The times-news., 1936-08-22


sion of Cornelius under the
preaching of Peter and by the let
ter to the Romans from the pen
of Paul.
To Peter, the Apostle at Joppa,
and to Cornelius, the Roman cap
tain at Caesarea, thirty miles up
the Mediterranean coast, came dl-
vine messages directing each to
the other, and resulting in the
Gentle Pentecost which transtiX-
ed Jewish prejudice and showed
that the gospel is for all the world.
After returning to Jerusalem
where he was criticized for eating
lin the house of a Gentle, Peter
defended himself by a simple re-
! cital of the facts and thus secur-
ed the Endorsement of the breth-
rem who were glad and glorllled
God.
The church at Rome seems to
have been founded by neither
Peter nor Paul but by the
strangers from Rome" who were
present at Pentecost in Jerusalem.
Three prominent natlonalltles
| Jews, Romans, and Greeks) were
represented in the church and it
! is likely that the Gentiles were
more numerous than the Jews.
In the first part of his letter to
them, Paul declared that the one
way of salvation for Jew and
Gentle was through faith in
Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
THE VISION THROUGH
PRAYER (Acts 11:5-lo)
The trance at Joppa afforded a
world vision through prayer. a
devout centurion lived at the
Gentle city of Caesarea, seventy
miles from Jerusalem, and the po-
litical capital of Palestine. His
name was Cornelius. He was a
Roman. born in Italy. He was
captain Of hundred men. He
Twas very religious for he feared
God, led his family in worship,
gave aims, and prayed constant
lily. One afternoon at three o'clock
lhe saw in broad daylight the an
gel of God coming to him and
calling his name. Naturally. he
was afraid, but his mind was at
tent to the angels message which
declared that his prayers and
aims were a remembrance offer
ing before God, bade him send to
Joppa for Peter, specifying pre-
cisely where he would be found
and promising that Peter would
tell him more than the angel. Two
household servants and trusted
soldier were Immediately sent to
Joppa after being told what had
happened and what they were to
do. Southwark they sped to bring
back the Apostle Peter to their
master. But something happened
before they arrived. To the flat
roof on the tanners home by the
seaside Peter had gone up at noon
to pray. While at his devotions, he
became very hungry and fell into
a trance. While in ecstasy he saw
from the open heaven great
sheet-lke vessel let down before
him; and within it were all man
ner of beasts, birds, and serpents.
While Peter wondered, he heard
voice commanding him to kill
and eat. Though hungry, he re-
monstrated that he had never sat-
isfied his appetite by violating
the ceremonial law. Again, and a
third time, the Voice spoke to
him declaring that what God had
cleansed, could not be unclean.
But the Apostle still declined to
obey, whereupon the vessel van
ished heavenward.
THE TASK THROUGH
THE SPIRIT (Acts 11:11-17)
The Conversion at Caesarea
revealed the world task through
the Holy Spirit. While Peter was
perplexed over his trance, the
messengers from Cornelius arriv-
led at the tanners gate inquiring
lif Peter lodged there. To the
Apostle on the housetop the Spirit
declared that three men were
seeking him and that he must ac-
cept their invitation. Descending,
jPeter met the messengers Of Cor
nelius, heard their singular mes
sage, and lodged them overnight
in Joppa. There was, of course,
nothing else for Peter to do than
to make the journey from Joppa
to Caesarea. Accompanied by six
brethren he went with the three
messengers. On the morning of
the second day after leaving Jop-
pa they reached Caesarea and pro-
ceeded at once to the house of
Cornelius. AS Peter entered, Cor
nelius fell at his feet, but the
| Apostle gently rebuked the act
and accompanied his host within
to find most respectable crowd
assembled to hear him. Peter de-
clared that association of Jews
and Gentiles was unlawful, but
that in obedience to divine COM
lmand he had now come to Corne-
ius, of whom he inquired the
purpose of his summons. Corne-
illus related the story of his vision
and his obedience to angelic COM
mand. He now rejoiced at Peters
arrival, and all present were
ready to hear his message. In his
sermon Peter presented the gos-
tpel in five aspects: (1) The gospel
is for everybody. (2) The gospel
is from Jesus. (3) The gospel
came through testimony. Peter
land others were direct and cred
ible witnesses of the marvellous
work of Jesus, of his sacrificial
death, of his glorious resurrection.
(4) The gospel shines in prophe-
Icy. The fingerboards of the old
dispensation pointed onward to