Send for Peter - Acts 10:5

Luke the physician wrote how, “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. 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. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God”, and in chapter ten and verse five of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Lord told Cornelius, “send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter” where we read:

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

The verse begins, “And now send men to Joppa, ...” Luke began with the words, “and now send men” which means “and at this time dispatch and assign male human beings” “to Joppa” or “to Joppa or Japho whose name means beautiful and was a city of Palestine on the Mediterranean, lying on the border of the tribes of Dan and Ephraim”. Luke shared how the “angel” instructed “Cornelius” to dispatched “men” to the city of “Joppa”.

The verse continues, “and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:” Luke added the words, “and call for one Simon” which means “and summon, invite and send for a particular man named Simon whose name means a little rock or stone”, “whose surname is Peter” or “who is called and invoked as Peter whose name means a little rock or stone”. Luke shared how the “angel” told “Cornelius” to have his men ask for a man named “Simon” who was also known as “Peter”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “angel in the vision” not only acknowledged the pious acts of “Cornelius”, but also instructed him to have men go to “Joppa” and ask for “Simon Peter”. It is interesting to note how God used people in this situation when He could have done all this Himself. God is interested in everyone, and He loves them. He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus, and when they yield to Him, He will extend to them His purpose and plan step by step as they obey Him. “Cornelius” was faithful to “pray” and “give”, and the Lord revealed Himself to instruct him in his next step. God will do the same for every person who humbles themselves and yields to His will. Let all who read these words surrender to the Lord and be willing to be spoken to like “Cornelius”.

Next time Luke shares how the Lord tells Cornelius that Peter, “shall tell you what you ought to do”, 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".