CORNELIUS’ VISION: PENTECOST FOR THE NATIONS
Cornelius bowing before Peter
By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min.
Peter broke Jewish law, but not God’s law, when he walked into the home of this Roman centurion. “As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence; but Peter would have none of it. ‘Stand up,’ he told the officer, ‘I am only a man myself.’”
Peter greeted the crowd that had gathered and began to speak.
“You are well aware it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So, when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” (Acts 10:27-29).
The centurion told Peter God had spoken to him and given him a vision. He concluded his introduction by saying, “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us” (Acts 10:33).
Peter began to speak. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:33-34). Peter then affirmed Cornelius knew about “the message God sent to the people of Israel.” It reveals the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all” (Acts 10:35). In addition, Peter acknowledged Cornelius knew about John the Baptist and had heard about the ministry of Jesus that followed John, first in Galilee and then in Judea (Acts 10:36-37).
[When your author gets to heaven, I want to ask Philip, who had made his home in Caesarea, if he had any occasion to add to Cornelius’ knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ before or after Peter’s visit.]
The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Ministry at Cornelius’ House.
Peter went on to make one of the most-highly revealing and profound statements in the Bible about the ministry of Jesus, and it showed why the Lord was successful all the time. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power… He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
That statement is an excellent summary of the life of Jesus Christ.
The anointing of the invisible Holy Spirit guided Jesus’ life and ministry throughout His incarnation. Jesus in His humanity could see with the eyes of His heart because He talked daily with His Father and the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s mission in the twenty-second century church is to indwell God’s children in Pentecostal power. This includes equipping us for service in the homeland and abroad.
Oh! to join with Jesus and see the invisible Holy Spirit whose singular agenda is to reveal Jesus Christ to the world.
Peter continued:
“We are witnesses of everything [Jesus] did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen… by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with him after He rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:39-43).
The Gentile Pentecost.
While Peter was preaching, “The Holy Spirit came on all who heard what Peter was saying” (Acts 10:44).
The Greek word translated “came on” (10:44, epépesen), communicates to embrace with the affection that feels like warm-hearted violence. The colloquial phrase, fell on us and we loved it, says it well. The phrase translated as “poured out” (Acts 10:45) is equally expressive. It suggests a gushing pour of the Spirit. Shed abroad also fits; so does spilling, so that there is more than enough of the Spirit, even a “running over” supply.
The immediate blessing Cornelius received from God was he, his whole family, and his invited friends received the baptism with the Holy Spirit in the first Gentile Pentecost. There is also a long-term blessing in this outpouring. Cornelius’ name lives in the history of the church. He is God’s example that the Gospel will find a hungry audience in all generations worldwide, Jews and Gentiles alike. The core message of Acts is to show the Gospel of Jesus Christ that the Jewish leaders rejected is meant for all nations and people, worldwide.
The six circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (Acts 10:45).
To describe the emotions of the six brethren who accompanied Peter, Dr. Luke used a Greek term that translates as “astonished.” It implies surprised out of one’s wits and left wondering what in the world has happened.
The Holy Spirit “had been poured out even on Gentiles.” Yes, step by step the Spirit was taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. That day in Cornelius’ house lives in church history as the Gentile Pentecost.
Oh! to have been there and witnessed seeing, feeling, and experiencing the invisible Holy Spirit doing something totally new. An infilling of the Holy Spirit fell on everyone in a Roman centurion’s home, including his relatives and close friends (Acts 10:24). Almost unbelievable – in a Roman centurion’s home of all places! These Romans were speaking in tongues and praising God like happened in the Acts 2 Upper Room Pentecost – all-the-more amazing (Acts 10:46).
The story also tells us even today far more people than we realize are ready to hear the gospel and will respond favorably if given the chance. So much for writing people off as unreachable!
Peter baptized these Roman believers after they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:47-48). So much for the hard and fast rule water baptism must precede the baptism with the Holy Spirit! In fact, Peter broke two Jewish social rules at Caesarea. The first was entering the Gentile soldier’s home. The second was Peter accepted Cornelius’ invitation and stayed a few additional days in his house and ate his food.
Pentecost can be repeated,
For the Lord is just the same,
Yesterday, today, forever,
Glory to His precious name!
Saints of God can be victorious
Over sin and death and hell;
Have a full and free salvation,
And the blessed story tell.
Refrain:
Pentecostal fire is falling
Praise the Lord it fell on me,
Pentecostal fire is falling,
Brother, it will fall on you.
By: George Bennard (1873 – 1958)
Acts Chapter 11 shows Peter, when back at Jerusalem, had to give an account for his ‘misdeeds’ at Caesarea that were not ‘’misdeeds’ at all! How the times were changing! The Gospel step by step, in the power of the Holy Spirit, was moving out of its Jewish cradle and reaching to the nations.
