by Timothy W. Burnett
Peter was caled to the home of Cornelius the Roman centurion soldier. Cornelius was a devout man who reverenced God with all the people in his house. He set the example for reverencing God in his home (Acts 10:2).
Cornelius waited pateintly for Peter and the others to arrive. He called together his kinfolks and close friends (Acts 10:24). Remember that he was already reverencing God in his home with his family and friends. His home was a place for them to come together and pray to God according to the Old Testament ways. But their lives were about to change drastically.
When Peter arrived a houseful of people were there waiting to hear him. Peter and Cornelius shared their stories of how God worked in each of their lives to bring them together (Acts 10:30-33). Cornelius said, "Immediately therefore I sent to you. And you have done well that you came. Now therefore were are all here present before God, to hear all the things that are commanded you of God." This is a perfect example of right attitude and frame of mind for the church of God in the household. This mentality existed prior to that time. They prayed often and did God's will to the best of their ability. So once again, they were present before God ready to hear what He had to say.
Verses 34-44 reveal what Peter said. He taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He explained that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with power and that he demonstrated that authority during the time after the anointing. He did good by healing all that were oppressed of the devil and much more which the apostles were witnesses to.
Next Peter told the story of how Jesus was slain and hanged on a tree and that God raised him up the third day and showed him openly to chosen people. He then told them that through the name of Jesus the risen Christ, whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins. Recall that the word "receive" meant to lay hold of something. In this case it meant to lay hold of the remission of sins or the condition of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember that according to Romans 10:9-10, believing with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead results in righteousness which is the same thing as remission of sins.
The household of Cornelius became part of the church of God. How do we know? It says, "While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word...For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Acts 10:44-46). Peter and his company witnessed the Gentiles lay hold of the spirit that they were just filled with. According to Acts 11:15, the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles as it did on the first apostles as recorded in Acts 2:4.
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