Opening: Can you think of a major revelation in your life
that completely changed the way you thought or felt? Your “the world is not
flat, it is round” moment?
Scripture: Read Acts 10:1-33.
Insights:
- Caesarea, sometimes called Palestinian Caesarea, was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea 32 miles north of Joppa. The largest and most important port city on the Mediterranean in Palestine, Caesarea served as the capital of the Roman province of Judea. This was the first city to have Gentile Christians and a non-Jewish church.
- Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed at Caesarea, the headquarters of the government of Palestine. He is the equivalent of a company sergeant-major, leader of 100 men. Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army, men who were known for their courage and loyalty. But Cornelius was more than that:
- Cornelius was a God-fearer. He probably didn’t accept circumcision and the Law, but he attended the synagogue and believed in one God and in the pure ethic of Jewish religion. Cornelius then was a man who was seeking after God, and as he sought God, God found him.
- Cornelius was a man of charity; he was characteristically kind. His search for God had made him love people, and the person who loves others is not far from the kingdom (see Mark 12:18-27).
- Cornelius was a man of prayer. Perhaps as yet he did not clearly know the God to whom he prayed; but, according to the light that he had, he lived close to God.
- Peter’s vision is a direct message from God: what you consider impure and unclean is not to God. That includes people! Peter is learning this truth, as evidenced that he is staying with a tanner, but God opens his eyes to a broader understanding of His purposes, and the people Peter is to reach. Of course, it takes God three times to get it through to Peter, but he does get it (see Acts10:28-29).
- The Jews of Peter’s day believed that other nations were outside the mercy of God. The really strict Jew would have no contact with a Gentile or even with a Jew who did not observe the Law. See what Peter did. When the emissaries of Cornelius were at the door – and knowing the Jewish outlook, they came no farther than the door – Peter asked them in and gave them hospitality (see Acts 10:23). When Peter arrived at Caesarea, Cornelius met him at the door, no doubt wondering if Peter would cross his threshold at all, and Peter came in (see Acts 10:27). In the most amazing way, the barriers are beginning to go down.
Life Questions:
- From its earliest days, Christianity has been breaking down barriers; and it can still do that when given the chance. What barrier does the Church still need to be break? What barrier in your life still needs breached? Who are the people who need you to hear God’s message?
- “Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” How do you wait to hear the message of the Lord for you?
Prayer Focus: That we would be willing to go anywhere and
meet anyone to talk about our life with Jesus.
