Cornelius

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. – Acts 10.1-2ff

All of Acts 10 deals with a man named Cornelius and the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles.

The first things we hear about Cornelius are all good. He was a Roman soldier, an officer from Italy itself.  He was an an uncircumcised proselyte to the Jewish faith. He feared God Along with his family. He was devout. He gave alms.He prayed faithfully.

As the chapter goes on it describes how Cornelius received a vision from God telling him to go to Joppa to find Peter, who was praying. While Cornelius is making his way there Peter also had a vision. In his vision a great sheet is let down filled with all kinds of animals, some of them unclean in the Law.

God told Peter to eat, and Peter said that he couldn't eat the unclean animals. God told him that he was indeed free to eat because if He had made it holy, it was indeed holy.

Right after this Cornelius arrives and he and Peter meet for dinner. This troubled the people present because they knew, in their own minds at least, that a proper Jew should not have dealing with an uncircumcised man.

Peter arose and countered that fear. He said that God had shown him that no man is common or unclean.

Peter continued: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.’

I think there is a lesson here for us. God does not show partiality. There are no special nations to God. ‘In every nation, whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted.’

It comes down to this, and old children’s song. ‘Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.’

Praise God He doesn’t rank people by their skin colour,national origin, or anything but their relationship with Him.