Chapter VIII.--PETER AND CORNELIUS.

Having received the direct commands of God by the Holy Spirit, "Peter" at once "went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek; what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, 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. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea." Cornelius, knowing at about what time his messengers might be expected back, had called his friends together to receive Peter, whom he was anxiously expecting to come with his servants. "And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him." Thus did the centurion show his joy and gratitude after the manner of the Gentiles, who often did pay to their fellow creatures that degree of reverence and worship due to God alone; and Cornelius, looking upon Peter as the especial servant of God sent to him by the interposition of an angel, might naturally on his appearance fall into this error. Peter, however, at once checked such an expression of the centurion's feeling; teaching him, that the worship due to God must never be given to any man under any circumstances; so, when Cornelius fell at his feet, "Peter took him up, saving, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I to you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for." Having thus given an account of himself, Peter very naturally added, "I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?" Cornelius at once gave to Peter an account of the vision that had been vouchsafed to him, and in consequence of which he had sent for him; and added, "and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

Peter, as a Jew, had been brought up to believe that the favour of God was confined to the descendants of Abraham; but he now openly expresses his conviction, that no such line of separation existed, saying, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him:" a doctrine very displeasing to the unbelieving Jews, but most comforting to the Gentiles, who were no longer shut out from the favour of God, now that all distinction between Jew and Gentile was done away with by the preaching of the Gospel. Peter then spake to Cornelius and his friends of Jesus; of His Life, Death, Resurrection, and of the commandment which He had given to His Apostles "to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead;" and Peter ended his discourse by repeating the great Gospel truth, "that through faith in Jesus all may receive remission or pardon of their sins."

Even while Peter was speaking, the Lord gave a signal proof that there was indeed, in His sight, no difference between Jew and Gentile, amongst those who believed the Gospel, and became followers of Jesus; for "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word," that is, the Gospel as now preached by Peter; and the Spirit enabled "them to speak with tongues," that is, to speak foreign languages, as in the case of the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost: for this instance of mercy they did magnify and praise the Lord.

"And they of the circumcision," the Jews who had become believers, and had now accompanied Peter from Joppa to Cæsarea, "were astonished, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Holy Ghost," in this plain and unmistakeable manner.

"Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Peter justly felt, that these Gentiles, who had so evidently been made partakers of "the inward and spiritual grace of Baptism," might be safely allowed to receive "the outward visible sign." "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days" at Cæsarea, that he might yet further instruct them in the doctrines of the Gospel.

Peter no doubt complied with this request, and we may be sure that he dwelt on the necessity of holiness in all the followers of Jesus, and exhorted his hearers to constant and earnest prayer to Him, from Whom come all good gifts, and without Whose help man can do no good thing.

"The Apostles and brethren that were in Judæa, heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God," without at the same time hearing under what circumstances Peter had gone amongst them to preach it.

"And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision,"--that is, those Jews who, although they had become disciples, still thought that the Law of Moses was to be obeyed in all its ceremonies, and that the Gospel should be preached to Jews only,--blamed, or "contended with Peter, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." Peter, instead of being angry, that he, one of the Apostles appointed by Christ, should be thus called to account by those whose duty it was to learn of him, quietly "rehearsed (or repeated) the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them," beginning with his own vision at Joppa, and ending with the baptism of Cornelius and his friends, in consequence of the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon them; saying, in regard to this subject, "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God?"

"When they heard these things, they held their peace," ceased to blame Peter, seeing that he had only done as God directed him: and being now convinced that it was indeed the Will of the Lord that the Gospel should be preached to all nations, they "glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

All who believe in Jesus Christ themselves, will always rejoice when others are brought to do so too: Christians will ever show their love for Jesus, by doing all in their power to bring others to know and love Him: and whatever else we may be able to do, let us always remember to pray for them, and to ask God to let "His knowledge cover the earth as the waters cover the sea."

One thing more we should remark, as it teaches us a useful lesson in our dealings with our fellow creatures; and that is, how often disputes and quarrels would be avoided, if we followed Peter's example; and, instead of being angry when we are unjustly blamed, were to take it patiently, and then quietly explain all the circumstances which have caused the misunderstanding. But instead of that, amongst us, whether children or grown-up people, if one makes a false accusation, or casts undeserved blame upon another, that other too often feels provoked and angry, and answers sharply; one sharp cross answer leads to others; and so on, until there is a regular quarrel, whereby both parties sin against God: and all this might have been prevented by a few quiet gentle words of explanation. Let us remember, "that a soft answer turneth away wrath," and that the "beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water,"--we cannot tell where it will stop.

The Lord bids us live peaceably with all men: let us try to do so, striving never to provoke others, nor to be provoked by them.

We have seen that, after Stephen's death, most of the disciples left Jerusalem, and "they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as the country of Phenice," or Ph[oe]nicia, to the N.W. of Judæa, and to the isle of Cyprus, and to the town of Antioch in Syria, which lay about twelve miles from the sea, having the river Orontes running through it. To all these distant parts the disciples travelled, "preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only," who happened to be in those different places. "And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians," the Jews born in foreign lands, preaching the Lord Jesus. The people of Cyprus, and of Cyrene on the coast of Africa, spake the Greek language; and therefore, could make themselves understood by the Grecians, who knew nothing of Hebrew, the language in which the other disciples preached. "And the hand of the Lord was with" all them that preached; and "a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."

"Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch," to ascertain the truth of what the Apostles had heard, and to confirm the faith of those who had turned to the Lord. Barnabas was now numbered with the Apostles, and exercised like authority; "for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." When he came to Antioch, and had seen how by the grace of God so many were truly converted, he "exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord": that is, that they would continue steadfast in the faith, and determine to devote themselves entirely, body and soul, heart and mind, to the service of the Lord. The preaching of such a man could not fail to have its effect; for he was full of the Holy Ghost; and so we read that "much people was added unto the Lord."