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God Gave All Of Us The Chance To Connect With Him Through The Holy Spirit
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. Acts 10:44-45, NIV Peter visited the house of Cornelius, a centurion who lived in Caesarea. He was surrounded by Cornelius’ relatives when he started preaching about Jesus. These group of people were known to be Gentiles and Jews tend to treat them as strangers. But something wonderful happened the moment Peter wholeheartedly welcomed these people and shared Jesus to them. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard…
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We Are Commanded To Testify about Jesus And Become His Witnesses
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42, NIV Peter said these words while he was in the house of Cornelius, a centurion man who lived in Caesarea. He proclaimed the gospel in front of Cornelius’ family and relatives. In this particular verse, it is important to note the words that Peter used. He said that Jesus commanded his disciples to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. In other words, sharing the…
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We Believe In A God That Does Not Show Favoritism
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34, NIV Peter realized that God did not show favoritism the moment he met Cornelius. God used this centurion man to break Peter’s mindset. Before, he met Cornelius, he treated the Gentiles as unclean and unholy. But God taught him how to respect and accept others especially those believers who came from different nations. He realized that God accepts those who fear him and does what is right regardless of their ethnicity or different backgrounds. Sometimes,…
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We Are God’s Vessel
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” Acts 10: 25-26, NIV Cornelius treated Peter with so much honor to the point that he fell at his feet in reverence. This is his expression of honoring Peter as a man of God. And Peter responded by asking Cornelius to get up. He reminded Cornelius that just like him, he was only a man. It seems like Peter humbly pointed out to him who he is. He knew that he was just a vessel of God. And the…
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When God Gives Instructions
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” Acts 10:19-20, NIV God instructed Cornelius to send men to Joppa. He didn’t really explain everything that would happen to him. Instead, He merely gave him a simple instruction. Without a doubt, Cornelius followed what the Lord said. And true enough when his men went to Peter. God already instructed him to welcome and go with them. He already prepared everything ahead. Indeed, it was the Lord who spoke to Cornelius simply…
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A Heart That’s Willing To Trust In God’s Word
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. Acts 10:7-8, NIV Cornelius unexpectedly received an unusual instruction from God. He called him by name and asked him to send some men to Joppa and bring back Peter. Now, this centurion doesn’t know Peter. But without any doubt, he followed the voice of God. There are times when we are given instructions by the Lord and tend to doubt or hesitate to obey Him. Maybe this is because we don’t have faith…
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God Looks At The Heart, And He Saw What We Are Doing For Others
One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Acts 10:3-4, NIV Cornelius was known to be a centurion. According to some commentaries, a devoted Jew wouldn’t normally like him since he was an officer of the Roman army. The Romans believed in many gods but Cornelius believed in the God of the Jews. In Acts 10:2, it says there that he…
