While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
While Peter was still pondering the sheet vision of unclean creatures, the Holy Spirit told him that three men sent from Cornelius stood at the gate seeking him and commanded him to go down and go with them without hesitation because God had sent them. Their arrival explained the vision in practice, that he was to receive the Gentiles he had counted unclean as fellow heirs through Christ and to call no man common, for God accepts in every nation him that fears Him and works righteousness. The command both reproved his settled prejudice that Gentiles were shut out from the promises and taught him the world-wide extent of God's plan through Christ's death. God was working on both sides at once, guiding the devout seeker Cornelius and guiding Peter to a Gentile house with angels directing every step, so that one who had followed the light he had could receive further knowledge through an appointed human messenger. In this way a new phase of the church's work opened in which the gospel went beyond the Jewish people to the wider world, with the conversion of Cornelius and his household as the first major Gentile conversion and the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered.
Words and Setting
Peter was still thinking over the sheet let down from heaven with unclean creatures, turning it in his mind and doubting what it should mean, when the Holy Spirit spoke to him. The vision was thus used to prepare him for further instruction and to guide what he should do next. The voice he heard was the clear direction of God to His messenger by the Spirit, coming to give plain representation of what to do.
At that very moment the Spirit told him that three men were seeking him. They were the messengers sent by Cornelius from Caesarea, who had arrived and stood at the gate of his lodging house. With the announcement came the command to arise, go down, and go with them doubting nothing and without hesitation, because God Himself had sent them.
The command ran directly against his own feelings and Jewish faith and teaching, and was trying to him, but he dared not follow his feelings and obeyed the direction just received from God. He went down from his chamber, received the messengers, heard their errand, and entertained them courteously that night. He agreed at once to accompany them on the morrow, and set out in the morning for Caesarea. He took six of his brethren with him to be witnesses of all he should say or do among the Gentiles, because he knew he would be called to account for such direct opposition to Jewish faith and teaching.
The journey took nearly two days. At its end Cornelius with the relatives and household he had gathered was eagerly waiting to be taught by a gospel minister how he and his house might be saved.
Vision True Meaning
While Peter was still pondering the sheet vision, the Spirit told him three men sent by Cornelius from Caesarea were seeking him at the gate, and commanded him to arise, go down and go with them doubting nothing and without hesitation because God had sent them. Their arrival explained the vision in practice, showing that Peter must follow God's direction rather than his own feelings and prejudices and must receive Gentiles whom he had regarded as unclean as fellow heirs through Christ. Through this encounter God taught him not to regard Gentiles as common or unclean and opened the way for the gospel to reach them, ending the ceremonial distinction between Jew and Gentile that had kept them apart.
The direction taught him to call no man common or unclean, for God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts him that fears Him and works righteousness. It advanced God's work of bringing Gentiles to the gospel and overturning Peter's prejudice, so that Gentile believers were to stand as equals with Jewish disciples without being required to undergo circumcision. The command was laid upon him as a duty by divine revelation which he undertook with reluctance at every step and afterward defended not on general principles but as an exception, and the result was a surprise to him.
The immediate word gave him both reproof and instruction, stripping away his settled prejudice that Gentiles were an unclean race excluded from the promises of God. It led him to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan, that through Christ and by His death heathen nations were made partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews equally with them as fellow-heirs with the Israel of God. Although Christ's death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, prejudice had still kept Gentiles from the gospel's privileges until this guidance set its advance among them in motion. This proves the vision was not permission to eat flesh formerly pronounced unclean such as swine's flesh, but an illustration of the true position of the Gentiles.
The vision was not a new rule of faith replacing the word of God as the rule of faith, but an instance of God guiding and correcting His people in relation to Bible truth and in keeping with it as He prepared Peter to preach to the Gentiles. The announcement that three men sought him was part of Peter's own conversion to God's purpose for the Gentiles, taking away the barrier between Jew and Gentile and appointing him to become the human instrument working together with heavenly agencies, directing him step by step. It supplied the particulars by which Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ, requiring Peter and Cornelius to become acquainted in gospel missionary work instead of having the angel preach the gospel, so that Cornelius, though devout and accepted for his piety, prayers and alms, might advance to full faith in Christ in whom all fullness dwells and through whom alone his work can be done intelligently.
