Cornelius’ story as told by Dr. Luke

Acts 10:30-43

 A youth missionary came to our small church and told this story; it is about a witch doctor in the jungles of the Amazon River area, that carved wood objects of worship, we refer to them as idols.  The story goes that one-day he looked at his hands and said to himself “my hands are greater than these objects I’m carving for worship, so will the God who made my hands make Himself known to me?”  A few days later a missionary came to that village and told them about Jesus Christ.  Why did that story come into my mind, could it be that it ties so close to Dr. Luke’s account of this centurion Cornelius?  Both were seekers of truth, this is Cornelius’ story as told by Dr. Luke; Peter has just told the ones gathered why he a Jew was doing what was unlawful, which was for him to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God had shown him he should not call anything or anyone unclean.  Then Peter asks why did you send for me?  “And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:30-33 ESV)

Not being a pastor, but spending 40 years of my life in sales, searching for anyone who could say yes to an appointment, and also had the authority to buy what I was selling, this is a dream encounter; I can only guess what excitement that would be for a pastor to have this kind of meeting.  Listen to Peter’s opening; “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  (Acts 10:34-35 ESV)  Do you show partiality or does the church you attend?  If so you have a higher standard than God, and folks, that is wrong.

But Peter has much more to say; “As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:36-43 ESV)

Peter is telling those assembled that what Jesus did was not done in a vacuum but that they also were well aware of these things.  And this is what happen as Peter was speaking; “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”

(Acts 10:44-45 ESV) 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice