House of Hope Online

September 20, 2026

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We have been discussing the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit from Him.  We stressed that Jesus forgives us of failures and wants to work with us to make us better.  We used the Apostles Peter and Paul as examples of two men who committed grave sins against the Lord, yet Jesus restored them and used them in ministry.  We also discussed communion, which means to communicate intimately with Jesus.

Today I want to discuss a certain man who was in relationship with God and how that relationship opened the door for us to receive the Gospel and a relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  That certain man was just a guy, an Italian guy at that.  He was not in the ministry or anything like that.  In fact, he was a military commander, a captain of at least 100 soldiers, but he was devout in His prayer relationship with God.

The man I am referring to is Cornelius and this miraculous story unfolds in Acts 10.  This is from the New King James Version (NKJV).

Acts 10:

 1 ¶ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

 5 “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.

 6 “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.

 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. (NKJV)

Notice Cornelius was a God-fearing man who gave alms generously to the poor and prayed always.  Verse 3 says he was given a vision of an angel who called him by name and told him his prayers and alms (financial gifts to the poor) have come up as a memorial before God.  Proverbs 19:17 says: “One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.”

There is the first lesson for us: God knows us by name and when we pray and help the poor, that comes up before God and the Lord will remember that about us.

The angel has a simple instruction for Cornelius: send for Peter and he will tell you what to do.

God Goes Before Us

What’s cool about this word is that God didn’t just give Cornelius this assignment and let him do the rest.  God went before Cornelius’ guys and spoke to Peter to prepare him.

Acts 10:

 9 ¶ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

 19 ¶ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

 20 “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

 22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

What a tremendous word God gave Peter in this vision!  What God has cleansed no longer call common or unclean.  It is the story of the Gospel in a nutshell.  Whom Jesus has saved, no longer consider them unclean.  Peter was well versed in Jewish law and would not eat foods deemed unclean by that law.  Peter also knew that law forbade Jews from associating with unholy nations and peoples.  But God was telling Peter that the Gospel is for everyone.  As we will see, this word changed history for us.

A Divine Connection

Acts 10:

 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

 29 “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

 30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

 31 “and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

 32 ‘Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

 33 “So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

 34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

 35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

 36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all–

 37 “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

 38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

 39 “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

 40 “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

 41 “not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

 42 “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

 43 “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

 44 ¶ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. (NKJV)

What a meeting this was!  Cornelius was really committed.  He believed God, he sent for Peter, and he assembled his close friends and family before Peter even showed up.  Peter preached the Gospel to Gentiles, watched as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and then baptized them with water.  This changed the Christian Church forever, but Peter had some explaining to do for his Jewish friends.

Acts 11:

 1 ¶ Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,

 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

Peter explained the whole story to them, about how he and Cornelius had visions in separate cities and how God had given him the word.

Acts 11:

 15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

 16 “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

 17 “If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Closing

The word of the Lord today is that Cornelius was just a guy who prayed and blessed the poor.  He had a relationship with God, but he needed to hear the Gospel and receive the Holy Spirit.  God gave him a vision that led him and his entire household to Jesus.  Cornelius and family could now further develop their relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

The good news for us is that this event also opened the Gospel and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to us.  And even beyond that, be encouraged that you do not need a doctorate in theology or biblical studies to hear from God.  Peter said God is no respecter of men.  The Lord gave Cornelius a vision and a word that rivaled what the great apostle received.  And God gave the Gentiles the same gift of the Holy Spirit as He gave the Jewish apostles and early followers of Jesus.  God granted the Gentiles repentance to life!

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for granting us repentance to life and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We pray that we will become more sensitive to the urgings of the Spirit in dreams, visions, and in Your still small voice.  Arrange divine meetings for us to spread the Gospel.  Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.  Speak to us, Lord.  Guide and direct us in all wisdom.  Your wisdom brings peace into our spirits.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

If anyone has not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart, and desires to do so, please repeat this prayer after me:

Father God, I repent of my sin and ask for forgiveness today.  I confess and declare with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with all my heart that You raised Him from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus, please come into my heart and change me.  Send the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me in wisdom and to enable me to overcome temptation from this day forth.  Thank You for my salvation.  I look forward to the day of the Rapture when I can be with You forever.  Amen.