Jesus has given up His life to ransom the souls of men, but death could not hold Him. Risen again, He promises a power that will come over His people.
Despite the joy that He is alive and interceding in the heavenlies on their behalf, heartache has...
Cornelius paced the floor of his home, glancing over the group he had gathered together to hear the Word of the Lord from Peter. It never dawned on him that Peter might have said no until the last moment, worry creasing his brow as they waited, and waited.
At long last, as Peter entered the door, relief flooded Cornelius, who fell at his feet and worshipped him.
"No! Stand up," Peter urged him, "I'm only a man!"
Cornelius arose and brought him into the inner house, gesturing to the company that had gathered. "We would hear from you!"
"You know it's unlawful for a Jew to keep company with someone of another nation, but God," Peter's smile grew wider, understanding falling upon him. So this is what the vision meant!, "God has shown me that I shouldn't any man common or unclean. So here I am, not asking for money. But I must ask, why am I here? Why do you want me?"
"Four days ago, I was fasting, and at the ninth hour I was praying and there came unto me a man in radiant clothing saying, "Cornelius, thy prayer is heard and thine alms..."Cornelius continued to explain what had brought about his request for Peter to come. "So now, we are here present before God, to hear what God will give unto you to speak."
"I see now that God doesn't respect people, but in every nation, those that fear Him and work righteousness is accepted with Him. Jesus Himself preached peace unto the children
of Israel, showing that indeed Jesus is God! We are His witnesses that He was crucified, and yet now He has risen again and we have seen Him! He told us to preach to the people, to testify that He is God, the Judge of the quick and the dead, and through Him alone, as saith the prophets, whoever believes in Him should receive forgiveness, even the remission of sin in Jesus' Name-"
The men that had traveled with Peter and the three strangers gaped as even as Peter spoke the Holy Ghost fell upon all those gathered to hear the Word of the Lord.
How could it be? Gentiles could be saved? To the Gentiles also the Spirit of the Living God would be poured out? And it was true, for they bear them witness that they spoke in other tongues, even as the Spirit gave utterance.
Peter rejoiced, "Can anyone forbid that these too should not be baptized? They've received the Holy Ghost as well as we!"
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
