Cornelius the Centurion (4)

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Clifton, NJ

The Lord had called His servant Peter to be His instrument to bring a message of free grace to a heathen. What a wonder that He is willing to use such an instrument who had once denied Him. The Lord calls but also makes men willing to heed His call. Peter goes downstairs from the flat roof where he saw the vision. He goes to the three men sent by Cornelius, who are still standing in the porch or at the front door. He says, “Behold,” that is, see me, here I am, “I am he whom ye seek,” or after whom you are inquiring.

Peter asks a question

He asks for the reason they have come for him. Peter does not pretend that he knows already, notwithstanding the two divine communications which had just been made to him. He acknowledges his ignorance of what had not been revealed to him. He knows that those three men are seeking him and that he has to go with them, but he does not know the reason for this. The three men reply, “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.”

Peter needs this answer. God has commanded him to travel with these men to Caesarea. He obeys unconditionally. He says, as it were, “I am ready to go wherever you want me to go.” There were many riddles in Peter’s heart, but he now knows that God is showing Him the way. The Lord has inclined his heart. He has chosen the side of God. It is a wonder that the Lord is willing to use sinful people as instructors. Moses once asked, “If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” It was not enough for him that an angel would go with him and his people and bring them to the promised land. He needed God’s own nearness. It was the same with David who prayed, “Lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.”

It is possible that the three men sent by Cornelius fear that Peter will not be willing to go with heathens, but God fulfils His counsel, and He will confirm this in the life of the apostle. He will gather His Church from the north and the south: “Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” He has promised that the pleasure of the Lord will prosper in the hand of Christ. The question of Peter is asked so that he may hear their testimony. There will be an agreement between what the Lord has taught him and what the Lord has worked in the heart of these Gentiles. Thus, he asks, “What is the cause wherefore you are come?” The Lord Jesus has also asked such questions as He did to the women at the sepulchre. “Whom seek ye?” He, that is Christ, wants to hear how it is in our heart, what the desires, the needs, and the longings of the soul are. Those who truly seek Him and His guidance will not be disappointed.

Peter receives a testimony

The three men speak about Cornelius. They call him a just man, that is, one who is made upright by the Lord. By nature, we have wrong thoughts about ourselves and about the Lord. We do not give Him the honor which He is worthy to receive and which we are inclined to steal. Our heart is desperately wicked, but Cornelius is sincere. No, there is no righteousness in him, but God’s work is evident in him.

They continue, “And one that feareth God,” or literally, the God, that is, the true God, the God of Israel. They may testify of what God has done in the life of Cornelius. He walks in the ways of the Lord. The fruits of God’s gracious work in his heart are seen by others. “And he is of good report among all the nation of the Jews.” The Lord gives testimony of His own work. It will be seen by your wife, your husband, your children, and those with whom you work. Formerly, Cornelius was also an enemy of God, but in regeneration, the righteousness of God was imputed to him. He was grafted into the vine of Christ and the blessed fruits are known by many. A tender life with the Lord makes an impression on others. We may well wonder why so little testimony is heard in our days. Is it because, in general, the close walk with the Lord is missing? Then what we read of this heathen centurion should put us to shame.

Cornelius was “warned from God by an holy angel” to send for Peter. The word “warned” means that he was instructed; God had taught him. This implies that he had sought counsel of God. The house of Cornelius was a place of prayers and supplications. He had much need of further instruction. His house was the place where he sought the countenance, the leading, and the guidance of the Lord. God dwelt in his house. What can be found in our house? If there is evidence of love to the world and its pleasures, then there is no place for the Lord or His people and His blessed service.

The three messengers from Cornelius are used to give a truthful testimony about him who sent them. It is evident that he needs a teacher. Just like the eunuch on the way toward the south who was reading in the scroll of Isaiah but did not understand what he read, so Cornelius also wants to be taught and led into the mysteries of salvation. Oh, are there yet seeking souls who know themselves as being ignorant and who cry for God to send His light and truth to guide them? Christ may be hidden for them, yet they hunger for His teaching.

Peter travels with them

We read in verse 23, “Then,” or rather, therefore, “called he them in.” He invites them to take up their abode there for the night. We can be sure that they were well taken care of; we read, “He lodged them,” or entertained them. We understand that this is not the entertainment the world gives. Their time is spent in an edifying way; neither is anything lacking in Peter’s care for them. Then on the morrow, the day after their arrival, Peter leaves not only with the three messengers but with “certain brethren” who are also disciples of the Lord, students at His school of grace. So, there are six men who accompany Peter on the way to Caesarea. It was usual for the early Christians to accompany the apostles on their journey. A few examples are Romans 15:24, when Paul will take his journey to Spain, and he says, “If first I be somewhat filled with your company”; Acts 15:2, where we read about Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them who would go up to Jerusalem; 3 John 6,” If thou bring forward on their journey”; and 1 Corinthians 16:6, “That ye may bring me on my journey.”

What a blessed company we read of in connection with Peter’s first missionary journey. Three of them were Gentiles, the others perhaps converted Jews, but God will gather His people out of all kindred, tongues, and nations. It is the holy, catholic, Christian church. It is His blessed Zion that He has chosen.

As this was an important event in the history of the church, the bearing of the gospel to a Gentile, it was proper that Peter should be attended with others. What a blessed company we read of in connection with Peter’s first missionary journey. Three of them were Gentiles, the others perhaps converted Jews, but God will gather His people out of all kindred, tongues, and nations. It is the holy, catholic, Christian church. It is His blessed Zion that He has chosen. He has desired it for His habitation as we read in Psalm 132:14&15, “This is My rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.” How good it is if people of God, spiritual pilgrims, sometimes with such different characters or backgrounds, may have times of sweet fellowship when they are together and the Lord is in the midst of them and they are united with the bonds of love which He has laid Himself.

Often God’s people will say with the poet, “Dark and lonely is my way.” Yet, in these days of general apostasy, of falling away from the truth, of so much world conformity and increasing pressure on the church and those who want to live according to God’s Word, something should be practiced of the communion of saints. Lydia, after her conversion, besought the servants of God to come into her house and to abide there. We read of the jailor, “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced.”

It was still a distance to Caesarea, but before the six men knew it, they had arrived. Let the travelers through the wilderness follow this example and seek each other’s company. May the Lord guide them with His counsel also when, with Him, they can go into an unknown future. He will not forsake those that follow and trust in Him.

(To be continued)

A Choice Jewel

Christian, let God’s distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent. Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember, also, that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites and to those that are greatly beloved.

— John Bunyan

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