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. 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 now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell you what you ought to do”, and in chapter ten and verse seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Cornelius called, “two of his household servants” where we read:
And when the angel which spoke unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
The verse begins, “And when the angel which spoke unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when the angel” which means “and at the time and moment the messenger and envoy from God” “which spoke unto Cornelius was departed” or “who uttered, declared and proclaimed to Cornelius, whose name means of a horn and was a Roman centurion of the Italian cohort stationed in Caesarea, went forth and left”, “he called two of his households servants” which means “Cornelius beckoned, summoned and addressed two of his, Cornelius', domestics or fellow residents who are under the authority of a householder”. Luke wrote after the “angel” left “Cornelius” he summoned two of the “servants” within his house.
The verse continues, “... and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;” Luke added the words, “and a devout soldier” which means “along with a pious, well-reverent and godly warrior or member of the Roman army” “of them that waited on him continually” or “pertaining to the people who adhered to, were in constant readiness and diligent toward Cornelius at all times”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” also summoned a “pious warrior” who always “served” him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “angel” left “Cornelius”, and “Cornelius” summoned two of the “servants” in his home as well as a “pious soldier” who served him at all times. In other words, “Cornelius” obeyed the “angel's” instruction immediately. God wants people to “obey” Him, and because He came to “save” them from their sins, He wants everyone to yield to His Son Jesus to forgive them and grant them with everlasting life. “Cornelius” obeyed the instructions given by the “angel in the vision”, and those who are wise will obey Jesus and follow His path to live eternally with Him.
Next time Luke shares how Cornelius, “sent them to Joppa”, 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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