30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the [t]ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothing, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send some men to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent men to you immediately, and you have [u]been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the one who [v]fears Him and [w]does what is right is acceptable to Him. 

Acts 10:30-35 (NASB) 中文

Quick review

Peter has arrived at the house of Cornelius the Roman army centurion, a gentile. This event was orchestrated by God through an angel that appeared to Cornelius to tell him to fetch Peter from Joppa. The other half was a vision Peter had in which God showed him that only His definition of holy and unclean mattered.

The man Cornelius

Cornelius, though a commander of about 800 men in the Roman army, is a humble man who seeks the Lord. His character and devotion has influenced his whole household and even at least one of his men under him. He did not boast about or take pride in the fact an angel appeared to him nor the recognition the angel gave him (v31). He believed the angel was from God and obeyed immediately. In faith, he prepared his household to receive Peter and his teaching. They have been eagerly awaiting his arrival (v33).

Peter’s confession

There is no record of Peter preparing a sermon. Based on his relationship with the Lord and the filling of the Spirit, he simply “opens his mouth” – which seems to indicate he just started speaking, as the Spirit guided him. 

What does he share with them? First, that he understands clearly, after the vision and God’s arrangement of this incident, that God loves all the same – no partiality. It actually has  been his way from the start. Just looking at the lineage of Jesus we see God included gentiles and more, gentile women! 

What matters to God? God is looking for, “one who fears Him and does what is right” (v35).

RЯeflection

• “When you go to church, do you want to receive a good message? If so, the best way is to come with a prepared heart. I know that the preacher must be prepared too. But when God prepares the messenger as well as those who are to hear him, then tremendous things happen.” (Boice, Enduringword.com)
• Am I, are you, “one who fears God and does what is right? Do we obey the greatest commandments to love God and love our neighbor as ourself?