BRUCE C WEARNE continues with his look at the Book of Acts with a recounting of the visitation of the angel to the Roman centurion in Caesarea…
Now there was at Caesarea a man named Cornelius, who was a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God along with all his household, giving generously to the people there, and in constant prayer to God. In the middle of the afternoon he had a vivid vision of a messenger of God coming right up to address him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him fearfully, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And the messenger said to him, “Your prayer and your acts of mercy have indeed gone up before God. And now you must send men off to Joppa, and bring one Simon, the one who is called Peter; who is lodging at the house of (another) Simon, a tanner, in a house near the sea.” When the messenger who had spoken to him departed, he summoned two of his household servants along with a devout soldier from among those who waited on him, explaining what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. – (Acts 10:1-8/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne)
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CAESAREA: Ruins of the city where the Roman centurion lived. PICTURE: Inna Nebelyuk IN A NUTSHELLLuke tells us God’s angel visited Cornelius in Caesarea and tells him to send for Peter. |
Barnabas told the apostles of Saul’s preaching in the synagogue at Damascus. That was when Saul had secretly returned to Jerusalem to meet the apostles. His life was in danger, so the apostles and disciples arranged for him to board ship at Caesarea and head home to Tarsus. This was the beginning of the re- education of Saul who was now known as Paul. Some time later, Barnabas would bring him down to Antioch.
In the meantime, the Holy Spirit was busy in the fertile Plain of Sharon, at the port city of Caesarea. Luke mentioned earlier that this was the city in which Philip resided. In this city there lived a Roman centurion who was visited by God’s messenger one afternoon during the hour of prayer.
In Luke’s Gospel we are told that Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, was visited by an angel. So was Mary, as was Joseph and the wise men. Angels in dazzling apparel were at Jesus’ tomb. Now, Luke tells us how, around this time, a Roman centurion based in Caesarea, received an angelic visitor. This Roman officer was regular in his prayers to the Almighty and he also was very generous to the poor in his neighbourhood. Out of the blue, as it were, he was given confirmation that his prayers had been heard.
The messenger had specific orders and Cornelius passed these on to two house-servants and a soldier who, Luke tells us, was “devout” like Cornelius. There is urgency in the centurion’s request – the two servants would be under the protection of one of his soldiers. They were to fetch Peter – they knew the town and the house where Peter was staying. What are we to make of this?
Luke tells us of events which unfolded prior to Peter’s arrival. It is all part of a work in which God’s Spirit was making Himself known as comforter of all who believe, whatever their ethnic or racial background or station in life. The Son of Man had come and the historic division separating Samaria and Judah was overcome. Galilee, Samaria and Judea were united in a peace that only God could bring. But that, says Luke, is not all. God’s Spirit was working so that those who believed Jesus to be the Christ would realise that the call goes out to all people, to all nations, so they can freely enter into the emancipation the Lamb of God has brought. God’s peace embraces the entire earth.
