SANCTIFICATION OF CORNELIUS 1-48. Cornelius was a noted Roman officer living at Caesarea, the seat of the imperial government in Judea. The Holy Ghost pronounces him _Eusebees_, _i. e_., godly, and certifies that he _“feared God with all his house, doing much alms to the people, and praying to God a... [ Continue Reading ]
Cornelius is even honored with the visit of an angel from heaven, notifying him that his prayers are heard and his alms recognized. Sinners are visited by angels, but they come from the bottomless pit.... [ Continue Reading ]
When I was in Joppa, I visited the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside, ascended to the roof, and there prayed where Peter was praying when he saw the vision and heard the voice of the Spirit commanding him to go with the messengers who had already arrived from Cornelius. “Do you think it is th... [ Continue Reading ]
Such was the exemplary and practical piety of Cornelius that God honored his prayers, testimony and preaching, not only in his home, but among the soldiers of his command.... [ Continue Reading ]
The distance from Caesarea to Joppa is about sixty miles, two light days for the pedestrians. Hence, starting in the morning, they arrive before night the afternoon of the following day. _Ekstasis_, translated in E. V. _“trance,”_ is “ecstasy,” a pure Greek word which means ineffable joy, involving... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER'S VISION 11. _“And he saw heaven open and a certain vessel, like a great sheet, sitting down on the ground with four rope's ends,_... [ Continue Reading ]
_“In which were all quadrupeds, creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.”_ This vision forever sweeps away all the restrictions of the Levitical law and the rigid fortifications of exclusive Judaism in the Mosaic economy, unfurling the gospel banner to the whole Gentile world, bidding the... [ Continue Reading ]
Meanwhile Peter, wrapped in heavenly bewilderment, is contemplating the astounding vision and electrified by Jehovah's voice. Cornelius's messengers having arrived, and hunted around through the city for the house of Simon the tanner, and standing before the gate, are now interrogating some member o... [ Continue Reading ]
As this is a new departure in the divine economy, Peter very prudently takes with him six holy brethren from Joppa to serve as witnesses of the important transactions pending. Meanwhile Cornelius, knowing the time necessary for pedestrians to make the round trip, has assembled his holiness band in m... [ Continue Reading ]
_“And it came to pass when Peter was coming in, Cornelius meeting him, falling at his feet, worshipped.”_ E. V. erroneously says _“worshipped him.”_ Cornelius was no idolater. He did not worship Peter, but God. When I arrive at my preaching place responsive to a brother's call, I am always glad on m... [ Continue Reading ]
Cornelius, of course, paid to Peter the Oriental civility due a person of distinction, which here Peter modestly declines, having profited by the vision, which revealed to him for the first time in his life that a Jew is no better than a Gentile.... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter now enters, and Cornelius introduces him to his holiness band, who are so delighted with a visit by the senior apostle. He now proceeds to give them the benefit of the heavenly sunburst he had received at Joppa, shining away all the clouds which, in Jewish vision, had hung over the Gentile wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_“Jesus who is from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and power, who went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.”_ You see from these Scriptures that Cornelius was by no means a novice in the gospel, but had enjoyed the ampl... [ Continue Reading ]
In the midst of Peter's flaming Pentecostal sermon, his appreciative audience, responsive to the Holy Ghost, received by faith the simple, wonderful and paradoxical truth enunciated by the preacher and proved by all the prophets. Therefore the glorified Savior, who honored the faith of the hundred a... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter, of course, proceeds to recognize this Gentile church by administering to them the ordinance of baptism, assuring all present that every quibble is put to quietus since they have received the Holy Ghost. Hence we see that the reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost, _i. e_., the Holy Ghost Him... [ Continue Reading ]