Gospel to Gentiles
While Peter was still considering the vision, the Spirit directed him to the three men seeking him, preparing him for a new phase of the church's work carrying salvation beyond the Jewish people to the wider world through Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile whom the apostles had still regarded as excluded from its blessings. Heavenly ministry both opened Cornelius's mind to receive the gospel and guided Peter to bring it to him. Although Christ's death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, prejudice among the apostles still kept Gentiles from the gospel's privileges until this direction set its advance in motion and opened the way for it to be preached to them. The vision and the command showed Peter must no longer treat Gentiles as unclean or keep the ceremonial distinction between Jew and Gentile. Cornelius's conversion was the first major conversion among the Gentiles, who were to stand as equals with Jewish disciples and believers without needing circumcision, overturning Peter's prejudice through heavenly messengers working with willing human workers.
God sent messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius so he might learn the truth, laying a duty upon Peter by divine command which he undertook with reluctance at every step. Afterward he defended his action not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and its result was a great surprise to him as he perceived that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts him that fears Him and works righteousness. The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, with a widespread work of grace carried on from that home in a heathen city. Peter's experience in Cornelius's home corroborates the promised blessing of power from on high in which believers speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, matching the experience of the early apostles.
Heaven Human Cooperation
God was working on human minds on both sides at once, guiding the devout and God-fearing Cornelius on the one hand and guiding Peter toward a Gentile house on the other, to show that no person is to be called common or unclean. Angels were directing every step of the meeting between them, bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius so the gospel could reach the Gentiles. By His own methods God thus directed human minds and brought those who had been strangers to the covenant community into fellowship with His people.
God brings sincere seekers who have followed the light they have received into contact with people who can share further knowledge of Christ and advanced light. His plan was to use chosen human messengers to make the gospel available to the Gentiles, so divine guidance works through human messengers rather than through human wisdom alone. In every age He works through His servants to bring honest-hearted inquirers into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs, some having special knowledge adapted to help one class and others trained differently and best fitted to help another. Heavenly agencies thus cooperate with human agencies, and angels cooperate with God's servants to guide them to precious souls and bring those walking in all the light they have into the full light of truth.
The angel could have told Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. His way is for His church to connect together, to bring Peter and Cornelius into connection with each other so that the light He had imparted to Peter would be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and to all his family. God knew exactly where His servants were and told seekers just where to look for them, telling Cornelius in every particular that Peter was lodging as guest with Simon the tanner. He knows every person by name, just where each lives, the spirit possessed, and every act of life, and ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in individual duty.
God employs angels to communicate with human beings, having messengers on earth of whom angels are the guides, with instruction often given by immortal messengers sent as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in the work of soul-saving than many suppose, and the ministration of heavenly angels resulted in the conversion of Cornelius and his company. He instructs His messenger by vision and by the voice of the Spirit while thinking on the vision, giving clear representation of what to speak and what counsel to give. That instruction comes in the night season and is repeated again and again until what should be spoken is understood. Cornelius feared God and followed principles of righteousness and bore a clear, pure, undefiled testimony as a bright and shining light, yet though devout and accepted for his piety, prayers, and alms he needed to advance through an appointed human messenger to full faith in Christ in whom all fullness dwells.
Work for Souls Today
The Spirit's word to Peter about the three men is instruction for workers now to read the tenth chapter of Acts and pray over it until understanding is opened and its meaning for workers is realized. When that understanding comes they are to begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field and to arouse to duties for missions at home, for unless God's people arouse to home mission duties they will be found wanting in the day of God. It reveals the way God works on human minds for one who feared His name, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling ignorance and superstition. It therefore calls for the gospel to be given freely in simplicity and Bible goodness without erecting barriers, to Jews as well as to Gentiles.
In every age God sets in operation a train of circumstances to bring honest hearts into connection with those of His people best fitted to reach their individual needs, so that seekers may learn the truth and receive advanced light. Some have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others are trained differently and are best fitted to help another class. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, afterward defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and its result was a surprise to him leading him to perceive that God is no respecter of persons. The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, with a widespread work of grace carried on from that home in a heathen city.
Servants must be ready to make personal, earnest, devoted and determined efforts for those like Cornelius who serve God with sincere, earnest purpose without having received the whole truth, including souls nearer the kingdom than supposed in the churches and in the world and those in high positions who need personal effort to hear the message. Heaven cooperates with human agencies to guide servants to these precious jewels, bringing through angel ministration those walking in all the light they have received into full light and bringing inquiring souls who have all things in readiness to hear the truth into cooperation with them. Earnest, devoted, determined work is the Lord's design for such honest seekers, that light may shine forth to them and they may be gathered out from among those bitterly opposed to the message, including associations such as the W.C.T.U. where honest souls seeking light are to be gathered out. Special care and more determined, earnest effort must be made to reach higher classes, men like Cornelius of Caesarea whom God sees and would connect with the church, stewards in trust with responsibilities and temptations whose sympathies are with the truth but who are held by threads binding them to the world and lack moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones, because if converted they will give strength and solidity to the cause and become channels of light.
