The Conversion of Cornelius

INTRODUCTION

The scene opens today, shifting away from Paul for the time being and returning to the apostle Peter. We read in Acts 9:32-43 that Peter was going here and there throughout the people, proclaiming the gospel and performing miracles among the people.

What did the Miracles do for the Gospel?

1). They reinforced the authenticity of the Gospel. They remind us who Peter is as he runs in Jesus's footprints.

1). This reinforced the authenticity of his apostleship. They remind us who Peter is as he is running int he footprints of Jesus.

2). They Demonstrated the power of Jesus. Peter’s mission to the ends of the earth is propelled by the resurrection power of Jesus.

3). Provided signs of the coming kingdom of Jesus, who will heal the sick and raise the dead to life.

Finally, these miracles do not end in themselves; in both stories, people turn to the Lord for salvation.

1st Miracle

We see Christ’s power over disease.

Peter is traveling about greeting believers at Lydda. Since believers were now living in a transition period and most likely had lots of questions about the Law and how to live out their faith. Peter meets Aeneas a man who had been bedridden and paralyzed for eight years. When Peter see’s Aeneas, he simply says, “Jesus Christ Heals You, Get up and make your bed.”

Undoubtedly, the miracle attracted a crowd, which allowed Peter to preach the gospel.

(cultural note: Why do we do things like our Easter outreach and trunk-or-treat? They are not ends in themselves; they allow us to share the gospel with the lost).

2nd Miracle

Next, we see Christ’s power over death

which is displayed in the story of Dorcas. This saint fell ill and died, and Luke tells us that her great acts of charity had made her so special. The widows for whom she had made clothes mourned her deeply and displayed her work as Peter entered the place where she was laid.

She was placed in an upper room, which is not typical of death in the early church era. Because embalming the body was not yet a thing, they would want to place the body in the tomb as soon as possible. Also, there was the belief that the spirit would leave the body at the end of 3 days. This placement of the body suggests they believed she could rise again.

In the typical fashion of Jesus, Elijah, and Elisha, Jesus sends everyone out of the room. Like Elisha, Peter falls on his knees in prayer, looking to the only one who can raise the dead.

Now after displaying Christ’s power of disease and death Luke has prepared us for His power over racial divides in the Church.

Suppose you hesitate to befriend a person and associate with people unlike you. God demonstrated irrevocably that He does not make distinctions in His Kingdom.

Acts 10:1–8 ESV

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius the Centurion

He is a commander of one of the six units of one hundred men within a cohort. A cohort would have had about six hundred members and would have been part of a legion of about six thousand men, which was the main division in the Roman army.

He would have served under a tribune.

The Italian cohort is probably an auxiliary force, not part of the regular army. An inscription that has been found in Austria documents its presence in Palestine as late as AD 69. The event is probably still before AD 41.

It is hard for us to imagine the gulf that existed between the Jews on the one hadn and the Gentiles on the other. It is made abundantly clear throughout the whole Old Testament narrative that God chose one person Abraham he chose to bless one family from which he intended to bless all of the families of the earth.

The tragedy was that Israel had twisted the doctrine of election into one of favoritism, became filled with racial pride and hatred, despised Gentiles as ‘dogs’, and developed traditions which kept them apart. No orthodox Jew would ever enter the house of a Gentile, even a God-fearer like Cornelius.

This was then such entrenched prejudice that must be overcome before the Gentiles would be incorporated into the Christian community on equal terms with Jews, and before the church could become multi-racial and a multi-cultural society.

We learn several things from this narrative about how God works and operates through His people to fulfill His Divine Plan.

We see 3 ways in which God works to Fulfill His Divine Plan.

1. God Gives Us Holy Nudges.

“Who is ‘I am’?”

There was a man who was recently ministering to Muslims in Washington D.C. One day a Muslim man approached him and asked, “Who is ‘I am’? I keep seeing ‘I am in my dreams.” After giving a summary explanation, he gave the seeker a Bible and encouraged him to read the Gospel of John. It wasn’t long until he led the man to faith in Jesus, and at that point the convert confessed, “Many or the ‘I am” statements I read in John I heard first in my dreams!”

This story reminds us that even when God uses visions to nudge people towards faith in Christ, evangelists must still do the exciting work of explaining the gospel to them that they might understand and embrace it with confidence.

We already read earlier in Acts about the Ethiopian reading from the prophet. Isaiah 53 deals with Christ's suffering on the Cross. The prophet was reading but did not understand what he was reading. The Holy Spirit nudged him in the person of Philip.

God does not always speak to non-believers or believers for that matter through dramatic dreams.

Sometimes, He nudges us with a deep down hunger of sorts.

Sometimes, He nudges us towards faith by making us curious about the gospel and spiritual questions such as what happens after death or why people follow moral codes or laws.

If you are hungering to know more about Jesus or find yourself drawn into more conversations with someone who expresses such desire, realize that God does actually seek us out. No one comes to faith in Christ by themselves devoid of God and His spirit pursuing our hearts and affections.

