Acts 10 - The conversion of Cornelius

 

This is why I love journaling in my bible! I have come to Acts chapter 10 and I already have some notes from a sermon I heard on the right hand side and they are all good!

The title is "Revival comes to Caesarea."

In verses 1 to 3 we are introduced to Cornelius, a centurion who prayed to God - so for revival to happen we need to be in the attitude of prayer (leaning to prayer). Notice the little phrases about this man - "a devout man", "feared God", "gave much alms to the people" and "prayed to God alway". He had a reverential fear of God, but it was not a personal faith in God. God took note of all of these things. When an angel came to him one day he was very fearful but he knew this was God at work in his life. 

In verse 24 we see his longing for God - he called his family and friends to his house to wait until Peter came. He wanted to know more, he had a real desire for God in his life. He didn't want to hear this good news and his family and friends miss it too. What a challenge - do I have the same longing?

In verse 5 he listened to God's word and obeyed. He sent for Peter in Joppa.

In verse 4 we see him looking for God. Just like Nehemiah in the Old Testament who when he had heard the news from Jerusalem that everything was in ruins and the people were not following God, so too Cornelius wanted to find out more. Nehemiah became involved and he included others in the work. So too did Cornelius.

The result - verse 44 "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." 

How many are like Cornelius? They know of God yet have never come to a personal knowledge of him. Would I be willing like Peter to go and tell others of Christ? God rewarded both men's obedience by a Holy Ghost revival - imagine if that happened today if only I was obedient!

Before I get to chapter 10 I looked at 2 miracles in Acts 9 verses 32 to 43, 2 miracles which were very similar to Jesus'. The first is of a man who had palsy and was bed bound. The second is of a respected believer in Joppa, Dorcas. The narrative moves away from Saul's conversion to focus again on Peter. The first 5 chapters of Acts had dealt with him and now we move back to his activities. Peter didn't stay in Jerusalem but instead moved 35 miles away to Lydda. The first miracle is reminiscent of Mark 2 verses 10 to 12 when Jesus healed a man who was brought to him by his 4 friends. There was no room for them to bring him into the house so they went up onto the roof and let him down. We notice in this chapter that Peter clearly told this crippled man that it was Jesus Christ who made him whole but he had to act in faith - in other words, get up and walk. Immediately he obeyed and as a result we read that when the people saw the man walking they turned to the Lord. Earlier today I came across a phrase on the internet which I thought was very appropriate ....

"Surround yourself with friends who will tear a hole in the roof, lift  you up and carry you down to the feet of Jesus."

The second miracle is of the resurrection of Dorcas or Tabitha. This woman was "full of good works and alms deeds which she did." The believers in Joppa where she lived were very sad when she took sick and died. They knew that Peter was in Lydda so sent for him. In a repeat of a similar miracle performed by Jesus in Mark 5 verses 38 to 43 Peter went into the room where she lay and told her to arise. He took her by the hand and she is raised to life again. 

Both miracles authenticate the ministry of Peter - Jesus is working through him but now he is going to work in him.

In verse 43 of chapter 9 we read that Peter went to live with Simon a tanner (a Gentile) - a sign that God was starting to work to change Peter and his prejudices. 

At the same time as God was speaking to Cornelius in chapter 10 he was also speaking to Peter. Cornelius lived in Caesarea, 33 miles up the coast from Joppa. He was a commander of a cohort of 100 Roman soldiers. Luke includes the fact that he "feared God" which designates Cornelius as belonging to a special category of non-Jews who believed in Israel's God and went to the synagogue but had not become full converts to Judaism, which required submission to the rite of circumcision and adherence to the dietary restrictions in the Levitical commands. He is "devout" and noted for his charitable gifts to the poor and his constant prayer. The Jews would not have socialised with him. Such a reminder - there are people worshipping in our churches who are going through the motions week in and week out yet they do not know God personally. What are we doing to reach them? Maybe we don't recognise they are not saved, what does that say about our own standards?

Notice that when God spoke to Cornelius he called him by his name - God seen Cornelius and knew all about him - he acknowledged his prayers and his alms. Cornelius was afraid but acknowledged that it was God appearing before him. He was told to send for Simon Peter in Joppa and immediately he obeyed. Remember Cornelius is sincere but he is not saved!

Peter received divine revelation because there is something missing in his apostolic ministry - something so significant that the veil between heaven and earth is pierced so that it can be dealt with.

When Peter went to pray he was hungry. As a Jew he had to be careful what he ate. There were whole categories of foods that were off limits - see Leviticus 11. What had not become clear to him was that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus had made such laws obsolete. Peter, like many of the other believers as Jews were still holding to what had been a way of life for them.

3 times he refuses to eat and 3 times God tells him "what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."  In verse 17 we read "while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean." He was confused about what the vision meant. Then, just at that moment, the men from Cornelius' house came knocking at his door. They explained about how the angel appeared to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter so that he could "hear words" from him.

When Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius, he discovered that a number of relatives and close friends had joined him, anxious to hear what the man summoned by the angel would have to say. Initially Cornelius fell down at his feet and worshipped Peter but Peter immediately put him right - he was only a man after all.

Peter made it clear that as a Jew it was not his belief that he should have anything to do with anyone who was not a Jew. This was his interpretation of the Old Testament Levitical law. However, he also was beginning to understand the purpose of his recent vision - God is revealing to him that Gentiles (which Cornelius was) were no longer to be considered "unclean".

The message Peter brought to Cornelius was similar to what he preached on the day of Pentecost when the Jews were gathered in Jerusalem in Acts 2. Notice what his sermon said ...

• Jesus was baptized in identification with humanity - verse 37
• Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power - verse 38
• Jesus went about doing good and healing, delivering those oppressed y the devil - verse 38
• Jesus did this with the power of God, for God was with him - verse 38
• Jesus was crucified - verse 39
• Jesus was raised from the dead, resurrected in view of many witnesses - verses 40 and 41
• Jesus commanded his followers to preach the message of who he is and what he did - verse 42
• Jesus is ordained by God to be judge of the entire world - verse 42
• Jesus is the one foretold by the prophets - verse 43

"The apostle was not long in his address before he came to the doctrine of the judgment of all men by Jesus Christ. He says that he was commanded to preach it, and therefore did preach it." C H Spurgeon

The brief sermon concluded with an understanding of the broadness of God's promise of salvation - "whosoever believeth" ie Jew or Gentile, slave or free, white or black, good or wicked, rich or poor! Anyone and everyone who puts their faith in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins. As cleansed and forgiven sinners, they can approach God, not as outsiders, nor as second-class citizens, but with confidence that they will be welcomed.

These same Gentile believers experienced the same baptism of the Holy Spirit and water baptism that the Jewish believers experienced at Pentecost. They are now fully fledged members of the new-covenant community of those who are joined to Christ by faith.

Believers from Joppa had accompanied Peter and they were amazed at what they seen and heard. Everything was so new to them - staying in the homes of Gentiles, eating with them, growing to love them and to call them "believers."

For Cornelius it was also very new - up to now they had been on the fringes and now they are welcomed in. They are forgiven and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, growing in love for their Saviour, Jesus Christ. Now they are experiencing grace.

Taken from Saved by Nancy Guthrie and the Enduring Word Commentary

Acts 9 - The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus

    

Context is everything when reading the bible. I have come to Acts 9 and the story of Saul's conversion. Now I know a lot about Saul but putting that altogether is important as I start to read.

In chapter 7 we first read about him watching Stephen's death and the people stoning Stephen were laying down their clothes at his feet. So he is obviously on the side of those who were killing Stephen. Then in chapter 8 verse 1 we are told he was consenting or agreeing to Stephen's death. In verse 3 we read he made havoc amongst the believers. He charged into homes and arrested people, taking them as prisoners. He had one mindset - to squash this movement. What was he against - righteousness through faith in the risen Christ.