God sends people to serve where He chooses, as He directed Peter to a Roman centurion in need of divine help and guidance, and the conversion of Cornelius and his company shows heaven much nearer the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose. That regard for every human being means each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. God knew exactly where His servants were and told seekers just where to look, telling Cornelius every particular that Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner and working out the meeting. Though the angel could have given Cornelius the gospel message directly, God's way is for His church to connect together so the light He had imparted to Peter would be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family. This means those who have light must come into the closest connection with God and with one another in love, just dealing, unity and united work, loving one another and dealing honestly, justly, truly, gently and righteously together instead of hatred, division, weakening themselves and tearing others down.
God's compassion and tender love for those seeking and praying for light, sending a special message from heaven to Cornelius and instructing His angel to tell Peter to visit him and give him light, is great encouragement to workers and calls for holding meetings for prayer to ask the Lord to open the way so truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the path of those he seeks to deceive and destroy. The same wonderful leading that brought the energetic, faithful life of Cornelius into connection with the disciples will be repeated in the last days, when many will prize the wisdom of God above earthly advantage, obey the Word as supreme, be led to great light and knowledge of the truth, seek to set it before anxious acquaintances, and as conscientious lightbearers constrained by God's love constrain others and invite and urge them to come and see its beauty and give their abilities to advance the work. Cornelius shows the kind of true men God calls for now, taught of God and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, fearing God, following principles of righteousness, working on principles God accepts and bearing a clear, pure, undefiled testimony as a bright light even amid high responsibility. Mere lifetime profession does not make such true men, and those who have lost spiritual discernment and are wise in their own eyes are in perilous condition, while God prepares true standard-bearers to take the place of those given Bible truth who have disappointed the Saviour and places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light.
While Peter was still pondering the sheet vision of unclean creatures, the Holy Spirit told him that three men sent from Cornelius stood at the gate seeking him and commanded him to go down and go with them without hesitation because God had sent them. Their arrival explained the vision in practice, that he was to receive the Gentiles he had counted unclean as fellow heirs through Christ and to call no man common, for God accepts in every nation him that fears Him and works righteousness. The command both reproved his settled prejudice that Gentiles were shut out from the promises and taught him the world-wide extent of God's plan through Christ's death. God was working on both sides at once, guiding the devout seeker Cornelius and guiding Peter to a Gentile house with angels directing every step, so that one who had followed the light he had could receive further knowledge through an appointed human messenger. In this way a new phase of the church's work opened in which the gospel went beyond the Jewish people to the wider world, with the conversion of Cornelius and his household as the first major Gentile conversion and the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered.
Words and Setting
Peter was still thinking over the sheet let down from heaven with unclean creatures, turning it in his mind and doubting what it should mean, when the Holy Spirit spoke to him. The vision was thus used to prepare him for further instruction and to guide what he should do next. The voice he heard was the clear direction of God to His messenger by the Spirit, coming to give plain representation of what to do.
At that very moment the Spirit told him that three men were seeking him. They were the messengers sent by Cornelius from Caesarea, who had arrived and stood at the gate of his lodging house. With the announcement came the command to arise, go down, and go with them doubting nothing and without hesitation, because God Himself had sent them.
The command ran directly against his own feelings and Jewish faith and teaching, and was trying to him, but he dared not follow his feelings and obeyed the direction just received from God. He went down from his chamber, received the messengers, heard their errand, and entertained them courteously that night. He agreed at once to accompany them on the morrow, and set out in the morning for Caesarea. He took six of his brethren with him to be witnesses of all he should say or do among the Gentiles, because he knew he would be called to account for such direct opposition to Jewish faith and teaching.
The journey took nearly two days. At its end Cornelius with the relatives and household he had gathered was eagerly waiting to be taught by a gospel minister how he and his house might be saved.
Vision True Meaning
While Peter was still pondering the sheet vision, the Spirit told him three men sent by Cornelius from Caesarea were seeking him at the gate, and commanded him to arise, go down and go with them doubting nothing and without hesitation because God had sent them. Their arrival explained the vision in practice, showing that Peter must follow God's direction rather than his own feelings and prejudices and must receive Gentiles whom he had regarded as unclean as fellow heirs through Christ. Through this encounter God taught him not to regard Gentiles as common or unclean and opened the way for the gospel to reach them, ending the ceremonial distinction between Jew and Gentile that had kept them apart.
