"Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea" (Acts 10:4-6).
Cornelius was caught doing good things for God. In the Acts 10 passage we read that he was a God-fearing man. He set the tone and the standard for his family: "He and all his family were devout and God-fearing" (v. 2). Additionally, he was known in both Roman and Jewish communities as a man who gave, and as a man who prayed. Though he was not a follower of Jesus Christ, and was not even Jewish, Cornelius established a standard for himself and his home that was pleasing to Jesus.
Cornelius' track record of praying regularly and giving generously was noticed and commended by God. In the midst of the new wave of God's mighty power being manifested in the early church, we see God sending an angel to the one man who does not fit the profile of the followers of "The Way". Cornelius was a Roman. Cornelius was a centurion, a soldier in charge of other soldiers. Cornelius' job was dependent on his loyalty to the state. If you met Cornelius in the street, his greeting to you would be "Hail Caesar!" And in the face of the profile, God sends an angel with a word...
God was doing things for Cornelius. In response to Cornelius' praying and giving, an angel shows up with clear statements and detailed instructions:
Cornelius, God knows what you have been doing.
Cornelius, God is so pleased with you!
Cornelius, you're a man with the authority to move men. Send some of your men over to Joppa to get Simon Peter and bring him to Caesarea.
Oh, and Cornelius, Simon Peter is staying at Simon Tanner's house by the sea. Your men will find him there.
Cornelius' giving and praying paved for way for Simon Peter to get an education on how God regards the people of the world. After Simon Peter realized that God was sending him to Gentiles, he said, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism" (v. 34). Walls of prejudice were broken down as God arranged this encounter between Cornelius and Simon Peter.
Cornelius' giving and praying paved the way for salvation to come to his household. In his actions we see a reflection of the promise of Jesus recorded in Matthew 6: a public reward for private activities. (Psalm 50 also echoes the correlation between giving to God and receiving His salvation.)
Cornelius' giving and praying paved the way for a multicultural church. Prior to his conversion, the earlier chapters of Acts present a picture of a church largely confined to those who were Jews. But God sent Peter from Caesarea to Joppa, to speak to a house packed with Gentiles. In the moment the Holy Spirit manifested His presence in that little community, the face of Christianity was changed forever (see Acts 10:21-46).
Wouldn't it be wonderful, Bronx Bethany, if your private giving and praying were so generous and consistent as to be recognized by God? It's a great way to destroy prejudice, to bring salvation to your household, and to become a multicultural community of faith where everyone has access to the presence and power of God.
Today, I pray that God catches you doing the right thing. Take care, my friends. See you Monday.
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