So who is Saul? He came from Tarsus, a Greek city devoted to learning. His family were actually Jewish. At his circumcision on the eighth day he was given 2 names, one after the first king of Israel and a Greek name, Paul. By 5 years of age he was learning to read the scrolls of the Old Testament. At 6 he would have begun to be schooled by a rabbi to become immersed in the law. Between the ages of 13 and 16 he was sent to Jerusalem to study under a respected teacher of the law, Gamaliel. He started to encounter followers off "the Way". These were Jews who believed Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah and had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. Saul thought this was blasphemy and he was determined to do all he could to stop these people. The Jewish leaders recognised him as someone who could act on their behalf in this pursuit. He hated Jesus and was very determined to do all he could to stop the spread of this faith. So he set his sights on the nearest city outside the borders of Palestine. He went to the high priest and made sure he had letters with his authority to carry out his plan. What was that plan? To attend the synagogue in Damascus and compel everyone to name those who dared to speak of Jesus.

When we think of people who come to faith in Christ there is none with such a great a testimony as this man. God chose him to bring light to the Gentiles. And he could choose you too ...

There is so much to learn in these first 31 verses of Acts 9.

Notice firstly the place Saul chose for his attack - Damascus. This was a place to which the believers had scattered to and there obviously were a large number of them because Saul had heard of them back in Jerusalem. It was 130 miles away, a 6 day journey on foot. But it was only as they came near Damascus that God stopped Saul. All that time to plan his attack. First there was a light from heaven. This was not any old light, nor the sun shinning a bit brighter. This was the radiant glory of the face of the risen Jesus shining down so brightly on Saul that he was blinded by it. The human features of Jesus were looking down on Saul through the open doorway of heaven. It  brought an immediate response from Saul - he fell to the ground.

Then a voice was heard. It called his name, twice. Jesus was not angry but had such compassion. It was the same way he responded to Martha when she was so busy and harassed in the home. It was the same way when Jesus looked over Jerusalem and wept. He called Saul by name. He knew all about him. Who is to say that God couldn't do the same to us today - and he does when he starts convicting us. Some call it inner conscience because they don't recognise it as God himself speaking directly.

Notice the personal nature of this conversation - me and I from Jesus. Saul in response to Jesus' question to him asked 2 important questions. Not  maybe the questions we ask or want answered such as why is there so much pain and death in this world or how can I be a better person. No he asked "who are you" and "what do you want me to do?" The reference to kicking against the pricks is actually referring to Saul's own conscience. He was being asked to consider why he was planning to do what he wanted.

By this stage Saul was so awestruck, realising God knew him personally and what he planned to do that he was prepared to do whatever. But God didn't reveal his plan to him just yet. God only gives us enough light for just that next step. He was told to get up and go into the city. In other words continue to travel to the place where you planned to do so much harm.

While Saul was having a personal encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road another man was having a personal revelation in  Damascus itself.

We know nothing of Ananias - he appears and disappears as quickly. But he was a believer and he heard directly from God in a vision during a time of prayer. How would we respond if God told us he had a special job only we could do? He immediately responded to God's calling "here I am." It reminds me of other great people in our bibles who similarly heard God speaking to them and showing them visions. Think for instance of Isaiah in the temple when God told him to go and speak to Israel. 

God had some very specifics for Ananias:

A specific street = Straight

A specific house = house of Judas

A specific man = one called Saul of Tarsus

A specific thing he was doing = praying

A specific vision the man had = he had seen a man named Ananias

The instruction was the same as given to Saul - "arise and go". God told Ananias about Saul's vision. When he said that Saul was praying it was by way of confirming there had been a definite change in his heart. 

Ananias had a very clear knowledge of Saul and his purpose for coming to Damascus. He was not afraid to tell Jesus that - when we have questions do we bring them to God? Jesus countered that by telling Ananias of Saul's future. Saul is called a "chosen vessel" to God himself. Saul would later write about this in Philippians and Galatians. A clear reminder that God is sovereign over every day of his life up to this point. God had been watching over his life - surely we can say the same as we look back on our lives too. 

Notice his specific purpose for Saul - to bear God's name before Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Notice it was to Gentiles first, then kings and finally Jews. But he would also suffer for his name too. God would reveal that to him personally. Surely this is a reminder too that God knows the future before we do. Our lives are mapped out before they are lived.

Ananias went his way and did exactly as he had been told. Notice how he addressed Saul when he first met him - he called him his brother in the Lord.

