pre-work
Acts 10:1-8 (JDV)
Acts 10:1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.
Acts 10:2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.
Acts 10:3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an agent of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”
Acts 10:4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?” The agent told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 10:5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.
Acts 10:6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Acts 10:7 When the agent who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who stayed busily engaged with him.
Acts 10:8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
pre-work
The passage in Acts offers a vivid illustration of how the work of witnessing does not begin with human initiative but with divine preparation. It shows that the spread of the gospel unfolds through a series of events that God orchestrates long before any believer speaks a word. In this account, the encounter between Peter and Cornelius becomes possible only because God has already been shaping both men, guiding their thoughts, and softening their hearts. Cornelius, a Gentile and a Roman soldier living miles away from Jerusalem, would never have crossed paths with Peter under ordinary circumstances. Their meeting required God’s quiet, deliberate activity in the background of their lives, aligning their experiences so that they would be ready to receive one another as brothers in the faith.
The narrative highlights the spiritual groundwork taking place in Cornelius’s household. Cornelius is portrayed as devout, prayerful, and generous, and those around him—his servants and fellow soldiers—are also drawn into this moment of divine preparation. Their openness is not accidental. It reflects God’s ongoing work, shaping their expectations and stirring their desire for truth. This groundwork becomes the foundation upon which the message of Christ will later rest. The following passage will shift attention to Peter, showing how God also transforms his understanding, breaking down long‑held barriers so that he can embrace Gentiles as full participants in God’s family.
From this account, a pattern emerges for those who seek to share the gospel. Witnessing is not a matter of forcing conversations or manufacturing opportunities. Instead, it involves attentiveness to the signs that God has already been active in someone’s life. These signs may appear in the form of spiritual curiosity, unexpected questions, a hunger for meaning, or a readiness to listen. When such signs appear, they reveal that God has been preparing the soil long before the seed is planted. Recognizing this divine pre‑work encourages patience, humility, and confidence. It reminds believers that they are joining a story already in motion, not starting one from scratch.
This passage ultimately celebrates the God who prepares hearts, aligns circumstances, and brings people together in ways that would otherwise be impossible. It invites gratitude for the unseen work that makes every genuine encounter with the gospel possible.
Devotions 