Acts 10:30-31 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight.”

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The tenth chapter of Acts demonstrates God’s tremendous mercy as it describes the incredible lengths it took to get Peter to acknowledge that, indeed, Gentiles were to be included into His kingdom.

It started with motivating him to pray on a hot rooftop in a blazing sun. Then the Lord gives him a vision that implies he is to eat non-kosher food which leaves Peter “greatly perplexed.” After this, the Holy Spirit tells Peter that he has sent three men to take him somewhere, and don’t ask any questions about it.

When Peter went with them and met the Roman centurion Cornelius, he was surprised to be invited to a ‘large gathering of people,’ who also happened to be Gentiles. Peter quickly notes that “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to association or visit a foreigner” (v.28), but also acknowledges that the Lord has sent him so… here he is.

Now it is Cornelius’ turn, and he relates his encounter with the ‘man in dazzling clothing’ that announced that his prayers had been heard. He remarks it was the three in the afternoon, which would have been three hours after Peter had prayed.

As the Lord was preparing Peter’s heart for the work he had to do to spread the gospel, the Lord was preparing a God-fearing gentile named Cornelius to receive the blessing of the gospel.

PRAYER STARTER…

Only you, Precious Lord, could use a Roman soldier to spread the gospel when it was Roman soldiers who put you on the cross. Yet even at the cross, a soldier acknowledged you were the Son of God. We marvel at your mercy, dear Lord, and rejoice in receiving this mercy.

(Continue this prayer as the Holy Spirit directs you personally. Ask the Lord to stretch you and strengthened you toward areas that you know you are called [e.g. troublesome co-workers or family members] but have neglected or avoided.)