“Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” Acts 10:33
The descendants of Abaham, specifically, the nation of Israel, had been chosen by God where He would reveal His name, and choose Jerusalem to be the place where Solomon’s temple would be built. To the nation of Israel, God had given the oracles of God, the Law, the ten commandments. It was also through the lineage of David that Christ would be born, be crucified outside of Jerusalem, as the sacrificial Lamb, who would take away the sins of the world. Also, in Jerusalem there would be the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy given several hundreds of years before, concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was on the day of Pentecost that the Spirit came, but specifically, upon those gathered in the city. He came first upon the disciples, those gathered together in prayer, seeking the Lord’s working. The effect of the outpouring would spread to those Jewish seekers of God, who had come from different regions, nations, and peoples, far and near. However, at that point in time, there was no or little consideration of the Gentiles, or any mention of the moving of the Spirit of God upon them. They seem to have been forgotten, at least in the mentality of the Jews, and in particular, in the minds of the disciples upon whom the Spirit of God had come. This would change, at the right time, in a most discrete and unique way. It would come about in a simple house meeting, where a good many people, mostly Gentiles, were gathered, to hear the word of the Lord. This is how it came about.
A Roman Centurion, “…a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house,” was praying. He had a vision of an angel of God coming to him, addressing him by his name, Cornelius, and then was told that God had answered his prayers, and received his alms, or good deeds. The angel then instructed him to send men to Joppa, and “…call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.” The purpose in doing this was to hear what Peter would tell him he should do. Cornelius, the next day sent two of his trusted servants, and a devout soldier, in search of Peter, finding him in Joppa, in the house of Simon the tanner, located by the sea. In the meantime, Peter would go up to the roof of the house where he was staying, to pray. He too would have a vision, but one very unique. He saw a vessel, having four corners, like a sheet, with all sorts of four-footed beasts, wild beasts, and creeping things in it, let down to the earth. There came a voice to Peter saying: “Rise, Peter, kill, and eat.” (Acts 10:13) Though addressed personally, Peter would not obey, until the word of the Lord came to him saying, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” It was because of this vision, and primary message to Peter in it, at the occasion of this meeting in Cornelius’ house, that the great truth or lesson was revealed. Not only had the Spirit of God been poured out upon the Jews, but now also upon the Gentiles, or all other nations on the earth. In the quietness of a small meeting, called and directed by God the Spirit, came the revelation, and then the confirmation, that God’s great blessing of Pentecost had come, not only for Israel, but for the entirety of mankind, all kindreds and nations. Not only was this declared by Peter as being the truth from God, but God manifestly poured out his Spirit in that room upon those believers, as He had done the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem upon the disciples. He confirmed the truth, by revealing His power. The result was that all that believed were baptized, having been “…given repentance to life,” being born of the Spirit. The great lesson here is that a small beginning, initiated by the Spirit can result in world-wide blessing.
Father, Give us grace to be completely open and responsive to Thy call. In Jesus’ name. Amen.