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| 1 A man and certain in Caesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion of a cohort that being called Italian, |
Cesarea – Became a Church of considerable size. R2222:3
Called Cornelius – The first Gentile convert. R5048:6, 3755:4, 3440:4, 2620:6, 2222:3, 1451:2, 5454:2, 1526:1
About October 1st, 36 AD, at the end of Israel's seventy weeks of favor. B71, B214; R5048:3, 4344:2, 3440:4, 2620:6, 2132:3
Not a Jew, no part of the covenant of Israel. R3440:4, 4344:3, 2989:1, 2620:2
Who sought harmony with God. R5200:6
Was accepted into fellowship without becoming a Jewish proselyte. R1451:2, 5454:2
Converted to God and to righteousness years prior to this incident. R2988:6
A centurion – Probably the one whose servant Christ healed. (Luke 7:2-10) R1922:6, 2620:6, 2132:3
The mention of three centurions in the Scriptures may be three different ones. R3755:4
All evidently reverential. (Matt. 27:54; Luke 7:1-17) It is not prre two cent R1922:6
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| 2 pious and fearing the God with all the house of himself, doing and alms many to the people, and praying of the God always; |
A devout man – A just, reverential, benevolent man, every way prepared to be a Christian. R4344:3, 5834:5, 5776:1, 5101:1; CR318:6
It was said of probably the same centurion, in Luke 7:4,5: "He was worthy; for he l R2620:2, 1922:3, 2071:3, Q600:T
A fine character; but a Gentile and could not come in under the call. R5776:1; CR318:6; HG117:4
That feared God – With all the good he did before, such a man, upon receiving the Gospel, would become ten-fold more zealous. R2222:3
Gave much alms – His endeavor to overcome selfishness and to copy divine benevolence. R2133:1
Prayed to God alway – Implied faith in God and a desire for harmony with him. Later his prayers would be heard. R2133:1, 5321:2, 5200:6. 2989:1
Because he was a Gentile, God did not accept him until the due time for him to receive the truth. R5321:2, 5833:1, 5021:5, 5048:6; Q600:T
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| 3 he saw in a vision clearly, about hour ninth of the day, a messenger of the God having come to him, and saying to him: O Cornelius. |
A vision evidently – In a vision openly, not in a dream. He talked with an angel. R4344:5, 4142:4*
Coming in to him – It was just like the Lord to send the Gospel to him first. R1923:1
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| 4 He and having looked steadily to him and afraid becoming, he said: What is it, O sir? He said and to him: The prayers of thee and the alms of thee went up for a memorial before the God. |
Thy prayers – Could not be accepted until the seventy symbolic weeks ended. R5832:6, 4344:2; Q174:1
Thine alms – Now received of the Lord because the due time had come. R4344:5
His alms and prayers had not saved him. We may be sure that the alms of other Gentiles had been heard. His was for a special lesson. R4344:5
For a memorial – Of his piety. R2989:1
Ascended up as incense to the Lord. R4344:5, 5832:6; Q600:T
They had been noted before, but God could not receive them until now. R5776:1, 5833:1, 5200:6; CR319:1
If prayers cannot be answered immediately they are not forgotten, but are kept as memorials until the right time comes for their answer. R1945:5
Any who pray to God sincerely now, not knowing the appointed way, God takes note of their prayers, to be rewarded now or later. R5834:6
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| 5 And now send into Joppa men, and send after Simon, who is surnamed Peter, |
And now – Exactly 3 years after our Lord's crucifixion. R4344:2, 5834:6, 5379:1, 5200:6; Q600:T
Call for one Simon – Peter had the key to open the door to the Gentiles. R2657:6, 376:1
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| 6 he lodges with one Simon a tanner, to whom is a house by sea. |
Whose house – Pastor Russell visited in 1892. R1381:1
He shall tell thee – These words were necessary directions; but they did not bring Cornelius into covenant relationship with God. R5776:1, 4344:6
God has placed the promulgation of the Gospel in the hands of men, not angels. R2989:1
Essential to further progress. R2989:2
Now, by reason of the art of printing the message reaches many otherwise--by printed words. R4345:1
These words of life were the simple story of the cross. R4345:1
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| 7 When and went away the messenger, that speaking to him, having called two of the house servants of himself, and a soldier pious of those constantly attending him, |
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| 8 and having related to them all things, he sent them into the Joppa. |
Declared all these things – Prepared to cooperate with God. His light pervaded his household as should ours. R2989:2
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| 9 On the and morrow, pursuing the journey of them, and to the city drawing near, went up Peter to the roof to pray, about hour sixth. |
Sixth hour – Noon-time. R4344:6
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| 10 He became and very hungry, and wished to eat; making ready and of them, fell on him a trance, |
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| 11 and he beholds the heaven having been opened, and coming down a vessel certain like a sheet great, four ends having bound, and being lowered down to the earth; |
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| 12 In which were all the four-footed beasts of the earth and the wild beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the heaven; |
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| 13 and came a voice to him: Having arisen, O Peter, sacrifice and eat. |
