Acts 10:19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter 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? 22 And they said, 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 an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know 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 shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 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? 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 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.
The Spirit of God and we know that due to its capitalization
alerts Peter to the three men who came from Cornelius. Verse 23 shows that it
took a day and a night and part of another day to get to Caesarea. Verse 26
warns us about the dangers of worshipping the messenger and not the One who
sent the message. Fundamentalism in America has this whole “man o’ God” cult
going on. There are other times when persons delivering a message are
worshipped and yet are told not to as in Acts 14:8-18. There is also;
Revelation 19:10 And I fell
at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy
fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship
God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Verse 28 shows us how Christ’s resurrection was a great leveler of
men and their presumption of superiority, especially here religious superiority
over other men. Verse 29 suggests to us that once we are certain of God’s will
for us we should immediately proceed to obey without hesitation and without
holding back.
Cornelius is prepared to hear some preaching. He is ready to
receive what God has given Peter to say to him. This is basic to our receiving
God’s will and understanding what He wants. We must be prepared like a field
must be plowed to receive seed. Both the giver of the word and the receiver of
the word have been prepared by the Holy Spirit.
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