THE CASE OF CORNELIUS THE CENTURION
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
After 1900
years this case has not been thrown out of the theological and sectarian church
courts. Only as we carefully and prayerfully study the Scriptures above listed
can we understand this strange and unusual case.
About seven years after Peter preached to DEVOUT JEWS from every nation under heaven on the day of Pentecost, concerning what Jesus of Nazareth did in the land of the Jews, how Israel put Him to death and God raised Him from the dead, Peter preached to Cornelius and his household, concerning what Jesus of Nazareth did in the land of the Jews, how Israel put Him to death and God raised Him from the dead (Compare Acts 2:22 to 24 and Acts 10:38 to 40).
Cornelius was in Caesarea, in the land of the Jews: “A DEVOUT MAN, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” “ . . a just man and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews; was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee unto his house, and to hear words of thee.” (Acts 10:2 and 22).
Certainly God gave Cornelius very special attention and Cornelius had given God very special attention; and Cornelius had also given special attention to the Jews, whom he loved and to whom he gave money.
If a man in 1945 were devout and feared God and prayed to God always and gave much alms to God’s people, just, and of good report among God’s people, we would not judge that he needed salvation. But the Lord told Cornelius that Peter would tell him words “whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” (Acts 11:14).
Many Christians have thought of Cornelius as an uncircumcised proselyte; and they have certainly wondered why the other eleven apostles were not only amazed but displeased with Peter when he preached to Cornelius. Why did Peter say, some seven years after the Lord Jesus gave the Twelve the commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20 and Mark 16:14 to 18, that it was not lawful for the apostles to go to Gentiles? (Acts 10:28 - Acts 11:1 to 5). The reason is far deeper than Jewish prejudice.
After Peter explained the “sheet” vision and the unclean creatures of Acts 10:11 to 13, (Romans 1:23), and how the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his loved ones, as Peter began to speak, even before they were baptized with water (Acts 10:44 to 48 Acts 11:14 and 15) “. . they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:18). They did not say what was said several years later. (Acts 14:27).
Moreover Christians have tried to understand the statement of Peter in Acts 15:7, about fifteen years after Cornelius was saved, that it was by “my mouth” (Peter’s mouth), that the Gentiles should hear God’s message and believe. At the time Peter declared this truth he and his fellow-apostles agreed with Paul to confine their ministry to the Jews (Galatians 2:9). But why just the one mouth? There were 12 mouths.
In the light of Matthew 28:19 and 20 how are we to explain why in all of the Book of Acts there is no record of any missionary journeys by Peter and his fellow-apostles, outside of the land of the Jews, or why there is no Scriptural proof that any of the Twelve, except Peter, preached to Gentiles? Surely we ask why Paul’s statement in Acts 13:46, as to why salvation was sent to Gentiles, if the Matthew commission authorized all of the Lord’s apostles to preach the “grace” gospel to Gentiles. (Galatians 1:11 and 12).
Paul preached to Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy. (Romans 11:11). The Lord sent Paul to Gentiles, because Israel was cast away in blindness; because of Israel’s unbelief and fall. (Romans 11:7 to 15 and Romans 11:30). Israel had not been cast away at the time Peter preached to Cornelius. Peter did not preach to Cornelius, to provoke Israel to jealousy, or because of Israel’s fall, unbelief or blindness. Peter worked with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:18 and 19). Paul worked “under the dispensation of the grace of God” for Gentiles. (Ephesians 3:1 to 3).
There surely was a great difference in Peter’s message in Acts 10:34 and 35 and Paul’s message in Romans 4:4 and 5 and II Timothy 1:9.
Those who believe that water baptism regeneration is taught in Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 are perplexed when they read that Cornelius received the Holy Spirit as the evidence of salvation before he received water baptism. He needed not the water as a witness. Tongues were for a sign.
After Peter used his key with Cornelius, one of the Twelve died. (Acts 12:1 and 2). Then the Holy Spirit sent out a new apostle for a new work, as the Lord postponed the kingdom of heaven until the culmination of Ephesians 4:13 and Titus 2:13.
Read Acts 13:2 - II Corinthians 5:16 - Acts 22:17 to 21 - Romans 15:16 - Ephesians 3:8.
It seems that the Lord’s program, as outlined in Acts 2:1 to 12:1, is a kingdom program, a pattern of the program that will follow this present age of grace, after the rapture of the Church (Body) of Christ.
