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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 book of Acts is a guidebook for those who want to witness to those around them. What can we learn about witnessing from this passage? Well, notice that this incident made it possible for Peter and the other Jerusalem believers to connect with someone who they would otherwise never meet. Cornelius was a Gentile soldier living in another city. In order for he and Peter to meet, God had to have been working in the background of both of their lives, revealing, changing, molding them both into the kind of people who would accept each other as brothers.
This passage focuses on God’s pre-work in the life of Cornelius, his servants and fellow soldiers. Tomorrow’s text will focus on how God changed Peter’s mind about Gentiles.
As we seek those to whom we will share the gospel, we should look for signs that God has already been at work in their lives, preparing them for the good news. The signs will be there.
Lord, thank you for your wonderful pre-work of preparation.
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