FRIDAY May 5, 2023
A Certain Man of Caesarea
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Acts 10:1-2
Acts 10 is a pivotal chapter, as it records the salvation of the Gentiles. Peter was a Jew, and he had preached to the Jews. Many had received the Word of God and were saved. The Jews were very prejudiced against the Gentiles; they considered them unclean. There was a great wall that separated them.
The purpose of God in the Old Testament was for the Jews to reach the other Gentile nations, but they failed. The Jews were supposed to be like the Church––reaching the world. They were to make God, Jehovah, known to them. When Jesus Christ came as their Messiah, as a Servant to die for the sins of the world, nationally, the Jews rejected Him. Peter, was a Jew. God used him and other believing Jews to reach the Gentiles.
The Gospel came first to the Jews. Jesus was a Jew! Contemplate Ephesians 2:11-13 to appreciate the Gospel message coming from the Jews to the Gentiles:
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The Church is now the light of the world! Peter had preached to the Jews in Jerusalem. Philip preached the Gospel in Samaria and had traveled to Caesarea the area where Cornelius lived. God would send Peter to reach Cornelius. The Gospel has continue to spread unto the ends of the earth!
Indeed He [God] says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
~Isaiah 49:6~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
