The physician Luke wrote how Peter told the Jewish “apostles and believers” in Jerusalem, he saw, “in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, that call not you common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the Jewish believers the man, “showed us how he had seen an angel in his house” where we read:
And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him,
Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
The verse begins, “And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he showed us” which means “and he, Cornelius, revealed and disclosed to Peter and the six brothers with him” “how he had seen an angel in his house” or “how he, Cornelius, observed and saw a messenger or envoy from God within his dwelling place, habitation and home”, “which stood and said unto him” which means “who was standing and uttered, declared and proclaimed to Cornelius”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” revealed to “Peter” and the “six fellow believers” with him concerning the “angel” that appeared to him and uttered the following words.
The verse continues, “... Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;” Luke added the words, “send men to Joppa” which means “dispatch and assigned male human beings to Joppa or Jopha which means beautiful and was a city of Palestine on the Mediterranean, lying on the border of the tribes of Dan and Ephraim”, “and call for Simon” or “and summon and invite Simon whose name means a rock or stone”, “whose surname is Peter” which means “whose invoked name is Peter which means a little rock or stone and was one of Jesus' disciples”. Luke shared how the “Holy Spirit” instructed “Cornelius” to dispatch men to “Joppa” and summon “Simon Peter”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” continued to share his story with the Jewish apostles and believers who wondered why he went into the home of a Gentile and ate with him. “Peter” told them it was the “Holy Spirit” who directed his steps, and after he obeyed what the “Spirit” said, Cornelius was waiting to share his experience with the Holy Spirit as well. God was at work in both situations, and because He desires to have a personal relationship with every person whether Jew or Gentile, He brought them together to reveal and accept His gospel. Let everyone who reads these words marvel at the intentionality of God Almighty and surrender their life to Him as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Peter told the Jewish believers the angel told the man how Peter would, “tell you words, whereby you and all your house shall be saved”, 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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