GOD'S MYSTERY REVEALED

Acts 10:25-28 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 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 showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 10:47-48 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The story of Cornelius continues. He was the first Gentile to become a Christian and enjoy the hope of eternal salvation through the Son of God. In verses preceding the lesson text, it says that Peter had just received the vision from God assuring him that all things He had provided were good nourishment for his body. The time had now come when there were no restrictions on God's provisions. Nothing provided by God as food was to be considered common or unclean. As Peter was thinking about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius came to him. They told him about Cornelius' vision, that he was to send for Peter, and that Peter would instruct him on what he should do. Realizing that the Holy Spirit of God was directing him, Peter went with the men and came to Caesarea and to the home of Cornelius. Meeting Peter, and recognizing him as a messenger of God, Cornelius humbly bowed himself at Peter's feet and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. This passage alone assures us that only God is to be worshipped, and not man, regardless of his position in life.

It was at this point that Peter realized that his Jewish heritage mattered no more. The vision Peter had assured him that the Law of Moses requiring Jews not to keep company with Gentiles had been made void, and that he should not call any man common or unclean. Verses 29-33 say that Cornelius related his vision to Peter, that he should send for him, and that he would speak to him. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Again, recalling and understanding the vision he had just experienced the previous day, verses 34-43 says that Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. With this now known, Peter, as he did on the Day of Pentecost, declares, for the first time to the Gentiles, that Jesus Christ, who was crucified by the unbelieving Jews, was the Messiah - the Savior sent by God to offer eternal salvation to the world. And that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.

With this inspired message of God being given them through Peter, verses 44-46 tell us that, just as it had happened to the believing and obedient Jews, the Holy Spirit of God descended on Cornelius and the other Gentiles that had assembled in his house, after they had heard and believed the gospel message of salvation that Peter had revealed to them (See Acts 11:15-16). It is worthy to note here, that the Holy Spirit descended on this Gentile named Cornelius before he was baptized for the remission of his sins. However, in all other recorded instances of conversion to Christianity, the Holy Spirit came upon them after baptism, or after the apostles laid their hands on those converted. It is mere speculation on my part, but I believe the reason for this was God's way of letting the world know beforehand, that Gentiles were worthy of God's plan of salvation that was to be finalized by the act of baptism. In this instance, God chose to allow His Holy Spirit to come upon Cornelius and his family before the act of baptism.

Continuing on, the Jews that had accompanied Peter on this mission, and witnessed this event, were astonished at what had taken place, that is, to witness the Holy Spirit descending on these Gentiles. Because of this act that seemed to take place at God's command, Peter then asked this question: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? With no one having a reason for descent, Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Here we have the assurance that the gospel message of salvation delivered to these Gentiles included the necessity of baptism after hearing, believing, and accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, just as it was with the believing Jews on the Day of Pentecost.

The mystery hidden from the beginning of the world was now revealed. All that believe and are baptized for the remission of their sins, obtain God's promised hope of eternal salvation. The apostle Paul wrote that the mystery; ...which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel (See Eph. 3:3-6).