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

How do We Experience Holy Nudges?

a). He Gives Us Nudges Through His Relentless Pursuit

We see God’s Holy Nudges first in the garden after the fall (Genesis 3:8), “The Lord called to man, ‘where are you.’

We see God’s Holy Nudges in the Parables that Jesus told. (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son).

We see God’s Holy Nudges in Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16).

b). He Gives Us Nudges Through Our Sacrificial Prayers.

Cornelius is introduced as a man who is devout, and Fears the Lord. He also gave generously to people and prayed continual.

We read how Cornelius had a habit of prayer. However, we are sure that He is not fully regenerate at this point in the narrative.

So, much of our culture credits the events of life with dumb luck, Karma, or some kind of universal lottery in which the dice are rolled and we hope we roll all ones, which has a 1024/1 odds of happening.

Unfortunately, many Christians leave things up to chance and fail to take everything to the Lord in prayer.

We read that his prayers and alms have been heard which have ascended to Him as a Memorial or Tribute.

It is an offering made in commemoration to God which He accepts as pleasing. Look at the two things which marked this prayer.

1). He Feared God.

2). He gave generously.

3). He prayed continually.

Cornelius engages in prayer at 3:00 p.m., the same time as the offering in the Temple at Jerusalem was given. He is told by the angel that his prayers have been heard and lifted to heaven as a memorial or tribute to God. Interestingly, while Cornelius would not have been welcome to make his sacrifice at the Temple, he is now offering a sacrificial prayer on the altar that God accepts.

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

I recently heard about a missionary in a dangerous part of the Middle East who started an underground church.

Locals tried to discover the location of that assembly in order to persecute the believers there, but they could never find it. Late one night, however, the missionary heard a knock on the door of the secret church.

He cautiously opened it to see a tribesman standing there. The man explained that he had walked for days in order to find the missionary. He said, “I had a vision three days ago that there would be a man standing at this address who would tell me how to get to heaven.

Sir, are you this man?” That tribesman, like Cornelius, was given a vision leading him to an evangelist who would teach him how to cross from spiritual death to abundant life.

Note: Notice the Immediate Response to the Answered Prayer.

Acts 10:9–23 ESV

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

2. God Works Through Our Weaknesses

Peter let his weakness show through when it came to the Law. Peter is hungry, and while some food is being prepared for him, Peter goes up to the rooftop to pray at the sixth hour or around noon. This is also another midday vision that takes place during prayer. But this is not a normal time, around 9:00 a.m. Normal prayer time would be either at 9:00 a.m. in the morning or 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon.

Peter sees the heavens open up and a sheet being let down that is filled with all kinds of unclean animals. In the O.T., there are few places where someone is asked to do something offensive or illegal. (Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac; Hosea to marry a prostitute; Isaiah to go naked for three years). Note that the person is to do what is presented in each of these cases.

‌

THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN

Peter recognizes the voice that he is hearing as his heavenly Father. The things that are displayed on the sheet are shocking enough to Peter’s system and sense of right and wrong. But, now the command most likely almost turned his stomach.

The command was to RISE - KILL - and EAT. The act of killing the animals almost has a sense of the action used in a religious act of sacrifice. Peter’s response is possibly just as shocking.

Peter’s use of a double negative here to express his displeasure, “by no means Lord,” shows the great disdain he has for the request. By rejecting this call it would seem or appear that Peter truly felt that he was being obedient to God.

a). God Requires Obedience Over Understanding

We are called to be obedient even when we do not fully understand what God asks of us.

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God repeats the command three times in this text: What God has made clean do not call common.

We often read verses 8-9 of Isaiah 55 but look what Isaiah 55:10-11

Isaiah 55:10–11 ESV

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

The snow and water is all a part of the water cycle. Precipitation comes upon the earth, drains into the land, and produces great benefit in the growth of crops, the refreshment of souls, and the sustaining of life.

When God says that his word will not return empty, we can know that he has an intention for every word that he says. God has breathed every word out in scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s word brings dead people to life.

Notice that after the exchange between Peter and God, the thing is taken up to heaven, and Peter is left inwardly perplexed about what the vision really was talking about.

Obedience over Understanding

Sometimes God’s moral commands in scripture do not make sense to us. This is not surprising since we are living in a time when we are constantly being catechized by worldviews and ethical systems other than Christianity, and our perception of reality - not to mention our resulting intuition about what is right and what is wrong - is skewed.

Think, for example, of our understanding of the nature of human beings. If, as our culture is constantly telling us, we are the result of random evolution, if our bodies were not created for a purpose, if the goal of life is to maximize pleasure, if sex is nothing more than a physical act devoid of significance, if our identity is created by our own expression of our desires, then what sense can be made of God prohibiting sex outside of marriage or the opposite-sex marriage?

