10:24 Now Cornelius was
waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25
As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and
worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also
a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come
together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish
man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me
that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without
objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent
for me?”
30 So Cornelius said,
“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in
my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said,
‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the
sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is
Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he
comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have
done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all
the things commanded you by God.”
Why did Cornelius send for Peter? Because God told him to.
Why did God tell him to? Because as soon as God reaches the heart of a man He
immediately sets about to connect that person with His church. Think about it.
Saul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus and as soon as God had his attention
He arranges a meeting between Saul and Ananias, connecting him with the church.
Now Cornelius is instructed to send for Peter, connecting him with God's
people. This connection is not exclusively for the benefit of the new believer.
In both instances we have seen so far it is a growing experience for both
sides. Saul was seen as a lost and even hopeless man. The church needed to see
the saving/healing power of God to restore even a hunter of believers.
Cornelius was far beyond the "wrong side of the tracks". The church
needed to see that in God's eyes no person is unclean. The world needs to find
God. His church needs to find out how amazing He actually is. Both of these
objectives are met when God connects searching sinners with saved sinners.
Tomorrow we'll see how far God went to show His church that
no person is common or unclean. He is amazing. His love always wins. If you
want to know where His true people are, look for where He is sending sinners
to.
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