BIBLE STUDY LESSON 16

SERIES U --- THE EARLY CHURCH

CORNELIUS

A VISIT WITH A ROMAN OFFICER

From Acts 10:23-48

The next day, Peter left for Caesarea with Cornelius’ messengers. Six of the believers from Joppa went with them. They reached Caesarea the following day and found Cornelius waiting for them, along with some relatives and friends whom he had invited to his home. When Peter entered the house, Cornelius ran to meet him, kneeling down before him to worship him. But Peter took Cornelius by the hand and raised him up. [Get up,] he said. [I’m just a man, too.] After Peter and Cornelius talked for a while, they went into the house where the other people were gathered. [You know that it is against Jewish Law to visit a Gentile home or even to associate with Gentiles,] said Peter. [But YHVH has shown me that I must not consider anyone a second-class person, unfit for Him. I have come to be with you, as you asked, without hesitation. Now, why did you send for me?] [I was praying here in my house about four days ago, at the three-o-clock prayer time, when suddenly a man in brilliant clothing stood before me,] said Cornelius. [The man spoke my name and said, ‘YHVH has heard your prayers and has seen your kind deeds. Invite a man named Simon Peter to come to your house. He is staying in Joppa with Simon the tanner, a leather worker who lives by the sea.’ Therefore, I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. We are here in the presence of the Adonai, waiting to listen to whatever the Adonai has told you to say. Now I am certain that YHVH looks upon all men equally,] said Peter. [Adonai will accept any man of any nation if he honours YHVH and does what is right. You have heard about YHVH’s Good News to Israel, that Yeshua Moshiach is Adonai of all and brings peace to those who accept Him. You must surely be aware of the story that has spread over all Judea, starting in Galilee after John baptized Yeshua. You know about Yeshua of Nazareth -- how YHVH sent Ruach HaKodesh into His life with great power, and how He went from place to place, healing and helping all who were under the power of the devil, for YHVH was with Him. We have witnessed all that He did in Jerusalem and throughout the land. Yet, He was murdered when men hanged Him on a cross. But YHVH raised Him to life again on the third clay after His crucifixion, and several of us whom YHVH chose saw Him alive during this time. Not everyone was permitted to see Him alive after His crucifixion, only those who had been close to Him. But we did, and we ate and drank with Him after He came back from the dead. Yeshua Commanded us to tell the Good News to all people, to testify that He is the One Whom YHVH has appointed to be the Judge of all people, living and dead. The prophets told about Him, saying that anyone who believes in Him will have his sins forgiven through Yeshua’ Name.] While Peter was talking about these things, Ruach HaKodesh came upon those who were listening. The Jewish believers who had come with Peter from Joppa were astounded that Ruach HaKodesh was now sent to Gentiles, but they were sure that it was true, for these Gentile believers were speaking in strange languages, praising YHVH’s greatness. [Can anyone refuse to baptize these people with water?] Peter asked. [Remember, they have received Ruach HaKodesh as we have.] Then Peter gave orders for these Gentile believers to be baptized in the Name of Yeshua. After they were baptized, they asked Peter and his friends to stay with them for a few days.

COMMENTARY

CORNELIUS AND HIS FAMILY

Cornelius was a respected man in Caesarea. As a centurion in the Roman army, he commanded a unit of one hundred men called a {century.} He was stationed in Palestine with the Italian cohort, a well-disciplined troop of Roman soldiers. Caesar sent them to Palestine because it was a troubled spot in the Roman Empire. The cohort’s four hundred and eighty members helped the local troops maintain Roman rule over the rebellious Jewish nation. Cornelius was responsible for the equipment and training of each soldier in his century. He posted guards, conducted inspections, and led his men in military drills. As a sign of his office, he carried a short staff symbolizing his power to discipline men of lower rank. But Cornelius was not a man who misused his authority. He was known throughout Caesarea for his fair judgment and his generous gifts to the poor. Although his fellow officers did not understand his devotion to the Hebrew YHVH, they respected Cornelius for his honesty. Cornelius was a Gentile, but be had many Jewish friends. They called him a {God-fearer} because he prayed to YHVH and shunned the false gods of Rome. Cornelius also kept many of the Jewish Laws, although he was not a circumcised convert to Judaism. Every day he prayed at the appointed hours of Jewish prayer. He was saying his afternoon prayers one day when an angel appeared, who instructed Cornelius to send messengers to Joppa to find Simon Peter at the house of Simon the tanner. The angel promised Cornelius that Peter’s message would bring salvation to his family as well as himself. Luke does not give the names of Cornelius’ wife and children, but they did share his love for YHVH. They were waiting anxiously with Cornelius when the messengers returned from Joppa with Peter and his companions. The whole family listened eagerly to the words of the apostle. They were so glad to hear the Good News that they believed the Gospel even before Peter bad finished speaking. Instantly, they were filled with Ruach HaKodesh and began praising YHVH. Peter’s companions were amazed to hear Cornelius and his family speaking in tongues -- languages they had never been taught -- but they welcomed the first Gentiles into the believer church.