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In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.” As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. Acts 10:1-8
Cornelius was a Roman officer and a believer. I wondered about this for a moment because he was also a devout and God-fearing man. He prayed regularly to God. Yet he kept out of jail, and he was living in Caesarea, he was in fact a Gentile and most likely the first or second Gentile converted to Christianity. It is amazing to read even this portion. When we continue on through this chapter though, we read about Peter's account of this connection as well!. I find it incredible that these two men are used to show us a few main points that are crucial to our lives.
1. When we pray, we need to be paitent sometimes for the answers to come. Also, when we pray we need to wait and listen for the answers may be right there and we hurry off not hearing the Holy Spirit speak to us.
2. God spoke through dreams, and He often sent Angels to do His speaking via dream or day visions. Guess what? He still works this way!
3. When God speaks we need to listen and obey swiftly! He will show us that it is real!
Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean?
Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” Acts 10:17-21
4. Sometimes God will connect people with a connecting revelation in order to get to the point He is trying to get us to see, or learn. We need to take note!
5. We receive the Holy Spirit with we are saved, and when we are Baptized. By hearing the truth and knowing it we can be saved, and thus become followers of Christ.
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days. Acts 10:44-48
Are you wondering what Peter told them that caused these people to desire to be saved and receive the Holy Spirit as well? Don't you just want to go read the rest of the chapter?