Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/110

104 talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30. And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31. And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea-side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

We have here the meeting between Peter the apostle, and Cornelius the centurion. Though Paul was designed to be the apostle of the Gentiles, and to gather in the harvest among them, and Peter to be the apostle of the circumcision, yet it is ordered that Peter shall break the ice, and reap the first-fruits of the Gentiles, that the believing Jews, who retained too much of the old leaven of ill-will to the Gentiles, might be the better reconciled to their admission into the church, when they were first brought in by their own apostle, which Peter urgeth against those that would have imposed circumcision upon the Gentile converts, ch. 15. 7. Ye know that God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel. Now here,

I. Peter is directed by the Spirit to go along with Cornelius's messengers, (v. 19, 20.) and this is the exposition of the vision; now the riddle is unriddled. While Peter thought on the vision; he was musing upon it, and then it was opened to him. Note, Those that would be taught the things of God; must think on those things; those that would understand the scriptures, must meditate in them day and night. He was at a loss about it, and then had it explained; which encourages us, when we know not what to do, to have our eyes up unto God for direction. Observe,

1. Whence he had the direction. The Spirit said to him what he should do. It was not spoken to him by an angel, but spoken in him by the Spirit, secretly whispering it in his ear as it were, as God spake to Samuel, (1 Sam. 9. 15.) or impressing it powerfully upon his mind, so that he knew it to be a divine afflatus or inspiration, according to the promise, John 16. 13.

2. What the direction was. (1.) He is told, before any of the servants could come up to tell him, that three men below wanted to speak with him, (v. 19.) and he must arise from his musings, leave off thinking of the vision, and go down to them, v. 20. Those that are searching into the meaning of the words of God, and the visions of the Almighty, should not be alwavs poring, no, nor always praying, but should sometimes look abroad, look about them, and they may meet with that which will be of use to them in their inquiries; for the scripture is in the fulfilling every day.

(2.) He is ordered to go along with the messengers to Cornelius, though he was a Gentile, doubting nothing. He must not only go, but go cheerfully, without reluctancy or hesitation, or any scruple concerning the lawfulness of it; not doubting whether he might go, no, nor whether he ought to go; for it was his duty; "Go with them, for I have sent them; and I will bear thee out in going along with them, however thou mayest be censured for it." Note, When we see our call clear to any service, we should not suffer ourselves to be perplexed with doubts and scruples concerning it, arising from former prejudices or prepossessions, or a fear of men's censure. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind, and prove his own work.

II. He receives both them and their message; he went down to them, v. 21. So far was he from going out of the way, or refusing to be spoken with, as one that was shy of them, or making them tarry, as one that took state upon him, that he went to them himself, told them he was the person they were inquiring for! And,

1. He favourably receives their message; with abundance of openness and condescension he asks, what their business is, what they have to say to him, What is the cause wherefore ye are come? and they tell him their errand; (v. 22.) "Cornelius, an officer of the Roman army, a very honest gentleman, and one who has more religion than most of his neighbours, who fears God above many, (Neh. 7. 2.) who, though he is not a Jew himself, has carried it so well, that he is of good report among all the people of the Jews, they will all give him a good word, for a conscientious, sober, charitable man, so that it will be no discredit to thee to be seen in his company; he was warned from God," —"he had an oracle from God, sent him by an angel," (and the lively oracles of the law of Moses were given by the disposition of angels,) "by which he was ordered to send for thee to his house, (where he is expecting thee, and ready to bid thee welcome,) and to hear words of thee: they know not what words, but they are such as he may hear from thee, and not from any one else so well." Faith comes by hearing. When Peter repeats this, he tells us more fully, they are words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved, ch. 11. 14. "Come to him, for an angel bid him send for thee: come to him, for he is ready to hear and receive the saving words thou hast to bring him."

2. He kindly entertained the messengers; (v. 23.) He called them in, and lodged them. He did not bid them go and refresh, and repose themselves in an inn at their own charge, but was himself at the charge of entertaining them in his own quarters. What was getting ready for him, (v. 10.) they should be welcome to share in; he little thought what company he should have when he bespoke his dinner, but God foresaw it. Note, It becomes christians and ministers to be hospitable, and ready, according as their ability is, and there is occasion for it, to entertain strangers. Peter lodged them, though they were Gentiles, to shew how readily he complied with the design of the vision in eating with Gentiles; for he immediately took them to eat with him. Though they were two of them servants, and the other a common soldier, yet Peter thought it not below him to take them into his house. Probably, he did it, that he might have some talk with them about Cornelius and his family; for the apostles, though they had instructions from the Spirit, yet