Acts 10:1-8
Acts 10:1-8
October 11, 2020
Acts 10:1-8
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 1
For those here in Orange Park, have you ever driven down Kingsley Avenue toward the intersection of Hwy 17, where the Town Hall sits and seen the historical marker there in yard?
Markers are not randomly placed. They are where they are because something significant happened at that location at some time in the past.
It is to our benefit to stop and see what someone deemed to be important and why.
Our local marker is pretty important. It hasn’t been there long. The year at the bottom is 2017 and the marker was dedicated in early 2018.
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 10:1–8). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 1
What it says is this...
The 1885 Florida Constitution mandated the segregated education of black and white students in public schools. In 1891, the American Missionary Association opened the private Orange Park Normal and Industrial School at this site to educate black students. It consisted of several buildings which housed classrooms, dormitories, and workshops. Due to the school’s success, white children began to attend. This attracted the attention of Florida’s Superintendent of Public Instruction William Sheats, a staunch segregationist. In response, he pushed the state legislature to pass a law in 1895 that prohibited any Florida school, public or private, from teaching black and white students together. The Orange Park Normal School was the only racially-integrated school in the state at that time. The AMA fought the law, and the case went to court, where Judge R.M. Call ruled against the state of Florida. Although the AMA won the case, the damage was done. Public sentiment against the school increased among whites. By 1917, the AMA closed the school. Although segregation persisted in Florida for another 50 years, this school was a pioneering example of integration in education.
This is years before Brown v. Board of Education. Years before the Civil Rights marches. Years before the removal of “whites only” and “colored only” signs on water fountains, theater doors, and restaurants were removed. While the OP Normal School closed, what a great story that thankfully is remembered now in our town.
Sadly, the school did close. Students were robbed of what the school offered. Legal racism remained expectation and the hell-borne idea of “separate but equal” remained intact for years.
But Orange Park, for a season, was setting the pace for doing right. For that we should note how God was at work through the American Missionary Association and by having black and white children sitting
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in the same rooms, learning from the same teachers (some black, some white) and being kids together (while others celebrated division.)
Sometimes we think all the divisive issues we face in our nation today – whether racial, political, or some other designation are new. They are not. Humanity has sought to segregate since being banned from the Garden of Eden.
As I read this portion of Acts 10, the familiar story makes me smile as I know what is to come for Cornelius and Peter.
I love the story of Cornelius and his transformation. It gives hope to all and is a strong message to the church.
Let’s look at who this guy is first.
Professionally...
CorneliuslivedinCaesarea–theseatofRomangovernmentfor Judea, located on the Mediterranean Sea
Corneliuswasacenturion–amilitarymanwhooversaw100 soldiers (thus the name centurion)
CorneliuswaspartoftheItalianCohort–agroupofsixcenturions overseeing 600 soldiers
Corneliuswaspaidverywell–overfivetimeswhatanaverage soldier made due to his rank
Personally...
Corneliusisdevout
Corneliusismoral
CorneliuswasaGod-fearer–aGentilewhoworshippedIsrael’s
God by the rules of the OT, with a connection to a synagogue, but
not yet converting to full-Judaism.
Corneliuswasgenerousandgiving–givingalmstothepoor.
Corneliusprayedallthetime
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• CorneliuswasspokenwellofbytheJewsinthenation • Corneliuswasafamilymanandmanyclosefriends
• Corneliuswasamanofhumility,butpower
Cornelius was a really, really good guy.
He could be the president of Caesarea’s Rotary Club, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the hospital, the animal shelter, serving food at the soup kitchen, and volunteer of the year for the local nursing homes.
He’s all that.
And he’s trying really hard to do all that is expected and right. And...he’s lost.
Even with all he is doing, there’s still something missing and that something is a Someone – it’s Jesus Christ. He knows about Jesus. He just doesn’t know Jesus.
But he will and God does what God always does – he draws this man to himself and provides the messenger with the message to share the gospel of grace.
It’s as amazing a conversion as Saul’s. It’s as unbelievable as the transformation of a tax collector into an apostle, a fisherman into a fisher of men, a demon-possessed woman into a disciple, and ... you into a Christian.
Every conversion is dramatic – even if it took place in a Sunday School room while hearing a Bible story from a volunteer teacher, or at a camp, or in a living room where mom or dad read from the Bible regularly.
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Salvation of a lost soul is to never be deemed “normal” or “regular” or “uneventful” or “common.” It is always a miraculous, grace-saturated, God-glorifying, amazing transformation from death to life.
And that’s what is going to happen to Cornelius – the good guy who was not, nor ever could be good enough to go to heaven.
You know, talking about getting into heaven should be on our lips daily, even now more than ever.
In our church family, since January 1 of this year, I have shared at twelve funerals for members of our church or family members or members. Others on our pastoral staff have led services as well, so that number is higher.
