayer
1ul Roman centurion, to send three
messengers to Peter, who as the guest
of Simon, the tanner, in ancient
Joppa, was being prepared to vel.
come the genttles into the Christian
fold by accepting the hospitality of
the tanner, who belonged to a de.
splsed and comparatively outcast
class, the apostle was being prepared
10 extend the spiritual brotherhood of
the church of Christ.
Peters Personal Preparation.
Peter was guided to make this de
clsloh by vision that brought to an
end the gradual broadening process
which has been going on in the amos
ties mind for some time. God never
works contrary TO psychological laws
Probably Peter was unconscious OF
the part played by the place and the
hour when God gave him a vision
that was destined to usher in a new
epoch in Christian history. No one
can remain narrow who looks out
upon the sea for some time. The
view of the Mediterranean from
the housetop of Simon, the tanner
would by It's Vastness naturally raise
the question in the apostles mind
concerning where he should go next.
he had come to the place where
Jonah. because of his antagonism
10 the heather. had shipped on
Il vessel in an effort to escape
Gods call to preach the gospel
IN Nineveh. II was at this old sea,
port that the logs had been brought
from Tyre in great RATS for the TEN.
pie in Jerusalem. The noon meal
was delayed. Absorbed in his devo.
hn hun ~
descending from heaven. 1t looked
like vast linen cloth, gathered up
at It's four corners into four ends, by
which it was suspended from the
skies.
1t dropped down until the apostle
could see within it every kind of ami
NAL known to his land, both clean and
unclean. Then he heard voice
saying unto him, Rise, Peter, kill
and eat" The apostle made a char.
acterIstlc reply to the unknown
speaker, Not so, Lord. for / have
never eaten anything that is common
or unclean- The reply of the mys
terious voice, What God hath
cleansed, that call not thou uncom
mon," contains the keynote of the
revelation that ushered in a new age
in the history of humanity by its
message of spiritual brotherhood. He
was meditating upon the important
message and strange sight that had
been suddenly withdrawn by some in
visible hand when three strangers
were announced
Called to Ceasarea.
Fastening down the stairs. whicf
| led from the roof on the outside, neal
the tanners vat Gf the house showr
today as Simon's is the one where
Peter had the vision. and the odor: