a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave many alms to the people and continually prayed to God. Acts 10:2 MEV
Yet he was a centurion, a professional soldier. Selah! So much for pacifism eh?
When he looked at him he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up as a memorial before God. Acts 10:4 MEV
Yet Cornelius was a Gentile. Here is what I think. Prayers and alms of those who have no covenant with God have always reached Him, and not in vain, but untill Jesus Christ’s reconciliation, which itself was a divine intervention, because our sin separated us from God, He did not directly intervene. It is wise to keep Psalm 7:11 in this equation, that God is a just judge.
Now send men to Joppa, and bring back Simon whose surname is Peter. Acts 10:5 MEV
God knows where you are. He has your address, both physically and Spiritually.
He became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they prepared a meal, he fell into a trance Acts 10:10 MEV
This trance was not caused by Peter’s physical hunger.
The voice spoke to him a second time: “What God has cleansed, do not call common.” Acts 10:15 MEV
This is profound. I beleive that for those who are in Christ, for those of us who are a new creation, God has cleansed every creation, but again it is wise to remember what the apostle Paul said:
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NKJV
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. [24] Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
This gives me a lot of others things to think about; things I had put in the back burner.
Then Peter began to speak, saying, “Truthfully, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 MEV
Amen.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42 MEV
A key. The Lord has done this. Are we doing this or are we just dwelling in the house of the Lord enjoying all the benefits, but not bearing our responsibilities? If you are, either you are fearful or you are lazy, both vices that makes you equivalent to the wicked in God’s eyes.
King David thought everything led to dwelling in the house of the Lord, but those of in Christ start there and go out with the Gospel from there, or at least we are called to seek and save those who are lost.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. All the believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter continued, “Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these, who have received the Holy Spirit as we have?” So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. Acts 10:44-48 MEV
Baptism not to become a Jew, but as a sign of our acceptance as to who we believe is the true God who sent Jesus Christ according to John 17:3.
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And many people were added to the Lord. Acts 11:24 MEV
Full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Two separate qualities. Add to that Barnabas’ character, and this makes him a good man.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. Acts 11:25 MEV
This amazes me even now. Barnabas took Paul under his wings and released him to his calling in Christ. Two people whose heart was in sync with God. The adversarial flesh tried in vain to separate them later. Something to learn from.
When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him before the people after the Passover. Acts 12:4 MEV
Was he seeking to imitate Pontuis Pilate?
When she recognized Peter’s voice, from joy she did not open the door, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the door. Acts 12:14 MEV
:)
They said to her, “You are insane.” But she insisted that it was really so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Acts 12:15 MEV
The fact that they assumed that it was Peter’s angel tells us a few things, but i don’t want to discuss them here. Ask me if you are curios.
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God spread and increased. Acts 12:23-24 MEV
Herod’s cup of iniquity overflowed, and he was struck down, meaning that particular incident was just the straw that broke the Camel’s back, the last straw, so to speak.
This did in no way hinder the word of God. It spread and the revelations of the nature of the true God and His plan increased.