positions of trust. But Cornelius, overwhelmed with reverence for
the apostle who had been delegated by God, fell at his feet and worshiped
him.
Peter shrank with horror from this act of the centurion, and lifted
him to his feet, saying, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.” He then
commenced to converse with him familiarly, in order to remove the sense
of awe and extreme reverence with which the centurion regarded him.
Had Peter been invested with the authority and position accorded to
him by the Roman Catholic Church, he would have encouraged, rather
than have checked, the veneration of Cornelius. The so-called successors
of Peter require kings and emperors to bow at their feet, but Peter himself
claimed to be only an erring and fallible man.
Peter spoke with Cornelius and those assembled in his house,
concerning the custom of the Jews; that it was considered unlawful
for them to mingle socially with Gentiles, and involved ceremonial
defilement. It was not prohibited by the law of God, but the tradition
of men had made it a binding custom. Said he, “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
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should not call any man common or unclean. 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.”
Cornelius thereupon related his experience, and the words of the angel
that had appeared to him in vision. In conclusion he said, “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. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a
truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation
he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.”
Although God had favored the Jews above all other nations, yet if they
rejected light and did not live up to their profession, they were no more
exalted in His esteem than other nations. Those among the Gentiles who,
like Cornelius, feared God, and worked righteousness, living up to what
light they had, were kindly regarded by God, and their sincere service was
accepted.
But the faith and righteousness of Cornelius could not be perfect
without a knowledge of Christ; therefore God sent that light and
knowledge to him for the further development of his righteous character.
Many refuse to receive the light which the providence of God sends them,
and, as an excuse for so doing, quote the words of Peter to Cornelius
and his friends: “But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with Him.” They maintain that it is of no
consequence what men believe, so long as their works are good. Such
ones are wrong; faith must unite with their works. They should advance
with the light that is given them. If God brings them in connection with
His servants who have received new
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truth, substantiated by the Word of God, they should accept it with joy.
Truth is onward. Truth is upward. On the other hand, those who claim
that their faith alone will save them are trusting to a rope of sand, for faith
is strengthened and made perfect by works only.
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
Peter preached Jesus to that company of attentive hearers; His life,
ministry, miracles, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, and
His work in heaven, as man’s Representative and Advocate, to plead in
the sinner’s behalf. As the apostle spoke, his heart glowed with the Spirit
of God’s truth which he was presenting to the people. His hearers were
charmed by the doctrine they heard, for their hearts had been prepared
to receive the truth. The apostle was interrupted by the descent of the
Holy Ghost, as was manifested on the day of Pentecost. “And they of
the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with
Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the
Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not
be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed
they him to tarry certain days.”
The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles was not an equivalent
for baptism. The requisite steps in conversion, in all cases, are faith,
repentance, and baptism. Thus the true Christian church are united in
one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Diverse temperaments are modified by
sanctifying grace, and the same distinguishing principles regulate the lives
of all. Peter yielded to the entreaties of the believing Gentiles,
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and remained with them for a time, preaching Jesus to all the Gentiles
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thereabout.
When the brethren in Judea heard that Peter had preached to the
Gentiles, and had met with them and eaten with them in their houses, they
were surprised and offended by such strange movements on his part. They
feared that such a course, which looked presumptuous to them, would tend
to contradict his own teachings. As soon as Peter visited them, they met
him with severe censure, saying, “Thou we
