Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-22

Prejudices and practices for centuries
had to be changed before the church
would open its door to the Gentiles.
The story of how the revolutionary
change was accomplished Is recorded
In our lesson. Although the Old Tesla
ment had predicted 1t on almost every
page and Christ had given orders to
every creature, nothing less than the
demonstration Of divine power could
have made the apostles and the MEM
bers of the mother church welcome
gentiles into the fellowship Of the
church. In all the caste system OF
India and the racial divisions found
in the modern world 1t is not pos
sible to find a chasn Of separation
and exclusiveness equal to that which
races at the commencement OF the his
tory of Christianity.
Luke tells in this weeks study how,
through the work Of the Holy Spirit
Peter was prepared to welcome gentiles
into the Christian fold and how He at
almost the same time and in . similar
manner prepared the gentle to send
for the apostle, who was dwelling In
Joppa for season. Peter had provi-
dentially been guided to the seaport
town. where by a miracle he had re-
stored Dorcas, whose death had filled
the members Of the Church with great
sorrow. Following this event he lived
with Simon the tanner, . workingmAn
the lowest character and to have been
beneath any Hebrew.
Thirty miles away, at Caesarea, de-
vout Roman centurion lived. Although
O heather by birth, he had been i'm
pressed by the high ideals Of Judaism.
He worshiped Jehovah as his Creator
and Judge He influenced his house
hold to accept Him. He demonstrated
his piety by his generous gifts OF aims
TO the needy Jew. He prayed at the
regular hours of Worship During one
Of his prayers, the centurion was d.
rected to send for Peter ut the house
in Joppa. Immediately he sent three
men for Peter In accordance with the
vision.
Peter at Caesarea.
Upon the roof of Simon's home. the
next day following the angels vision
10 Cornelius, Peter was waiting to be
summoned to his meal when he fell
asleep and saw IN trance n vision
OF sheet let down from heaven 10 the
earth full OF all kinds "of four-footed
beasts, Wild beasts, and creeping things
and fowls OF the air" II he had not
been hungry in all probability the
vision would have been meaningless 70
the apostle Being ordered to eat the
unclean food, his strict Jewish tdeals
caused him to refuse. Whsn he heard
the words, ''what God hath cleansed
call not thou unclean." he could moi
understand the meaning Of the vision
While still meditating upon the mean
ing Of the message. the messengers ar
rived and asked for Peter. God made
clear to him then the meaning Of the
vision, directed him to 20 along with
them and not to doubt.
Peter followed the light. He reached
Caesarea accompanied by six Jewish
Christians They found company had
been assembled to hear what the good
news was all about. In response TO the
request of Cornelius the apostle preach
ed o sermon that followed the lines Of
his former messages without any ref
ersnce to Jewish history, which had
characterized his former sermons. 1t
was q simple. Straightforward state
ment Of the gospel, which he intimates
was identical with that God had given
to the Jews. The first fact was the life
Of Jesus in the flesh, which was marked
by His going about doing good. TIE
apostles were witnesses Of that fact and
also of His death upon the cross and
HIS resurrection. He set forth the mis-