The physician Luke wrote how, “the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek you. Arise therefore, and get you down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek: what is the cause wherefore you are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that fears God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words of you”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Simon, “called them in, and lodged them” where we read:
Then called he them in, and lodged them.
And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
The verse begins, “Then called he them in, and lodged them.” Luke began with the words, “then called he them in” which means “at that time Simon summoned and invited the three men into his house”, “and lodged them” or “and entertained and hosted the three men”. Luke shared how “Simon” invited the “three men” sent by “Cornelius” into his home to stay.
The verse continues, “And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” Luke added the words, “and on the morrow” which means “and upon the next day” “Peter” or “the disciple of Jesus whose name means a little rock or stone” “went away with them” which means “departed and left with the three men”, “and certain brethren from Joppa” or “and particular fellow believers in Jesus who were united to each other by the bond of affection” “accompanied him” which means “went together with Peter”. Luke shared how the next day “Peter”, along with fellow brothers in Christ, left with the “three men”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn the next steps in God's plan for Cornelius. The “three men” sent by “Cornelius” were invited to stay in “Simon's” home overnight, and the next day they, along with “Peter” and a few of his fellow brothers in Christ, went with them toward “Cornelius'” home. God the Father desired to spread His good news of salvation to places where “Peter” and the other apostles had not yet been, and because “Cornelius” was a faithful man of “prayer” and “alms” giving, God sent “Peter” to him. God desires to have a loving personal relationship with every person, and when they surrender themselves to His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and engage them to share His message of “salvation” with others. Let all who read these words yield to Jesus who takes great measures to have everyone live with Him eternally.
Next time Luke shares how Peter, the men with him and Cornelius' servants, “entered into Caesarea”, 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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