The direction taught him to call no man common or unclean, for God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts him that fears Him and works righteousness. It advanced God's work of bringing Gentiles to the gospel and overturning Peter's prejudice, so that Gentile believers were to stand as equals with Jewish disciples without being required to undergo circumcision. The command was laid upon him as a duty by divine revelation which he undertook with reluctance at every step and afterward defended not on general principles but as an exception, and the result was a surprise to him.
The immediate word gave him both reproof and instruction, stripping away his settled prejudice that Gentiles were an unclean race excluded from the promises of God. It led him to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan, that through Christ and by His death heathen nations were made partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews equally with them as fellow-heirs with the Israel of God. Although Christ's death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, prejudice had still kept Gentiles from the gospel's privileges until this guidance set its advance among them in motion. This proves the vision was not permission to eat flesh formerly pronounced unclean such as swine's flesh, but an illustration of the true position of the Gentiles.
The vision was not a new rule of faith replacing the word of God as the rule of faith, but an instance of God guiding and correcting His people in relation to Bible truth and in keeping with it as He prepared Peter to preach to the Gentiles. The announcement that three men sought him was part of Peter's own conversion to God's purpose for the Gentiles, taking away the barrier between Jew and Gentile and appointing him to become the human instrument working together with heavenly agencies, directing him step by step. It supplied the particulars by which Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ, requiring Peter and Cornelius to become acquainted in gospel missionary work instead of having the angel preach the gospel, so that Cornelius, though devout and accepted for his piety, prayers and alms, might advance to full faith in Christ in whom all fullness dwells and through whom alone his work can be done intelligently.
Gospel to Gentiles
While Peter was still considering the vision, the Spirit directed him to the three men seeking him, preparing him for a new phase of the church's work carrying salvation beyond the Jewish people to the wider world through Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile whom the apostles had still regarded as excluded from its blessings. Heavenly ministry both opened Cornelius's mind to receive the gospel and guided Peter to bring it to him. Although Christ's death had broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles, prejudice among the apostles still kept Gentiles from the gospel's privileges until this direction set its advance in motion and opened the way for it to be preached to them. The vision and the command showed Peter must no longer treat Gentiles as unclean or keep the ceremonial distinction between Jew and Gentile. Cornelius's conversion was the first major conversion among the Gentiles, who were to stand as equals with Jewish disciples and believers without needing circumcision, overturning Peter's prejudice through heavenly messengers working with willing human workers.
God sent messengers to set in operation a train of circumstances bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius so he might learn the truth, laying a duty upon Peter by divine command which he undertook with reluctance at every step. Afterward he defended his action not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and its result was a great surprise to him as he perceived that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation accepts him that fears Him and works righteousness. The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, with a widespread work of grace carried on from that home in a heathen city. Peter's experience in Cornelius's home corroborates the promised blessing of power from on high in which believers speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, matching the experience of the early apostles.
Heaven Human Cooperation
God was working on human minds on both sides at once, guiding the devout and God-fearing Cornelius on the one hand and guiding Peter toward a Gentile house on the other, to show that no person is to be called common or unclean. Angels were directing every step of the meeting between them, bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius so the gospel could reach the Gentiles. By His own methods God thus directed human minds and brought those who had been strangers to the covenant community into fellowship with His people.
God brings sincere seekers who have followed the light they have received into contact with people who can share further knowledge of Christ and advanced light. His plan was to use chosen human messengers to make the gospel available to the Gentiles, so divine guidance works through human messengers rather than through human wisdom alone. In every age He works through His servants to bring honest-hearted inquirers into connection with those of His people who can best reach their individual needs, some having special knowledge adapted to help one class and others trained differently and best fitted to help another. Heavenly agencies thus cooperate with human agencies, and angels cooperate with God's servants to guide them to precious souls and bring those walking in all the light they have into the full light of truth.
The angel could have told Cornelius the gospel message directly, but that is not God's way. His way is for His church to connect together, to bring Peter and Cornelius into connection with each other so that the light He had imparted to Peter would be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and to all his family. God knew exactly where His servants were and told seekers just where to look for them, telling Cornelius in every particular that Peter was lodging as guest with Simon the tanner. He knows every person by name, just where each lives, the spirit possessed, and every act of life, and ministering angels pass through noting faithfulness in individual duty.
