Luke the physician wrote, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always”, and in chapter ten and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Cornelius, “saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him” where we read:
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him,
and saying unto him, Cornelius.
The verse begins, “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, ...” Luke began with the words, “He saw in a vision” which means “Cornelius observed, notice and discovered in a divinely granted ecstasy or spectacle in a sleep” “evidently about the ninth hour of the day” or “plainly, clearly and openly at the ninth hour of the day or at three in the afternoon” “an angel of God” which means “a messenger or envoy belonging to the Heavenly Father God” “coming in to him” or “arising and appearing to Cornelius”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” observed a “divinely granted ecstasy” from a messenger of “God” at three in the afternoon.
The verse continues, “... and saying unto him, Cornelius.” Luke added the words, “and saying unto him” which means “and uttering, declaring and proclaiming to Cornelius”, “Cornelius” whose name means “of a horn” and was “a Roman centurion of the Italian cohort stationed in Caesarea”. Luke shared how the “messenger” from God began to speak to “Cornelius”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how “God” sent a “messenger” to “Cornelius” in the form of a “vision”. “Cornelius”, though a gentile and a member of the Roman army, was visited by God. He was in “awe” of God, served others and “prayed”, and the Lord acknowledged Him. God is interested in every person, and when they attempt to relate to Him, He will reveal how they may have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will examine the life of “Cornelius” and begin to “seek” the Lord and discover His desire to forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him.
Next time Luke shares how the Lord tells Cornelius, “your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God”, 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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