unto him again the second time； What God hath cleansed； that call not thou
common。 This was done thrice： and the vessel was received up again into
heaven。〃
This vision conveyed to Peter both reproof and instruction。 It revealed to
him the purpose of Godthat by the death of Christ the Gentiles should be
made fellow heirs with the Jews to the blessings of salvation。 As yet none
of the disciples had preached the gospel to the Gentiles。 In their minds the
middle wall of partition； broken down by
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the death of Christ； still existed； and their labors had been confined to
the Jews； for they had looked upon the Gentiles as excluded from the
blessings of the gospel。 Now the Lord was seeking to teach Peter the
world…wide extent of the divine plan。
Many of the Gentiles had been interested listeners to the preaching of Peter
and the other apostles； and many of the Greek Jews had become believers in
Christ； but the conversion of Cornelius was to be the first of importance
among the Gentiles。
The time had come for an entirely new phase of work to be entered upon by
the church of Christ。 The door that many of the Jewish converts had closed
against the Gentiles was now to be thrown open。 And the Gentiles who
accepted the gospel were to be regarded as on an equality with the Jewish
disciples； without the necessity of observing the rite of circumcision。
How carefully the Lord worked to overcome the prejudice against the Gentiles
that had been so firmly fixed in Peter's mind by his Jewish training！ By the
vision of the sheet and its contents He sought to divest the apostle's mind
of this prejudice and to teach the important truth that in heaven there is
no respect of persons； that Jew and Gentile are alike precious in God's
sight； that through Christ the heathen may be made partakers of the
blessings and privileges of the gospel。
While Peter was meditating on the meaning of the vision； the men sent from
Cornelius arrived in Joppa and stood before the gate of his lodginghouse。
Then the Spirit said
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to him； 〃Behold； three men seek thee。 Arise therefore； and get thee down；
and go with them； doubting nothing： for I have sent them。〃
To Peter this was a trying command； and it was with reluctance at every step
that he undertook the duty laid upon him； but he dared not disobey。 He 〃went
down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius； and said； Behold； I
am he whom ye seek： what is the cause wherefore ye are come？〃 They told him
of their singular errand； saying； 〃Cornelius the centurion； a just man； and
one that feareth God； and of good report among all the nation of the Jews；
was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house； and to
hear words of thee。〃
In obedience to the directions just received from God； the apostle promised
to go with them。 On the following morning he set out for Caesarea；
accompanied by six of his brethren。 These were to be witnesses of all that
he should say or do while visiting the Gentiles； for Peter knew that he
would be called to account for so direct a violation of the Jewish
teachings。
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； but Cornelius； overwhelmed with
reverence for the one sent by God to teach him； fell at the apostle's feet
and worshiped him。 Peter was horror…stricken； and he lifted the centurion
up； saying； 〃Stand up； I myself also am a man。〃
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While the messengers of Cornelius had been gone upon their errand； the
centurion 〃had called together his kinsmen and near friends；〃 that they as
well as he might hear the preaching of the gospel。 When Peter arrived； he
found a large company eagerly waiting to listen to his words。
To those assembled； Peter spoke first of the custom of the Jews； saying that
it was looked upon as unlawful for Jews to mingle socially with the
Gentiles； that to do this involved ceremonial defilement。 〃Ye know；〃 he
said； 〃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 then related his experience and the words of the angel； saying in
conclusion； 〃Immediately 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。〃
Peter said； 〃Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons： but
in every nation he that feareth Him； and worketh righteousness； is accepted
with Him。〃
Then to that company of attentive hearers the apostle preached ChristHis
life； His miracles； His betrayal and crucifixion； His resurrection and
ascension； and His work in heaven as man's representative and advocate。 As
Peter pointed those present to Jesus as the sinner's only hope； he
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himself understood more fully the meaning of the vision he had seen； and his
heart glowed with the spirit of the truth that he was presenting。
Suddenly the discourse was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit。
〃While Peter yet spake these words； the Holy Ghost fell on all them which
heard the world。 And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished； as many as came with Peter； because that on the Gentiles also
was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost。 For they heard them speak with
tongues； and magnify God。
〃Then answered Peter； Can any man forbid water； that these should not be
baptized； which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we？ And he commanded
them to be baptized in the name of the Lord。〃
Thus was the gospel brought to those who had been strangers and foreigners；
making them fellow citizens with the saints； and members of the household of
God。 The conversion of Cornelius and his household was but the first fruits
of a harvest to be gathered in。 From this household a wide…spread work of
grace was carried on in that heathen city。
Today God is seeking for souls among the high as well as the lowly。 There
are many like Cornelius； men whom the Lord desires to connect with His work
in the world。 Their sympathies are with the Lord's people； but the ties that
bind them to the world hold them firmly。 It requires moral courage for them
to take their position for Christ。 Special efforts should be made for these
souls； who are in so great
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danger； because of their responsibilities and associations。
God calls for earnest； humble workers； who will carry the gospel to the
higher class。 There are miracles to be wrought in genuine
conversions；miracles that are not now discerned。 The greatest men of this
earth are not beyond the power of a wonder…working God。 If those who are
workers together with Him will be men of opportunity； doing their duty
bravely and faithfully； God will convert men who occupy responsible
positions； men of intellect and influence。 Through the power of the Holy
Spirit many will accept the divine principles。 Converted to the truth； they
will become agencies in the hand of God to communicate the light。 They will
have a special burden for other souls of this neglected class。 Time and
money will be consecrated to the work of the Lord； and new efficiency and
power will be added to the church。
Because Cornelius was living in obedience to all the instruction he had
received； God so ordered events that he was given more truth。 A messenger
from the courts of heaven was sent to the Roman officer and to Peter in
order that Cornelius might be brought into touch with one who could lead him
into greater light。
There are in our world many who are nearer the kingdom of God than we
suppose。 In this dark world of sin the Lord has many precious jewels； to
whom He will guide His messengers。 Everywhere there are those who will take
their stand for Christ。 Many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly
advantage； and will become faithful light
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bearers。 Constrained by the love of Christ； they will constrain others to
come to Him。
When the brethren in Judea heard that Peter had gone to the house of a
Gentile and preached to those assembled； they were surprised and offended。
They feared that such a course； which looked to them presumptuous； would
have the effect of counteracting his own teaching。 When they next saw Peter
they met him with severe censure； saying； 〃Thou wentest in to men
uncircumcised； and didst eat with them。〃
Peter laid the whole matter before them。 He related his experience in regard
to the vision and pleaded that it admonished him to observe no longer the
ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision； nor to look upon
the Gentiles as unclean。 He told them of the command given him to go to the
Gentiles； of the coming of the messengers； of his journey to Caesarea； and
of the meeting with Cornelius。 He recounted the substance of his interview
with the centurion； in which the latter had told him of the vision by which
he had been directed to send for Peter。
〃As I began to speak；〃 he said； in relating his experience； 〃the Holy Ghost
fell on them； as on us at the beginning。 Then remembered I the word of the
Lord； how that He said； John indeed baptized with water； but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost。 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift
as He did unto us； who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ； what was I； that I
could withstand God？〃
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On hearing this account； the brethren were silenced。 Convinced that Peter's
course was in direct fulfillment of the plan of God； and that their
prejudices and exclusiveness were utterly contrary to the spirit of the
gospel； they glorified God； saying； 〃Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repe