Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/107

Rh for a memorial before God; they were upon record in heaven, in the book of remembrance that is written there for all that fear God, and shall be remembered to his advantage; "Thy prayers shall be answered, and thine alms recompensed." The sacrifices under the law are said to be for a memorial. See Lev. 2. 9, 16.—5. 12.—6. 15. And prayers and alms are our spiritual offerings, which God is pleased to take cognizance of, and have regard to. The divine revelation communicated to the Jews, as far as the Gentiles were concerned in it, not only as it directed and improved the light and law of nature, but as it promised a Messiah to come, Cornelius believed and submitted to; what he did he did in that faith, and was accepted of God in it; for the Gentiles, to whom the law of Moses came, were not obliged to become circumcised Jews, as those to whom the gospel of Christ comes, are to become baptized Christians.

(2.) He is appointed to inquire after a further discovery of divine grace, now lately made to the world, v. 5, 6. He must send forthwith to Joppa, and inquire for one Simon Peter; he lodgeth at the house of one Simon a tanner; his house is by the sea-side, and if he be sent for, he will come; and when he comes, he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do, in answer to thy question, What is it, Lord? Now here are two things very surprising, and worthy our consideration.

[1.] Cornelius prays and gives alms in the fear of God; is religious himself, and keeps up religion in his family, and all this so as to be accepted of God in it; and yet there is something further, that he ought to do; he ought to embrace the christian religion, now that God has established it among men. Not, He may do it if he pleases, it will be an improvement and entertainment to him; but, He must do it, it is indispensably necessary to his acceptance with God for the future, though he has been accepted in his services hitherto. He that believed the promise of the Messiah, must now believe the performance of that promise. Now that God had given a further record concerning his Son than what had been given in the Old Testament prophecies, he requires that we receive that when it is brought to us. And now neither our prayers nor our alms come up for a memorial before God unless we believe in Jesus Christ; for it is that further which we ''ought to do. This is his commandment, that we believe;'' prayers and alms are accepted from those that believe that the Lord is God, and have not opportunity of knowing more. But from those to whom it is preached, that Jesus is Christ, it is necessary to the acceptance of their persons, prayers, and alms, that they believe that, and rest upon him alone for acceptance.

[2.] Cornelius has now an angel from heaven talking to him, and yet he must not receive the gospel of Christ from this angel, nor be told by him what he ought to do, but all that the angel has to say, is, "Send for Peter, and he shall tell thee." As the former observation puts a mighty honour upon the gospel, so does this upon the gospel-ministry: it was not to the highest of angels, but to them who were less than the least of all saints, that this grace was given, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (Eph. 3. 8.) that the excellency of the power might be of God, and the dignity of an institution of Christ supported; for unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, (Heb. 2. 5.) but to the Son of man as the Sovereign, and the sons of men as his agents and ministers of state, whose terror shall not make us afraid, nor their hand be heavy upon us, as this angel's now was to Cornelius. And as it was an honour to the apostle, that he must preach that which an angel might not, so it was a further honour, that an angel was dispatched on purpose from heaven to order him to be sent for. To bring a faithful minister and a willing people together, is a work worthy of an angel, and what therefore the greatest of men should be glad to be employed in.

III. His immediate obedience to these orders, v. 7, 8. He sent with all speed to Joppa, to fetch Peter to him. Had he himself only been concerned, he would have gone to Joppa to him. But he had a family, and kinsmen, and friends, (v. 24.) a little congregation of them, that could not go with him to Joppa, and therefore he sends for Peter. Observe,

1. When he sent; as soon as ever the angel which spake unto him, was departed. Without dispute or delay he was obedient to the heavenly vision. He perceived, by what the angel said, he was to have some further work prescribed him, and he longed to have it told him. He made haste, and delayed not, to do this commandment. In any affair wherein our souls are concerned, it is good for us not to lose time.

2. Whom he sent; two of his household servants, who all feared God, and a devout soldier, one of them that waited on him continually. Observe, A devout centurion had devout soldiers; a little devotion commonly goes a great way with soldiers, but there would be more of it in the soldiers, if there were but more of it in the commanders. Officers in an army, that have such a great power over the soldiers, as we find the centurion had, (Matt. 8. 9.) have a great opportunity of promoting religion, at least of restraining vice and profaneness, in those under their command, if they would but improve it. Observe, When this centurion was to choose some of his soldiers to attend his person, and to be always about him, he pitched upon such of them as were devout; they shall be preferred and countenanced, to encourage others to be so; he went by David's rule, (Ps. 101. 6.) Mine eye shall be upon the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me.

3. What instructions he gave them; (v. 8.) he declared all these things unto them, told them of the vision he had, and the orders given him to send for Peter, because Peter's coming was a thing in which they were concerned, for they had souls to save as well as he. Therefore he does not only tell them where to find Peter, (which he might have thought it enough to do, the servant knows not what his Lord doeth,) but he tells them on what errand he was to come, that they might importune him.

9. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the house-top to pray about the sixth hour: 10. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11. 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: 12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16. This was done thrice: and the