There is an extreme danger of following a Misinformed Sense of What is Good. The moral command God revealed in Scripture are eminently reasonable and beautiful, and we are always better off living in obedience to His plan and guidelines for our lives (despite how it might seem at the moment). But for a young Christian who is not steeped in the big picture of reality or knowledge of God’s character, God’s moral command can appear outdated, harmful, or even cruel. The temptation to ignore those commands inevitably follows - not necessarily out of a conscious desire to obey, but out of a misinformed sense of what is truly good.

However, even an older Christian who has worked for decades to immerse themselves in God’s truth, a Christian who knows God’s commands were given for our good, can become convinced that God could not possibly really want them to do (X,Y, or Z).

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

By rejecting this call, Peter assumes that he is being obedient to God.

However, what he fails to see is that it is God who produces the change in a person's heart and life, not the food that they are eating or not eating.

The bigger picture in Peter’s vision is not just about the dietary requirement of the law.

It is about the outsider, the ethnic restrictions that were in place before Christ died for all people so that all might be grafted into the body of Christ.

3. God Brings the Desired Results

Acts 10:24–43 ESV

24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Note: God shows no partiality, but to everyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.

3 Ways God Brings the Desired Results

a). When we see everyone as our neighbor

When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus responded, Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

And the second is like it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. The lawyer asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor?”  (Luke 10:25-37).

Jesus doesn’t exactly answer his questions but, gives him the parable of the good Samaritan.

A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked, robbed, and left for dead. A priest sees the man and moves to the other side of the road to avoid him. The same thing happens when a Levite passes by.

Two Jews, both from priestly lines ignore the need of the man left for dead on the side of the road.

Now the most unlikely person a Samaritan none the less stops to offer assistance to the man. Jesus follows up by asking the scribe who of the three passers by was a neighbor to the injured man.

The scribe replied, the one who had mercy on him. Jesus said go and do likewise.

Our neighbor is anyone in our proximity with whom we can share God’s love.

b). When we show hospitality to all people.

When our culture talks about having people over, they often use the language of entertainment: “I like entertaining,” or “Here are some tips on entertaining.”

Christian hospitality, however, is not entertaining. It is not the addition of some religion to entertaining. Hospitality has totally different motives, means, and ends, largely because it is not about us. Biblical hospitality is about honoring God by obeying His command to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” Romans 12:13

Romans 12:13 ESV

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

It is about loving other Christians. When hospitality does become about the giver, it ceases to be Christian.

One of the distinctives of Christian hospitality is the guests.

We extend invitations to strangers as well as friends, seeking not only to deepen fellowship, but also to draw people into the light of Christian community (Heb. 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9).

We extend invitations to people who are unable to reciprocate, either because of their living situation, hard financial position, family issue, or physical condition (Luke 14:13). Hospitality is part of giving, expecting nothing in return from the people who receive the sacrifice of our service.

c). We show Humility before all people.

Pride is your greatest enemy and Humility is your greatest Friend.

Truly, humility is our greatest friend. It increases our hunger for God’s word and opens our hearts to his Spirit. It leads to intimacy with God, who knows the proud from afar, but dwells with him “who is of a contrite and lowly spirit” (Isa. 57:15).

It imparts Christ's aroma to all we encounter. It is a sign of greatness in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:24–27).

Developing a humble servant's identity, attitude, and conduct does not happen overnight. It is like peeling an onion: you cut away one layer only to find another beneath it.

“I love that Peter responds appropriately to the spiritual softball Cornelius throws. He doesn’t strike out but hits a home run as he preaches the gospel.”

How do you Respond to Jesus Today?

THE SERMON

1). Jesus is Savior and Lord.

2). Jesus was empowered to Liberate the Devil’s Captives.

3). Jesus died under the Curse meant for others.

4). Jesus raised us up to Reign forever.

5). Jesus will Judge everyone.

6). Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of scripture, offering forgiveness for all people who trust Him.

Acts 10:44–48 ESV

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

The Spirit is opening a new chapter in the spread of salvation to the ends of the earth! The Gentiles too are children of Abraham—not through circumcision, but by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone.

CONCLUSION

The case of Cornelius raises an interesting question, given that he respected God but had not yet responded to Jesus.

Luke knows that some people respect God but have not yet responded to Jesus. How aware are you of people who may show respect to God and embrace religion; however their spiritual state still leaves them in need of Salvation?

Their pursuit of God does not exempt them or inoculate them from needing Jesus' forgiveness, which is obtained through faith and trust in Christ alone for Salvation.

Note: There is a difference between seeking and entering into fellowship with God. God directs Peter to complete Cornelius’s journey back to God. Cornelius’s heart has been well prepared for the gospel.

His conversion stands in many ways in contrast with that of Paul. While Paul stood as an enemy to be delivered by a dramatic appearance, Cornelius went from an open seeker to a believer through the preaching of the gospel.

How do you Respond to Jesus Today?

While the words were still in Peter's mouth and ringing in the people's ears, the Spirit Fell on them. Peter was in Jerusalem when the sound of a rushing wind came upon the people.

Now, in the house of Cornelius, that same spirit fell on the Gentiles.