Seeker for Truth
89
It was while Peter was still at Joppa that he was called by God to
take the gospel to Cornelius, in Caesarea.
Cornelius was a Roman centurion. He was a man of wealth and
noble birth, and his position was one of trust and honor. A heathen by
birth, training, and education, through contact with the Jews he had
gained a knowledge of God, and he worshiped Him with a true heart,
showing the sincerity of his faith by compassion to the poor. He was
known far and near for his beneficence, and his righteous life made
him of good repute among both Jews and Gentiles. His influence was
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a blessing to all with whom he came in contact. The inspired record
describes him as “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his
house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”
Believing in God as the Creator of heaven and earth, Cornelius
revered Him, acknowledged His authority, and sought His counsel in
all the affairs of life. He was faithful to Jehovah in his home life and in
his official duties. He had erected the altar of God in his home, for he
dared not attempt to carry out his plans or to bear his responsibilities
without the help of God.
Though Cornelius believed the prophecies and was looking for the
Messiah to come, he had not a knowledge of the gospel as revealed in
the life and death of Christ. He was not a member of the Jewish church
and would have been looked upon by the rabbis as a heathen and
unclean. But the same Holy Watcher who said of Abraham, “I know
him,” knew Cornelius also, and sent a message direct from heaven to
him.
The angel appeared to Cornelius while he was at prayer. As the
centurion heard himself addressed by name, he was afraid, yet he
knew that the messenger had come from God, and he said, “What is
it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come
up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call
for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a
tanner, whose house is by the seaside.”
The explicitness of these directions, in which was named even
the occupation of the man with whom Peter was staying, shows that
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Heaven is acquainted with the history and business of men in every
station of life. God is familiar with the experience and work of the
humble laborer, as well as with that of the king upon his throne.