Ministry of Peter
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the centurion had gathered together as many of his relatives as were
accessible, that they, as well as he, might be instructed in the truth.
When Peter arrived, a large company were gathered, eagerly waiting
to listen to his words.
As Peter entered the house of the Gentile, Cornelius did not salute
him as an ordinary visitor, but as one honored of Heaven, and sent to
him by God. It is an Eastern custom to bow before a prince or other
high dignitary, and for children to bow before their parents who are
honored with positions of trust. But Cornelius, overwhelmed with
reverence for the apostle who had been delegated by God, fell at his
feet and worshiped him. Peter shrank with horror from this act of the
centurion, and lifted him to his feet, saying, “Stand up; I myself also
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am a man.” He then commenced to converse with him familiarly, in
order to remove the sense of awe and extreme reverence with which
the centurion regarded him.
Had Peter been invested with the authority and position accorded
to him by the Roman Catholic Church, he would have encouraged,
rather than have checked, the veneration of Cornelius. The so-called
successors of Peter require kings and emperors to bow at their feet;
but Peter himself claimed to be only an erring and fallible man.
Peter spoke with Cornelius and those assembled in his house,
concerning the custom of the Jews; that it was considered unlawful
for them to mingle socially with Gentiles, and involved ceremonial
defilement. It was not prohibited by the law of God, but the tradition
of men had made it a binding custom. Said he, “Ye know how that it
is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come
unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not
call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without
gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for; I ask therefore for what intent ye
have sent for me.”
Cornelius thereupon related his experience, and the words of the
angel that had appeared to him in vision. In conclusion he said, “Im-
mediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art
come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all
things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth,
and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons;
but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
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is accepted with him.” Although God had favored the Jews above all