This is a story that illustrates how the obedience of two men was used by God to change the lives of many other people.
Lessons from the book of Acts (#6)
There is an amazing story in Acts, chapter 10, that demonstrates how God orchestrates events in the lives of people. This is a story of two men. One of the men is a Roman centurion (a Gentile) and the other man is an Apostle (a Jew). When this story begins, these two men are 33 miles apart and neither man knows the other man.
The first man’s name is Cornelius. He was “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10:2-5 ESV)
Cornelius obeyed and sent two of his servants to get the second man (who you now know is Peter.)
As the servants of Cornelius were traveling to Joppa, a city approximately 33 miles away, Peter “went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he … fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” … Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, … stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:9-20 ESV)
Peter obeyed.
The next day Peter went to Caesarea, with the servants of Cornelius, to meet with Cornelius.
Cornelius had gathered a group of his friends to hear the message that God had given to Peter to share with this group.
Peter was given the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with Cornelius and many other Gentiles. Many of these people believed what they heard and made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and were saved.
Read Acts chapter 10 in its entirety to get all the details of this story.
A brief summary of this story:
- There were two men in the story. Their lifestyles were very different. One was a Gentile the other was a Jew. One was a Roman soldier, the other was an Apostle.
- Both men were men of prayer.
- God had a plan and a purpose for both men.
- God approached both men separately, one with an angel and one with a vision.
- God asked both men to do something.
- Both men were receptive to the message from God.
- Both men responded in a positive manner (Cornelius more readily than Peter).
- God used both men in a way that resulted in the salvation of many other people.
Questions for reflection.
- Does your nationality, occupation, age, education, etc. keep God from being able to use you?
- Do you spend time with God in prayer?
- Do you believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life? (Ephesians 2:10)
- Are you receptive to God’s leading in your life?
- If you knew God was asking you to do something, would you do it?
- Are you expecting God to use you in significant ways?
- Do you believe God can use you to impact the lives of others?
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I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
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