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| 14 The but Peter said: By no means, O Lord; because never I ate any thing common or unclean. |
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| 15 And a voice again a second time to him: What the God has cleansed, thou not pollute. |
God hath cleansed – Replacing the blood of bulls and goats, the antitypical cleansing through the blood of Christ had been confined for a time to Israel only. R4345:4
Now the time had come for dealing with such Gentiles as were in proper condition of heart. R4344:3
Common – While God calls "the mean things," he does not leave them thus, but justifies them by faith in Christ, and sanctifies them by the truth. R4493:3
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| 16 This and was done for three times; and again was taken up the vessel into the heaven. |
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| 17 As and in himself was pondering the Peter, what might be the vision which he saw, even lo, the men those being sent from the Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate; |
Now while – About, during. R1980:3; B49
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| 18 and having called aloud they asked, if Simon he being called Peter here lodges. |
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| 19 The and Peter reflecting concerning the vision, said to him the spirit: Lo, men three are seeking thee; |
The Spirit said – God, by his power, in some manner made his will known to Peter. E274; R372:5
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| 20 but having arisen do thou go down, and go with them, nothing doubting because I have sent them. |
I have sent them – It was God's due time for dealing with such Gentiles as were in proper condition of heart. R4344:3
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| 21 Having gone down but Peter to the men, said: Lo, I am, whom you seek; what the cause, on account of which you are present? |
Peter – Chosen for this work because of his impetuous disposition and zeal to follow the Lord's directions quickly and heartily; and being the oldest of the apostles, and in many respects the most influential one. R2989:3
A just, reverential and benevolent man, in every way prepared to be a follower of Jesus. R4344:3, 5101:1
The first Gentile received into the Gospel privileges. R5004:6, 2620:6, 1455:1
God honors and uses his faithful ones as his mouthpieces. R4345:1
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| 22 They and said: Cornelius a centurion, a man just and fearing the God, being testified of and by whole of the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a messenger holy, to send after thee to the house of himself, and to hear words from thee. |
Hear words of thee – God attaches great importance to the words or message of his grace. R4344:6, 2989:2, 3550:6
No one can receive the holy Spirit except he has received the truth. R5550:1
The only way to know the glad tidings. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17) R4345:1
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| 23 Having called in then them he lodged. On the and morrow having arisen he went out with them, and some of the brethren, those from Joppa, went with him. |
Certain brethren – Six men, probably as witnesses. R4344:6
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| 24 And on the morrow they entered into the Caesarea. The and Cornelius was expecting them, having assembled the relatives of himself and the intimate friends. |
Called together – To hear the apostle Peter. The spirit of devotion, light and truth should pervade every family. R5394:1, 2989:3
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| 25 When and came the to enter the Peter, having met him the Cornelius, having fallen to the feet, he worshipped. |
Fell down – Feelings of reverence to a representative of the Lord. R2989:4
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| 26 The but Peter him raised up, saying: Do thou arise; also I myself a man am. |
But Peter – Not acting as a Pope would have done under such circumstances, he refused to receive unauthorized homage. R2989:5
Even heavenly beings are not to be worshipped. "Worship God." (Rev. 19:10) R144:5
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| 27 And talking with him, he went in, and finds having been assembled many. |
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| 28 He said and to them: You know, how unlawful it is for a man a Jew, to unite or come near to a foreigner; and to me the God has shown, not common or unclean to say a man. |
God hath shewed me – Yet he afterward so far forgot it that Paul was obliged to publicly rebuke him. (Gal. 2:11-14) A26, A27
The "Lazarus" class received into favor. R1087:1
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| 29 Therefore also without hesitation I came having been sent after. I ask therefore, for what reason you sent after me? |
Without gainsaying – Because evidently the Lord was leading him in the matter. R2989:3
Intent – Greek, logos; intention, plan, purpose, expression. R338:1, 421:2
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| 30 And the Cornelius said: From four days till this the hour, I was fasting, and the ninth hour praying in the house of me; and lo, a man, stood before me in clothing shining, |
Cornelius – The first adopted son of God from amongst the Gentiles. R2132:2, 5379:2
Was fasting – The centurion's heart had been troubled. R4345:1
The heart thus would be brought nearer to God. NS153:2, 4
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| 31 and he said: O Cornelius, heard of thee the prayer, and the alms of thee are remembered before the God. |
Cornelius – The first Gentile convert. R2090:4, 1760:5, 1526:1, 376:1, 189:5
Also see comments on verse 1.
