The physician Luke wrote how two servants and a soldier of Cornelius went to Joppa to find Peter. After arriving at Simon's house where Peter was staying, they met Peter and convinced him to go see their master Cornelius. After entering Cornelius house, Peter found many people gathered there, and 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, and said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call here Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he comes, shall speak unto you”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Cornelius told Peter, “immediately therefore I sent to you” where we read:
Immediately therefore I sent to you; and you have well done that you are come.
Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you of God.
The verse begins, “Immediately therefore I sent to you; and you have well done that you are come.” Luke began with the words, “Immediately therefore” which means “straightway and forthwith then, wherefore, consequently and on this account” “I sent to you” or “I, Cornelius, dispatched and assigned to you, Peter”; “and you have well done” which means “and you, Peter, have beautifully and rightly performed” “that you are come” or “that you, Peter, have come forth and are present”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” told “Peter” that he dispatched men to him right away, and he commended “Peter” for coming to his home.
The verse continues, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you of God.” Luke added the words, “now therefore are we all here” which means “at this time wherefore, consequently and on this account are we, Cornelius and the people in his house, each, every, the whole and everyone” “present before God” or “are ready, at hand and in front of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “to hear all things” which means “to be endowed with hearing, perceiving and understanding each, every, the whole and everyone of the speech and words” “that are commanded you of God” or “that are assigned, appointed, defined and prescribed by the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” told “Peter” how he and the people within his home were in the presence of God so they could “hear” everything he had to tell them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Cornelius” commended “Peter” for coming to him, and he told him how he and the people in his home were ready to hear what he had to say. God was at work preparing Cornelius and the people within his home in advance of hearing the “gospel of Jesus Christ”. God desires to have a loving personal relationship with every person, and He is able to prepare them to “hear” His words. Jesus came into the world to die for the sins of mankind, and anyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words be “present before God” and listen to everything He has to say.
Next time Luke shares how Peter, “open his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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