God employs angels to communicate with human beings, having messengers on earth of whom angels are the guides, with instruction often given by immortal messengers sent as powerful helpers of His chosen messengers. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in the work of soul-saving than many suppose, and the ministration of heavenly angels resulted in the conversion of Cornelius and his company. He instructs His messenger by vision and by the voice of the Spirit while thinking on the vision, giving clear representation of what to speak and what counsel to give. That instruction comes in the night season and is repeated again and again until what should be spoken is understood. Cornelius feared God and followed principles of righteousness and bore a clear, pure, undefiled testimony as a bright and shining light, yet though devout and accepted for his piety, prayers, and alms he needed to advance through an appointed human messenger to full faith in Christ in whom all fullness dwells.
Work for Souls Today
The Spirit's word to Peter about the three men is instruction for workers now to read the tenth chapter of Acts and pray over it until understanding is opened and its meaning for workers is realized. When that understanding comes they are to begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field and to arouse to duties for missions at home, for unless God's people arouse to home mission duties they will be found wanting in the day of God. It reveals the way God works on human minds for one who feared His name, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling ignorance and superstition. It therefore calls for the gospel to be given freely in simplicity and Bible goodness without erecting barriers, to Jews as well as to Gentiles.
In every age God sets in operation a train of circumstances to bring honest hearts into connection with those of His people best fitted to reach their individual needs, so that seekers may learn the truth and receive advanced light. Some have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others are trained differently and are best fitted to help another class. Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, afterward defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation, and its result was a surprise to him leading him to perceive that God is no respecter of persons. The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, with a widespread work of grace carried on from that home in a heathen city.
Servants must be ready to make personal, earnest, devoted and determined efforts for those like Cornelius who serve God with sincere, earnest purpose without having received the whole truth, including souls nearer the kingdom than supposed in the churches and in the world and those in high positions who need personal effort to hear the message. Heaven cooperates with human agencies to guide servants to these precious jewels, bringing through angel ministration those walking in all the light they have received into full light and bringing inquiring souls who have all things in readiness to hear the truth into cooperation with them. Earnest, devoted, determined work is the Lord's design for such honest seekers, that light may shine forth to them and they may be gathered out from among those bitterly opposed to the message, including associations such as the W.C.T.U. where honest souls seeking light are to be gathered out. Special care and more determined, earnest effort must be made to reach higher classes, men like Cornelius of Caesarea whom God sees and would connect with the church, stewards in trust with responsibilities and temptations whose sympathies are with the truth but who are held by threads binding them to the world and lack moral courage to take their position with the lowly ones, because if converted they will give strength and solidity to the cause and become channels of light.
God sends people to serve where He chooses, as He directed Peter to a Roman centurion in need of divine help and guidance, and the conversion of Cornelius and his company shows heaven much nearer the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose. That regard for every human being means each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth. God knew exactly where His servants were and told seekers just where to look, telling Cornelius every particular that Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner and working out the meeting. Though the angel could have given Cornelius the gospel message directly, God's way is for His church to connect together so the light He had imparted to Peter would be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family. This means those who have light must come into the closest connection with God and with one another in love, just dealing, unity and united work, loving one another and dealing honestly, justly, truly, gently and righteously together instead of hatred, division, weakening themselves and tearing others down.
God's compassion and tender love for those seeking and praying for light, sending a special message from heaven to Cornelius and instructing His angel to tell Peter to visit him and give him light, is great encouragement to workers and calls for holding meetings for prayer to ask the Lord to open the way so truth may enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and dispel the shadow cast across the path of those he seeks to deceive and destroy. The same wonderful leading that brought the energetic, faithful life of Cornelius into connection with the disciples will be repeated in the last days, when many will prize the wisdom of God above earthly advantage, obey the Word as supreme, be led to great light and knowledge of the truth, seek to set it before anxious acquaintances, and as conscientious lightbearers constrained by God's love constrain others and invite and urge them to come and see its beauty and give their abilities to advance the work. Cornelius shows the kind of true men God calls for now, taught of God and sanctified and ennobled through the truth, fearing God, following principles of righteousness, working on principles God accepts and bearing a clear, pure, undefiled testimony as a bright light even amid high responsibility. Mere lifetime profession does not make such true men, and those who have lost spiritual discernment and are wise in their own eyes are in perilous condition, while God prepares true standard-bearers to take the place of those given Bible truth who have disappointed the Saviour and places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word that they may obtain advanced light.