Thy prayer is heard – The first Gentile whose prayers were received. R5379:1, 5776:1
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| 32 Send therefore into Joppa, and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in a house of Simon a tanner by sea.; who having come will speak to thee. |
Speak unto thee – The knowledge was indispensable; there can be no justification in ignorance. R5776:1
Speak to those that have some knowledge of God. R1451:5
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| 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; thou and well didst having come. Now therefore all we before the God are present, to hear all the things having been commanded thee by the God. |
Present before God – Proper respect for the servant of God. R2133:2
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| 34 Having opened and Peter the mouth, said: In truth I perceive, that not is a respecter of persons the God; |
Opened his mouth – Used the second "key" to the Kingdom, the time having come for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles. R4345:4, 2996:3, 1455:1, 1760:5; NS803:5
No respecter of persons – The message was open for all. R2990:3
But is a respecter of character. R2988:3
Yet God's favor was given first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. R5168:3, 4345:4, 2133:2
We must recognize the consecrated Church of Christ as does the Head of the Church, irrespective of denomination. OV187:3,4
God is equally as willing to forgive the repentant sins of the world as the sins of the Church. R5531:1; SM207
Does this not suggest that all shall come to a knowledge of the truth. HG336:2
Every man shall stand equal before the law of God. HG514:3
No denomination can be conceded the right to appropriate the name which our Lord gave to all truly his disciples. CR79:5
"Of one blood God created all the families of the earth." NS63:6
Expresses a general truth. R1180:3
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| 35 but in every nation he fearing him, and working righteousness, acceptable to him is. |
In every nation – Now, henceforth, the righteous, God-fearing in every nation were to be acceptable. R4345:4, 2458:1
Peter now realized the meaning of his house-top vision (verse 15), and that the Lord "hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition." (Eph. 2:14) R4345:4, 5504:1, 1472:1, 586:6, 503:1
The "Lazarus" class died, or ceased from their former condition, and were received into favor of God. R1087:1
Feareth him – Perfect love casts out slavish but not reverential fear. (1 John 4:18) R2986:6, 2289:6
Is – Now. R2133:2
Accepted with him – Through the merit of the sacrifice given. R2133:2, 2989:6
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| 36 The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming glad tidings of peace through Jesus Anointed; this is of all a Lord. |
The word – Is kindly disposed toward us. R3059:1
Preaching peace – No suggestion of eternal torment, but full of mercy and grace. R4308:4
The old, old story. R2989:6
He is Lord of all – Having purchased all mankind. R1068:2
By reason of the great work of Atonement. (Rom. 14:9) E134
Not the pre-human Logos, nor yet the man Jesus, but the resurrected Messiah. "The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords." (Rev. 19:16) E136
Partaker of the divine nature, "that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." (John 5:23) R1278:5
"The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son." (John 5:22) R587:1, 710:4
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| 37 You know that having been a spoken word in whole of the Judea beginning from the Galilee, after the dipping which was preached of John; |
That word – The good news. R240:5
In harmony with what the Prophets had witnessed. R1451:6
Ye know – Probably having heard Christ himself preach it at the time the servant was healed. R1922:5
After the baptism – Jesus was not the Messiah, the Anointed, the Christ, until after his baptism, at thirty years of age. B66; A224
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| 38 Jesus that from Nazareth, how anointed him the God with spirit holy and power, who went about doing good and curing all those being oppressed by the accuser, because the God was with him; |
How God anointed – At thirty years of age. R289:4
The word "Christ" means "anointed." A81; R270:2, 240:5
The evidence that Our Lord was set apart for a very high office. R5227:6
"The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings." (Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18) R240:5
The Jewish age harvest started at the beginning of Jesus' ministry when he was anointed. It is proper to say that the Gospel age began with the anointing of Jesus. A223, A224; R271:6, 273:1
Thirty years from the babe Jesus until he stood in Jordan's and was anointed. R289:4
Jesus of Nazareth – The Royal Priesthood began with him; although justified believers had lived long before that time, just as the tribe of Levi existed long before the Jewish priesthood was formed. T27
With the Holy Spirit – Thus beginning the Gospel age or spirit dispensation. A224; R273:1
And with power – "God gave not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34). T37; R370:1
Doing good – Teaching, healing the sick, the deaf, the blind, and instructing his disciples. R5375:6
Abundant in good works. And to preach the gospel. R2157:3*, 84:5*
Some get the erroneous view that our Lord's chief work amongst men was to heal their sicknesses. This was incidental to his preaching. R4137:2
Our Lord's wrought thirty-six miracles during his ministry. R4137:2
The Christ is not commissioned merely to negative goodness but to positive. R2157:3*
