CORNELIUS

ACTS 10:1

A. "THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN IN CAESAREA CALLED CORNELIUS, A CENTURION OF THE BAND CALLED THE ITALIAN BAND"
  1. The story of the conversion of Cornelius has always been fascinating to me:
    1. The first outstanding convert to the Christians
    2. A man of high moral stature, loved by Jews and Gentiles
  2. There is so much in the man's life that is challenging to all professed believers:
    1. He was "a devout man" - Acts 10:1
    2. "Feared God with all his house" - Acts 10:2
    3. Gave much alms to the people - Acts 10:2
    4. Was a man of prayer - Acts 10:2
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT CORNELIUS AS THE BIBLE PICTURES HIM
  1. He was a Gentile by birth and early training:
    1. That was true of Ruth and Moabites - Ruth 1:11-15
    2. That was true of the centurion, whose servant was very ill - Matt. 8:5-10
  2. But Cornelius became a convert through his contact with the Jews and the study of Bible prophecy:
    1. This fact emphasizes the importance of letting our light shine to those with whom we associate - Matt. 5:14-16
    2. It indicates further that Cornelius was looking for light; he saw that paganism had nothing to offer to his soul - I Thes. 1:9; I Cor. 12:2
  3. However, God had more light for him:
    1. And the tenth chapter of Acts gives us the story of the conversion of Cornelius to the faith in Jesus Christ
    2. The conversion of that noble man reminds us of the prayer of the Psalmist, "O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacle" - Ps. 43:3
  4. Note the divine method that brought Cornelius to the faith:
    1. God sent an angel to Cornelius to direct him to God's agent to bring the gospel to Cornelius - Acts 10:4-8
    2. The angel directed Cornelius to a man of like passions to bring the truth to him. This fact is most important to keep in min. God does not use unfallen beings to win sinners to Christ, but he uses converted sinners
  5. But note further:
    1. The angel had to go to Peter, too, to prepare him for his mission - Acts 10:9-28
    2. The vision of the beasts seen by Peter pointed out to him that the gospel of Jesus Christ was to go to the Gentiles - Acts 10:27-28
C. IN THE WONDERFUL STORY OF THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS WE HAVE THESE FOUR CHALLENGING VIRTUES TO PONDER
  1. Cornelius was a devout man:
    1. That means that he was fully dedicated to practice his convictions; there was no half-heartedness with him
    2. This reminds us of the commandment of the Lord, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" - Duet. 6:5; Examples: Job had this type of piety - Job 1:1-3; Simeon - Luke 2:25; Ananias - Acts 22:12; Zacharias and Elizabeth - Luke 1:5-6
    3. He feared the Lord - this fear simply means that he reverenced God; he loved Him. Such fear differs from just being afraid of God, but be awed by the thought of God
    4. He had his family with him; they all did what the head of the house did - Acts 10:2; Job 1:1-6; Joshua - Joshua 24:15; the converted jailer - Acts 16:30-33; Lydia - Acts 16:14-15
    5. He was a man of prayer - can this be said or written of us
    6. He was a cheerful giver of alms to the poor - what a virtue to have
  2. Dear reader, can these things be said about you and me?
    1. Has my relationship with Christ produced these virtues in my life
    2. If not why not


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