THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS
BY ELDER EMMETT J. ALLEN

And he (Cornelius) shewed 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; - Who shall tell these words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be SAVED. Acts 11:13-14.

The above text gives the account "by order" (Acts 11:4) as to how Peter the man with the keys of the Kingdom (Mat. 16:19) was ordered by the Lord to visit a Gentile by the name of Cornelius and bring him the words of salvation whereby he and his house shall be saved.

Cornelius was a captain of a band called the Italian band. The bible tells us that Cornelius was a devout man, he feared God with all his house, he gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always. Acts 10:1-2 - Yet he needed to hear the words of life and the message of salvation made possible through the sanctifying blood of Jesus, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues and water baptism in Jesus' name. This is the message that Peter brought to him; read the following for proof.

One day no doubt while this great man was in prayer we find an angel of the Lord coming to him in a vision (Acts 10:3-5) telling him to send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: - he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. Cornelius was an honest man. He recognized the voice of God as he was a praying man and he immediately made ready for three of his men to go in search of this man Peter that he might bring him the words of life. Let us bear in mind that Peter was the man with the key.

In the meantime Jesus was working on the heart of Peter a man that had been taught in his Jewish religion that it was against the law of God to have any dealings with the Gentiles. While these men were in route from Cornelius the Gentile in search of Peter, we find Peter in Joppa as he goes upon the housetop to pray. It was during his prayer that he became very hungry and as they were preparing his meal he fell into a trance. Jesus let as it had been a sheet down to the earth before Peter. On this sheet was all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. God commanded Peter to, Rise, kill and eat. We read that Peter refused (Remember the Jews were forbidden under the law to eat certain meats.) This was done three times and even though Peter doubted as to what the vision actually meant Jesus revealed to him that three men were seeking him and for him to go with them doubting nothing, for I have sent them. Acts 10:9-20.

Peter went down and found the three men that were sent by Cornelius the Gentile and they related to him how Cornelius had been warned of God to send for Peter and to hear the words that Peter would speak. The next day Peter accompanied by six of his Jewish brethren went to Cesarea where Cornelius waited for him with friends and kinsmen. Acts 10:21-27.

One of the first things that Peter the man with the Keys did was to explain that it was an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not CALL ANY MAN COMMON OR UNCLEAN. (Acts 10:28) This was the lesson that Jesus taught Peter when the sheet was let down before him while he was in the Spirit with all sorts of beasts and fowls thereon. We hear Peter confessing later that "God is no respector of persons." But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:34-35)

Notice the words of Cornelius after he had told Peter how God had told him to send for Peter - Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. (Acts 10:33) What a wonderful surrender! This is the type of condition that Jesus requires of all men in order for Him to work in their hearts and lives.

Notice! The very starting of Peter's message was to tell these Gentiles that Jesus "is Lord of ALL" - Acts 10:36 - and "through his NAME whosoever believeth in him shall receive the remission of sins" - Ver. 43 While Peter was preaching this great truth the Holy Ghost fell on these Gentiles as on Peter and the Jews in the beginning - Ver. 44 - Acts 11:15. How did Peter and his brethren recognize that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost? - FOR they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. - Ver. 46 - Notice that! Peter knew they had the Baptism of the Spirit FOR he heard them speak in tongues. This is the FIRST sign or the evidence that the Holy Ghost has come to abide. Acts 2:1-4 - Acts 19:1-7.

When Peter recognized that Jesus had given the Gentiles the Holy Spirit he said: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the NAME OF THE LORD. Verses 47-48 - The name of the Lord is JESUS - Acts 9:5 - The American standard version of the bible says they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This is exactly the same message that Peter brought to the Jews on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:38 God's plan to save the Jew and the Gentile is one and the same. We read the words of the Apostle Paul as he says, "According to the grace of God Which is given unto me, as a wise Masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon, But let every many take heed how he buildeth thereupon." (1 Cor. 3:10). We must remember that the apostle were all members of the same church and preached the same gospel; they were unlike the majority of preachers today who differ on God's plan to save the immortal soul.

A careful and prayerful study of the 8^th Chapter of Acts will make clear to you how Philip the evangelist, preached to the people of Samarita the exact message that Peter preached to the Jews at Pentecost, and also the Gentiles in Acts 10. The same message of water baptism in Jesus name, and receiving the Holy Ghost was preached to the Church in Ephesus by the apostle Paul (Acts 19:1-7). We trust that you will read and see for yourself God's plan to save the soul and make us ready for heaven and immortal glory.