The Lord Meets Cornelius in a Vision

God's Urgent Call
Calling of Prophets

Called to Be Inclusive

Acts 10:1-8 The Message

Peter’s Vision

10 1-3 There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, “Cornelius.”
4-6 Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, “What do you want, sir?”
The angel said, “Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. Here’s what you are to do. Send men to Joppa to get Simon, the one everyone calls Peter. He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is down by the sea.”
7-8 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.

For Reflection

Caesarea, what an unexpected place to find the first non-Jewish Christian.  Drawn to the Jews’ religion, the Roman Captian had adopted many Jewish habits and practices,  He also shared these rituals with members of his household of slaves and soldiers and helped people in need.  He had rejected the deity of Rome. God arranged a meeting with Peter so that this seeker of God, will be introduced to Jesus Christ.

Pray

Pray that all who seek to become righteous will find in Christ a path into a profound relationship with God. Pray for those whose prayers to God and acts of justice and kindness find full and conscious salvation. Pray prayers of thanksgiving for the living God who gives the light of truth to those who seek it. Pray that you will recognize the hand of God in a soul who is filled with piety and charity.