About seven years after Peter preached to DEVOUT JEWS from every nation under heaven on the day of Pentecost, concerning what Jesus of Nazareth did in the land of the Jews, how Israel put Him to death and God raised Him from the dead, Peter preached to Cornelius and his household, concerning what Jesus of Nazareth did in the land of the Jews, how Israel put Him to death and God raised Him from the dead (Compare Acts 2:22 to 24 and Acts 10:38 to 40).
Cornelius was in Caesarea, in the land of the Jews: “A DEVOUT MAN, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” “ . . a just man and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews; was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee unto his house, and to hear words of thee.” (Acts 10:2 and 22).
Certainly God gave Cornelius very special attention and Cornelius had given God very special attention; and Cornelius had also given special attention to the Jews, whom he loved and to whom he gave money.
If a man in 1945 were devout and feared God and prayed to God always and gave much alms to God’s people, just, and of good report among God’s people, we would not judge that he needed salvation. But the Lord told Cornelius that Peter would tell him words “whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” (Acts 11:14).
Many Christians have thought of Cornelius as an uncircumcised proselyte; and they have certainly wondered why the other eleven apostles were not only amazed but displeased with Peter when he preached to Cornelius. Why did Peter say, some seven years after the Lord Jesus gave the Twelve the commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20 and Mark 16:14 to 18, that it was not lawful for the apostles to go to Gentiles? (Acts 10:28 - Acts 11:1 to 5). The reason is far deeper than Jewish prejudice.
After Peter explained the “sheet” vision and the unclean creatures of Acts 10:11 to 13, (Romans 1:23), and how the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his loved ones, as Peter began to speak, even before they were baptized with water (Acts 10:44 to 48 Acts 11:14 and 15) “. . they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:18). They did not say what was said several years later. (Acts 14:27).
Moreover Christians have tried to understand the statement of Peter in Acts 15:7, about fifteen years after Cornelius was saved, that it was by “my mouth” (Peter’s mouth), that the Gentiles should hear God’s message and believe. At the time Peter declared this truth he and his fellow-apostles agreed with Paul to confine their ministry to the Jews (Galatians 2:9). But why just the one mouth? There were 12 mouths.
In the light of Matthew 28:19 and 20 how are we to explain why in all of the Book of Acts there is no record of any missionary journeys by Peter and his fellow-apostles, outside of the land of the Jews, or why there is no Scriptural proof that any of the Twelve, except Peter, preached to Gentiles? Surely we ask why Paul’s statement in Acts 13:46, as to why salvation was sent to Gentiles, if the Matthew commission authorized all of the Lord’s apostles to preach the “grace” gospel to Gentiles. (Galatians 1:11 and 12).
Paul preached to Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy. (Romans 11:11). The Lord sent Paul to Gentiles, because Israel was cast away in blindness; because of Israel’s unbelief and fall. (Romans 11:7 to 15 and Romans 11:30). Israel had not been cast away at the time Peter preached to Cornelius. Peter did not preach to Cornelius, to provoke Israel to jealousy, or because of Israel’s fall, unbelief or blindness. Peter worked with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:18 and 19). Paul worked “under the dispensation of the grace of God” for Gentiles. (Ephesians 3:1 to 3).
There surely was a great difference in Peter’s message in Acts 10:34 and 35 and Paul’s message in Romans 4:4 and 5 and II Timothy 1:9.
Those who believe that water baptism regeneration is taught in Acts 2:38 and Mark 16:16 are perplexed when they read that Cornelius received the Holy Spirit as the evidence of salvation before he received water baptism. He needed not the water as a witness. Tongues were for a sign.
After Peter used his key with Cornelius, one of the Twelve died. (Acts 12:1 and 2). Then the Holy Spirit sent out a new apostle for a new work, as the Lord postponed the kingdom of heaven until the culmination of Ephesians 4:13 and Titus 2:13.
Read Acts 13:2 - II Corinthians 5:16 - Acts 22:17 to 21 - Romans 15:16 - Ephesians 3:8.
It seems that the Lord’s program, as outlined in Acts 2:1 to 12:1, is a kingdom program, a pattern of the program that will follow this present age of grace, after the rapture of the Church (Body) of Christ.
What is the Gospel?
Believing
Christ died, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ died for YOUR sins and rose again, that’s SALVATION.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto
you the gospel which the preached unto you, which also ye have received, and
wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto
you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose
again the third day according to the scriptures. 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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Bible: King James Version
Posted By – Cecil Spivey
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