The reaction of the people of Damascus to Saul's conversion is amazing. How do we react when we meet people who have put their faith in Christ who have long been persecuting us for doing the same?

Saul's conversion reminds us of several things:

We must be confronted with our sin and rebellion against God.

As we put our faith in God we have to wait for God to do his work in us following such confrontation.

Salvation is something God does in us. 

What we do is a response to God working in and through us.

God sometimes finds people who are not actually looking for him at all.

God can reach people in our lives that we think are far from him. 

God looks for believers to help in other people's conversions.

God needs us to be broken first but he also uses that as a prelude to filling.

Notice that Saul acted immediately - he went into the synagogue and preached Christ. As a Jew he was thoroughly grounded in the scriptures so knew how to prove who Jesus was. He was telling them of salvation in Christ alone.

People were amazed that this could be the same person who had originally intended to crush them. This speaks of the difference that needs to be evidenced in our lives for a genuine recognition of faith in Christ. As Saul preached he grew in his faith and became stronger - surely this speaks to us of how as believers we need to grow in our knowledge of God daily through his word. 

But certain Jews didn't like what had happened. They plotted to kill Saul. He soon heard of it and had to escape out of Damascus.

In Jerusalem all the believers were afraid of Saul and didn't really believe he had come to faith in Christ. It took Barnabas to act as his advocate to prove that he was genuine. Eventually after another couple of attempts on his life the believers sent him to Tarsus. Another 8 or 9 years would pass before Saul would become prominent in his ministry. He had so many changes in his short life:

A young successful energetic rabbit

A persecutor

A blind man

An convert

A preacher

An apostle

But also an unknown for 8/9 years.

These unknown years were not wasted - God was preparing him!

I am using Saved by Nancy Guthrie's as well as the Enduring Word Commentary.

Song of Solomon 1 verse 3 - The Fragrance of Christ

THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST

“Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.” Song of Solomon 1 verse 3

In this verse, explaining her love for Solomon, the Shulamite maiden admires his “good ointments.” She liked the fragrances she could smell when she was with him. And when she was not with him, she enjoyed a different fragrance, the recollection of his name. It was as if someone had broken a jar of costly ointment and poured it out in her presence. His name, which represented all that he was, gave her that much pleasure.

The Shulamite later refers to him as “a bundle of myrrh” (verse 13) and “a cluster of henna blooms” (verse 14)

These verses bear testimony to the strong link in the bible between fragrance and Christ.

The fragrance of Christ’s person

Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh presented by wise men from the east Matthew 2 verses 1 and 11. They offered 3 gifts and 2 of these are fragrances. These 2 were used in very definite ways.

Frankincense (pure incense). The basic word incense in the OT occurs more than 100 times.  In the NT it is found in Luke 1 verses 

9 to 11 and Revelation 8 verses 3 and 4. Whenever it occurs it has to do with the service of God.

Myrrh – used for the purpose of perfuming a bed – Proverbs 7 verse 17 or a garment – Psalm 45 verse 8. It was prescribed for certain young ladies to make them more desirable - Esther 2 verse 12. It was also used lavishly in bridal processions – chapter 3 verse 6. Mingled with wine it served as an anaesthetic – Mark 15 verse 23. Finally, it was used in preparing a body for burial – John 19 verses 39 and 40.

Frankincense is associated with deity and myrrh with suffering humanity. The baby in a manger was nothing less than God in human flesh! He was God incarnate. He was fully God and fully man at one and the same time, without any contradiction between the two. He was there in Bethlehem because God, in grace that staggers the mind, had taken to himself our humanity.

The fragrance of Christ’s death to God

Why did the Second Person of the Trinity take to himself our humanity? Why was he made flesh? The apostle Paul gives us the answer by again linking Christ to fragrance. Ephesians 5 verse 2 “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Noah – Genesis 8 verse 21 – when he left the ark he offered a sacrifice and the Lord “smelled a soothing aroma”.

Moses and animal sacrifices according to the law – the Lord calls the burnt offering  a sweet aroma Exodus 29 verse 18. God’s pleasure in those sacrifices lay in what they represented.  Back in Garden of Eden animal sacrifices began when God killed animals and made coats of skin for Adam and Eve.  Their sins had been transferred to the animals which had thus been punished in their place by death. Animals cannot pay for the sins of men. But they could and did picture the Lord Jesus Christ, who would one day come to make a perfect and effectual sacrifice for sin. Animal sacrifices pictured and anticipated the perfect offering of Christ.

The fragrance of the gospel to those who believe

2 Corinthians 2 verse 14 Paul is defending and describing his ministry as an apostle and expresses his gratitude to God for diffusing “the fragrance of his knowledge in every place.”  Then he adds this word of explanation – “for we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death (leading) to death, and to the other the aroma of life (leading) to life.” 2 Corinthians  verses 15 and 16

Paul asserts that this message is fragrant to God (verse 15). It is obvious that the preaching of that death must be  fragrant to him. It is the preaching of “Jesus Christ and him crucified” that is fragrant to God (1 Corinthians 2 verse 2). When we depart from this gospel to proclaim other things, we are not pleasing God.  That gospel is also fragrant to those in whom the Spirit of God effectually works. The message makes them aware of their situation. It tells them that they must stand before a holy God and that he demands perfect righteousness of all those who would enter heaven. It makes clear that they have absolutely no righteousness of their own to offer God. When the sinner realises these things, he is driven to dark despair. But then the Spirit of God points him to the Lord Jesus. Christ has paid for the sins he has committed and has provided the righteousness that the sinner lacks. He can indeed meet God’s demand for perfect righteousness by availing himself of the “righteousness which ... is through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3 verse 9). Casting himself totally and entirely upon the Lord Jesus, the sinner finds that there is life, eternal life, in Christ. Yes, in that gospel message he smells the fragrance of life, and what a sweet fragrance it is!

The fragrance of the gospel to those who reject it

At the same time as it emits the fragrance of life to those who receive it, it also emits the odour of death to those who reject it Being spiritually blind they cannot even see that they need a Saviour and they certainly cannot see how a man dying on a Roman cross can give them eternal life. In fact they are offended at the suggestion. Because they see only death in the message of “Christ and him crucified”, they reject it and in rejecting it they seal their own eternal death.

The fragrance of a coming day

Psalm 45 verse 8 “All your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made you glad.” This psalm is about Christ and his bride, the church. This passage refers to Christ. This psalm is about the wedding of Christ and his church. The day of Jesus’ second coming will be the wedding day of the Lamb and his bride, the Church. On that glorious day, the church will at last fully appreciate the fragrance of her Christ.

The Christian’s fragrance

Christ finds much in the church that delights and pleases him.

Firstly they are fragrant to him because they are his Father’s gift to him – John 17 verse 6

Secondly, they are fragrant to Christ because they manifest the nine graces that Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5 verses 22 and 23

These things that Christ finds fragrant in his people are not there by nature, but are rather put there by the indwelling Spirit of Christ; they are the fruit of the Spirit not of human nature.

Paul also refers to the sacrificial service performed on his behalf by Epaphroditus as “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable service, well pleasing to God” Philippians 4 verse 18. So any act of service to God or his people performed from a heart of love is fragrant to our Lord.

Finally, we find the author of Hebrews appealing to his readers to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God”, which he calls “the fruit of our lips” (Hebrews 13 verse 15). He also calls the doing of good “sacrifices” with which God is “well pleased” (Hebrews 13 verse 16).

Look at the words “sacrifice” and “well pleased”. They take us back to the picture of God smelling a sweet savour in sacrifices. Just as Christ’s sacrifice of himself was fragrant to God, so is the Christian’s “living sacrifice” pleasing to God (Romans 12 verse 1). The offering of praise and worship to God and rendering of service for God are alike fragrant to him. It is our privilege and responsibility to see to it that we are offering up such sacrifices continually to our Lord.

Mary of Bethany, out of a heart of love for Christ, poured out a costly ointment on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. So lavish was this gift that the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the oil (John 12 verse 3). As we think about the fragrant ointments we have in Christ, it should be our desire to lavish the precious ointment of our own lives upon him in worship and service, so that the fragrance will be known to all around us. “Let your light so shine before men” said the Lord Jesus, “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5 verse 16).

Extract taken from He is Altogether Lovely by Roger Ellsworth