Solomon stated clearly that “death is the destiny of every man and the living should take it to heart” and for those of us who know Jesus...now more than ever we must share the truth as those with confidence.
But Cornelius was lost. Good in a human sense, but sinfully marred and unable to know God personally.
So God makes a way. He puts the Jewish apostle Simon Peter in Joppa. Of course Saul’s foray into the Gentile world outside the very Jewish Jerusalem (you know the city Jesus said was the starting point for where the church would go to make disciples once the Holy Spirit came upon them. The Holy Spirit has come upon the church and finally they (or at least some) are leaving Jerusalem to go to Judea, then Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world.
Simon Peter is in Joppa and Cornelius is about 30 miles away in the city on the coast.
And God...
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3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
This devout man, seeking to do all that he has been told is praying at the ninth hour (about 3pm) which is not a biblical mandate, but a rule added by the Jews sometime after the completion of the Old Testament.
In this prayer, God reveals an answer – it’s one of God’s angels who appears. He scares this mighty soldier greatly and Cornelius responds not unlike Saul did on the road to Damascus with “What is it Lord?”
God is drawing this man to himself in such a way that he is providing an angel to give instructions. Maybe you didn’t have a vision of an angel when you came to Christ, but you didn’t need one – you have this story and the rest of the Word, not to mention the church and Christians in your life.
Still, the process is the same.
1. GOD DRAWS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF
This remains true. It has always been true. He always initiates salvation.
2. GOD PROVIDES THE WAY
Yeah, of course Jesus is the Way. God provides the way to the Way. In this case, the angel gives clear instruction – God is going to bring Peter to Cornelius. We’ll see this in coming weeks as we look at this chapter, but do not forget that it is God who sovereignly creates these holy encounters – for his glory and our good.
3. GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS
Peter realizes this later. We see it clearly now. Cornelius is to be the first Gentile member of the church. He represents a radical and risky move on the part, from a human perspective, of Simon Peter.
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Believe me Peter would not be searching for Cornelius.
For the good Christians who grew up obeying the laws of the Old Testament and learning Torah, who lived in a divided culture categorized as God’s people and pagans, Gentiles were not yet considered welcome.
In other words, segregation was understood to be right, acceptable, and approved. If there were water fountains and public restrooms, they would have signs: “Gentiles Only” and “Jews Only.”
God is no respecter of persons. He shows no partiality. We’ll see this revealed to Peter in coming weeks, but today, we look at this reality and must wonder if we truly have come far enough in our understanding of welcome to the family and “welcome to church...but perhaps you’d be more comfortable elsewhere?”
CONCLUSION
The Orange Park Normal School was ahead of its time. So far ahead that the push back was so very strong it ended up closing. Yet, there is a legacy that remains.
The legacy of those deemed not to be equal were considered such. Those who were judged as less, sat in the same rooms with society’s upper level.
I don’t know who the first black person that was able to call First Baptist Church of Orange Park family was. I can’t find that information in any church history. Perhaps someone knows. I know that with a church our age, there were decades of our gatherings in pre-civil rights era and that the separation of the white churches and black churches were prevalent in the south, and elsewhere as well. Thankfully, that is just history now...but as we know, America’s ancient history really is not that long ago.
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It may not be a race thing for some today. It may be another issue – culture, language, economic status, where a person lives (what subdivision or apartment,) what they drive, what they wear...just add to the list.
God draws people to himself and he uses his church (you and me) as his instruments of faithfulness to do so. Maybe you’re not looking for anyone. Neither was Peter. But God put Peter in Joppa, not just for Peter’s sake, but for Cornelius. Who is your Cornelius? Are you ready to have that conversation?
Oh, and for the Christian or the family visiting or tuning in today. You’re welcome here. If not here, somewhere – find a church. Quit shopping. Quit hopping around seeking the perfect youth ministry, kids ministry, choir, class, etc. Those perfect ones don’t exist. My friend Dr. Tim Maynard preached last week about the fact that there are so many good, gospel-centered churches preaching the Word and engaging their community for Christ in our city. We’re not the best one. His church isn’t either. He mentioned that there are enough solid churches in our city for people to attend a different one every Sunday for over three years and never visit the same one twice. Yet, people often won’t commit to any one local body. Know why? FOBO (Fear of a Better Option.) Today you need to stop the cycle and join. If it’s here, let’s do this. If another church – there are many – do it and quit jumping around to the latest based on what’s offered, may be offered, and...get a thicker skin – with all these good churches – you can be ticked off weekly about something.
And there are some listening that relate well to Cornelius. Trying really hard? Doing good deeds? Respected by a bunch of people...but something just isn’t settled? Something is missing?
Do you know Jesus or do you just know about him?
Footnotes
