I please the Lord to bless us
together for a few moments as we continue our meditation in
the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 11, and we'll speak tonight from
verse 1 down to 18. As we mentioned, it is, of course,
a reiteration of those things which we contemplated, which
is recorded in more detail in the 10th chapter. but nonetheless
it is important that such things are recorded and the Spirit of
God is spoken in this chapter and in fact there are some things
mentioned in this account which are not mentioned in the longer
account in the tenth chapter. And we observe here in the case
of Cornelius the sovereignty of God. very clear situation
there. This man, this person Cornelius,
as you know he was a centurion in the Italian band and obviously
he wasn't a Jew and yet we read that he was a devout man and
one that feared God with all his house. And he gave alms to
the people and prayed to God always. So although he wasn't
a Jew, yet he was somebody who truly desired to worship the
true living God. And yet it would appear quite
clearly that he had never really bowed down before the Lord Jesus
Christ. He never really come to realize
the importance of the death of the Savior and all that it meant. And so we see the Apostle Peter
was ordained by God to go and to meet with Cornelius. And we
might think, well, it's rather strange that the Apostle Peter
should be called to do this great work. We think of Peter's life,
we know how he it was who so vehemently denied the Lord Jesus
Christ. And with oaths and curses. It wasn't just some light statement
that he made. But what do we read of Peter? And this is so very relevant.
You know, he went out and he wept bitterly. That means he
was really sorry for the sin, really sorry for his denial of
the Lord Jesus Christ. And no doubt that experience
was very important in the life of the apostle. because it showed
him his own weakness and it showed him the mercy of the Lord and
it showed him the great need of salvation. So we can observe
therefore how suitable in fact Peter was to be caused to do
this great work. And as we've read his account,
he was praying. And we read what he said. But just prior to that, of course,
the reason for this account was to the apostles and those who
were in Jerusalem. He now returned to Jerusalem.
He told them what had happened and they weren't very pleased.
They thought he stepped out of line. But there he was. speaking
to those who were uncircumcised. And he makes his statement, which
was their statement. Thou wentest into them uncircumcised
and didst eat with them. Incredulous they were that Peter
should have done such things as this. But we see the great
glorious work of the Holy Spirit. It was the appointed time that
God should send the message of the glorious gospel through his
servant Peter to the Gentiles and specifically to this man
Cornelius and his household. So here he was back in Jerusalem
and he rehearsed the things that had occurred and he said Peter
rehearsed the matter from the beginning. He didn't leave out
any details. Generally he told them whole
picture. And it's good because what was
it? Well it was God honouring and it had a blessed effect upon
the apostles. They didn't disregard it, they
listened and they observed that that which Peter was telling
them was indeed true. and it was the work of the Holy
Spirit, and there was the effect of the work of the Holy Spirit.
And so we see what the apostle was able to tell them, and he
remembered, you see, the details of what God had said and what
God had done. And I believe that's an important
consideration in our lives, because when the Lord does specific things
for us in our lives, and remember this was of a spiritual nature.
When the Lord does spiritual things for us, I don't think
we forget them. They may sometimes become a little
dim, but then they will perhaps be revived, and we'll remember
the great work of God in our heart, and the amazing things
that he's done, the things that he's revealed to us. What a blessing
it is when God gives us right understanding of the doctrines
and the wonderful truth of God's Word because when God does it
it's implanted in our heart and it's there and it does us real
good and it's for the honor and glory of God. And so the Apostle
tells us how he rehearsed this and he said he was in the city
of Joppa and he was praying Well, in the actual account previously,
it's not quite clear whether we assume he did pray, but here
he is stated very clearly. He was praying. Well, that's
a good place to be, isn't it? To be found praying. And it was
in this condition that Peter saw this vision of this vessel
being let down from heaven. And that's when he saw all these
four-footed beasts and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls
in the air. And then the Lord spoke to him and said, arise
Peter, slay and eat. Well, Peter never done such a
thing before. He was a very devout Jew. He
kept the law very carefully. Why should he now disobey the
law? So he said, not so Lord, for
nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But God spoke to him and God
put everything right. it's good in our lives when sometimes
things appear to be very strange and very opposite perhaps yet
when God speaks and he puts everything right and so he says God says
what God has cleansed that call not their common and then it
was done three times so Peter was under no misapprehension
as to what it meant and then he tells us immediately There
were men who'd come from Caesarea, the men that Cornelius had sent,
and to call him to go and speak to him. And he tells us then
the important statement, and the Spirit made me go with them.
He didn't just think, well, is it a good idea? Should I go?
No, he had a clear direction. The Spirit spoke. The Spirit
directed him. The Spirit made him go with them,
nothing doubting. nothing doubting off he went
and he went with those brethren and he came and entered into
Cornelius house and when he entered into the house he showed us Cornelius
showed us how it's in an angel in his house which stood and
said unto him send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname
is Peter who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy
house shall be saved now we don't read this in the other account
but how important and relevant it is here he was praying and
he clearly praying to god about the salvation of his soul clearly
the need he had of salvation and therefore here was this statement
that peter is able to rehearse whereby that who shall tell thee
words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." Well,
that was really the important point of the message, wasn't
it? That's the important reason for preaching the gospel to the
Gentiles, so that people may be saved. And so here was Peter
able to make this great and important statement. and all thy house
shall be saved. And he tells us then, as I began
to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. Yes, the Spirit of God clearly
was with the Apostle Peter. He wasn't just speaking vain
words. The words emanated from God himself.
The Holy Spirit applied the word and the word had a gracious and
blessed effect upon the people. And then he tells us, well, Then
he remembered, he said, then remembered I the word of the
Lord. However, he said, John indeed
baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
And those words were spoken to the apostles just before Jesus
ascended up into glory. They were some of the very last
words that were spoken to the disciples. how important they
were, how relevant they were, how necessary they were. And
so we see here that Peter remembered them. Now he sees the reason
for them. They weren't perhaps very clear
at the time, but now it's revealed to him. And now he rejoices in
it. And now he's thankful. And then he tells us, for as
much then as God gave them a light gift, as he did unto us who believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I? that I could withstand
God. Well of course he couldn't withstand
God and what a blessing it is when we have the evidence of
God's glorious work so powerful that it's completely obvious
that we cannot withstand the great and glorious work of God. Now he'd spoken these things
to the disciples and what was the result? It was a good result
and when they heard these things they held their peace, and glorified
God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance
unto life. There was no doubt in their hearts.
It was clearly the work of God. And I'm sure when the work of
God is declared to the church of God, to the people of God,
it's clear that it is the work of God. And so it was clear here
to the apostles. And what did they do? They glorified
God. because of this great work. And
again, what a blessing that is. If we are able to come and to
glorify God, as we observe the blessed, wonderful work of the
Holy Spirit, and to recognize that work, which brings repentance
unto life. May God bless his word. Amen.