C hapter S even I N A cts 10 and 11 we have de scribed what some have called the Gentile day of Pentecost. It was in the house of Cornelius, with his sol diers, that all were told the story of Jesus Christ. While there were many commendable things about Cor nelius, still, up to this point, he had never personally laid hold of the Lord as his Saviour. He was a devout man who feared God. He was most gener ous in giving alms to the needy. He prayed to God. As an influential lead er, he sought to do that which was good. There are people, some people who say they’re Christians, and yet their testimony is so poor that their own children wonder what value there is in being saved if that’s all there is to it. Cornelius took his household with him as far as he had himself gone. Still he wasn’t a saved man up to this point. The key verse is Acts 11:14. For all his religion and reverence toward God, he never had yet come to know the joy of sins forgiven. He was living up to the light he had received. He was hungry for more. To such a prepared heart came Peter with the message of truth. The Lord still does this if there’s one who desires to have spir itual light. God brought the two men together in a very wonderful way. Cornelius was the commander with soldiers under him. His life says vol umes for him. I know lots of busi nessmen who profess to be Chris tians. Yet you ask their employees about how they’re treated, and some of them will say, “Well, if the boss’s a Christian, it’s not for me!” Such was not the case with Cornelius. What a work of grace God wrought in Peter’s life, showing him that even Gentiles could be saved! God had some wall of prejudice to break down in His servant’s life. Peter had already had to admit that God saved the Samaritans who were half-Jew and half-Gentile. Now, he sees even more of the complete redemptive
plan. In Acts 11, Peter confronts the heads of the church in Jerusalem who were concerned about his fellow ship with the Gentiles. The wall of partition had not yet been broken down in their thinking. As God had dealt with Peter, so he explains the light which he had been given. Cornelius then tells Peter his side of the story. He fills him in concern ing the vision he had received in prayer. Cornelius knew something was missing. He didn’t have the as surance of eternal life, knowing that he had been accepted by God. He asked Peter to withhold nothing, but to present the complete truth. The Bible says Peter opened his mouth and began to preach a sermon that was never finished. While he was yet speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon the meeting and Cornelius repented under the searching light of the Word. He came to know Jesus Christ that day in a new and ever-living manner. I wonder if you’re a Cornelius. You’re a religious, devout, God-fear ing generous, influential person..Yet there’s something missing. All you need to do to receive Jesus Christ in His person and His reality in your life by faith. Won’t you do it now? the New Testament? No doubt there would be many answers depending on our particular favorites. One I consider vital is the 15th of Acts. We have the story of the first coun cil of the Christian Church. All the leaders and apostles were summoned from all parts of the then-known world to discuss the controversial matter as to what part the law of Moses had in the plan of salvation. Remember, there was no New Testa ment available at this time. Some 9 C hapter E ight W hat would you consider the most important chapter in all
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