Preachers and Their Hearers

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye 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 Caesarea. 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. But Peter took him up, saying, 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 unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; 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. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, 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. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us 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. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. - Acts 10:1-48

    It is not surprising to read that, while Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius and his friends, 'The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word' (10:44). Such a marvellous manifestation of God's grace may be reasonably expected when men and women come to hear the Word of God with the attitude Cornelius and his friends had when they assembled to hear Peter (see 10:30-33). When preachers faithfully proclaim the gospel of the grace of God and those who hear them receive the Word of God with reverent, submissive, obedient faith, the blessings of God's grace are very likely to accompany the ministry of the Word. In this chapter, I shall use both Peter and Cornelius as examples, showing us what should reasonably be expected both from preachers and their hearers.

    I. What should a person's attitude be towards those who faithfully preach the gospel?

    Generally, people run to one of two extremes in their attitudes towards gospel preachers. Some hold them in contempt, despising them, ignoring them, or even opposing them, as the Judaizers in Galatia did Paul (Gal. 4:16). Others put preachers on a pedestal, as though they are to be adored and blindly followed, as Cornelius was ready to do with Peter (10:25-26). Both these extremes are evil. Those who faithfully preach the gospel of Christ are only men. Therefore, they must not be adored and followed blindly. But every faithful gospel preacher is God's man. Therefore, he is not to be despised, ignored, or treated with contempt. The servant of God is to be known, loved and highly esteemed by those to whom he ministers (1 Thess. 5:12-13). He is to be generously provided for by those who receive the benefit of his instruction (Gal. 6:6; 1Cor.9:7-14; 1 Tim. 5:17-18). And believers ought to remember their pastors in prayer, follow both their doctrine and their example and obey the messages they deliver as God's servants (Heb. 13:7,17-18).

    2. What did Cornelius and his friends expect from Peter?

    Cornelius had received a special revelation from God, showing him that Peter was ordained by God to be his instructor in the way of life and faith in Christ (10:5-6,32). Therefore he regarded Peter as God's ambassador. He expected to hear from Peter all that God had commanded him to declare (2 Cor. 5:18-21).

    Every faithful servant of God should be held in this high esteem by God's saints (1 Cor. 4:1-2). God's preachers today (pastors, elders, evangelists and missionaries) are not prophets or apostles. They do not possess prophetic or apostolic gifts, but they are God's ambassadors to sinners bound for eternity. They are sent to proclaim the same message to all men that Peter was sent to proclaim to Cornelius—justification and peace, remission and forgiveness of sins through Christ, who is Lord of all (10:36,43; Heb. 7:25). They are sent to preach Jesus Christ the Lord in his substitutionary redemption, sovereign reign and saving power.

    You have a right to expect from every man who claims to be a gospel preacher the same thing Cornelius expected from Peter (10:33). Those who preach the gospel must be men of utmost fidelity to the Word of God and to the souls of men. They must keep back nothing that is profitable, but faithfully declare all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27). God's express command is: 'He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully' (Jer. 23:28). Three things must characterize every gospel preacher. You should expect and require these three things of any man who ministers to your soul. The preacher must be: a man who knows the gospel (1 John 1:1-3); a man who preaches the gospel faithfully, regardless of cost or consequence (1 Cor. 9:16; Ezek. 33:7-8); a man whose conduct is consistent with the gospel (1 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:12-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5).

    3. What did Peter find in the assembly at Caesarea?

    Here are four things Peter found among Cornelius and his friends which every gospel preacher might reasonably expect to find among God's saints, when he comes before them to expound the Holy Scriptures.

    First, Peter found in Cornelius a man who was truly concerned for the souls of men (10:24). Cornelius knew some people who were perishing. He knew where they could hear the gospel. And he put forth considerable effort, time and expense to get those people under the sound of the gospel. Surely, it is reasonable to expect all who fear God to behave in the same way.

    Secondly, those men and women were gathered in the appointed place of worship, at the appointed hour with reverence, as in the presence of God to hear the Word of God, expecting to hear God speak to them by his servant (10:33). Like the young child Samuel in the temple, they came to the house of God saying, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth' (1 Sam. 3:9). Many do not hear from God when his servant preaches simply because they do not come to the house of God seeking a Word from God.

    Thirdly, Peter found in this band of people a readiness to receive the Word of God with meekness. Not one of them arrived late (10:33). As far as they were concerned nothing was so important as the hearing of the gospel. They readily received God's message (Isa. 66:1-2). They did not try to mould God's message to their way of thinking. They moulded their thoughts to the Word of God.

    The congregation at Cresarea was willingly determined to obey God. What God said, they immediately believed. What God required, they immediately gave. What God commanded, they immediately did. They submitted to Christ as Lord of all, trusted Christ for the remission of sins and confessed Christ in believer's baptism. These men and women did not merely acknowledge the truth of the Word of God. They took it as their only rule of faith and practice. They addicted themselves to it. We must do the same! Hold fast the truth of God (2 Tim. 1:8-13) and proclaim it everywhere (Matt. 28:18-20).

    4. What was the result of this meeting?

    Peter was faithful to God, his Word and the souls of men. Cornelius and his friends received the Word gladly. The result was glorious! The Lord God graciously visited and poured out his Spirit upon the band of chosen sinners (vv. 44-45).

    Blessed is the man who has the privilege of hearing a man like Peter faithfully preach the gospel. And blessed is the preacher who ministers to such a congregation as Peter found in Cornelius' house. Wherever such preachers and such hearers are found, God the Holy Spirit is present and will be manifest!