Healing – Greek, iaomai, as in "Pray one for another, that ye may be (morally or spiritually) healed" (Jas. 5:16), and as in "Lest they shoeal them." (John 12:40) R4099:5*
Oppressed of the devil – Through sickness, etc.; traceable, either directly or indirectly, to sin and the author of sin, Satan. R2133:3, 423:6
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| 39 and we witnesses of all, which he did in both the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom also they killed having hanged on a cross. |
And we – The apostles chosen for the purpose. E213; F211; R1522:5
Are witnesses – To behold his works, to hear his message; and to be the specific witnesses of his resurrection. F211, F214, F215; E213
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| 40 This the God raised up the third day, and gave him manifest to become, |
Him God raised up – Christ could never have raised himself. R2795:2
He was raised up from death a glorious divine being. R4964:5, 2133:4
As "Lord of all." (verse 36) E136
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| 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses to those having been chosen before by the God, to us, who ate with and drank with him after that to have raised him out of the dead ones. |
Not to all the people – The people in general did not see the Lord Jesus after his resurrection. R2133:4, 773:2; B124
Even to us – The apostles. E213
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| 42 And he commanded us, to publish to the people and to fully testify that he is the having been appointed by the God a judge of living ones and of dead ones. |
He commanded us – The apostles. F215; R2990:1
To testify that – Of the resurrected Jesus. B124; R2989:6, 2133:4
God to be the Judge – "God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained." ( Acts 17:31) R2990:3
Of quick – The angels who kept not their first estate. (Jude 6) R2133:4
The living. B124
And dead – In the sense that all are under the sentence of death. "Dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1) R2133:4
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| 43 To him all the prophets bear testimony, forgiveness of sins to receive through the name of him every one the believing into him. |
Through his name – "There is none other name under heaven." ( Acts 4:12) R2997:4
Believeth in him – Faith in Jesus' blood, and in no others. R4476:1, 2997:4
Remission of sins – There is no other means of approach to God. R2997:4; E461
Abraham did need a Redeemer, and so do we. PT267
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| 44 While speaking the Peter the words these, fell the spirit the holy on all those hearing the word. |
Spake these words – He proceeded to tell them the true story of Jesus: his death, his resurrection, the call of the Church class--proving their worthiness by loyalty and faithfulness unto death. PD75/89
Cornelius had to believe what everybody must believe in order to become a Christian. HG117:6; NS803:4
The Holy Spirit fell – Without the laying on of hands as it was bestowed at Pentecost. Peter was not ready to lay his hands upon him. Peter quickly learned the lesson. R2990:5
The baptism of the holy Spirit comes upon the Church collectively. Indicating that the Gentiles also may become members of the Anointed. R5394:1, 1523:1
And has continued with all the consecrated and faithful ever since. R1523:1
The promised favor to Israel were fulfilled. B71.
The third baptism of the holy Spirit. Peter, used the second key to open the door for the Gentiles. E214; R375:5; Q75, 783; HG737:5; NS803:5, 213:2; SM465, 466
Them which heard – Those who appreciated, not infants. F448
The Church at Ceasarea was of considerable size; Philip made it his headquarters, Paul visited it three times. R2222:3
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| 45 And were astonished those of circumcision believers as many as came with the Peter, because also on the Gentiles the gift of the holy spirit has been poured out; |
Were astonished – Yet they were not envious. R2990:5
Shows that the Gospel had not been preached to any Gentiles for some time after Pentecost. R189:5
On the Gentiles – At the end of Fleshly Israel's seventieth week of favor. A223; R5832:6, 4344:2, 271:6
The gifts – Differed from "the fruits" of the Spirit. Conferred by laying on of the hands of the apostles. E207
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| 46 they heard for them speaking with tongues, and magnifying the God. Then answered the Peter: |
Magnify God – Praising him, and rejoicing in their acceptance. R2990:5
Peter was merely the agent chosen. R1525:2
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| 47 Not the water to forbid is able any that not to be dipped these, who the spirit the holy received as even we? |
Can any man forbid water – Appropriate and proper symbol. R1545:5
Baptized – Water immersion, symbolic of the immersion into Christ's death which he had already experienced. R4345:4, 2990:5, 760:3 10:48
Commanded – Directed. Similarly the Lord directs all of his people. R2990:6
In their consecration vow and in water. The custom of all the apostles. F448
In "fulfilling all righteousness," it is a joy and privilege. R760:6
Baptized – As a symbol of death and burial with Christ, and of a resurrection to newness of life. Our Lord's request and the Apostle's command. R2990:5, 937:4
Greek, dipping; immersion. R444:3, 5394:1, 4333:6, 1541:2,3, 760:3
It is certain that our Lord and his apostles practiced and enjoined upon all followers the rite of water baptism. R1539:3, 1540:4; NS54:4
Different from John's baptism. R445:4
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| 48 He directed and them to be dipped in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to remain days some. |
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