Unto All Men

ACTS 10:17-20, 24

IT IS true that in Christ God has provided salvation for all—both Jew and Gentile—and that he is no respecter of persons, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, yet there are times and seasons in his plan; and not until the conversion of Cornelius was it his due time for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles. Prior to his death, Jesus said to his disciples, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”—Matt. 10:5,6

We are not to understand from this that Jesus did not love the Gentiles, nor that the plan of God through him did not make provision for their salvation. What it does mean is that at that time, and for a special purpose, God was dealing exclusively with the Jewish nation. Centuries before this the Lord had said to Israel, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) Jesus understood this situation, and knew that even in his day it was still true.

In a prophecy recorded by Daniel (Ch. 9:24-27) the Lord promised a continuance of his exclusive favor upon Israel for seventy symbolic weeks, which was a period of 490 literal years. This time measurement began to count from the year a decree was issued for rebuilding the walls and the city of Jerusalem, following the seventy years captivity in Babylon. In this prophecy it is stated that in the “midst” or center of the last of these prophetic weeks, the Messiah would be cut off in death. This would be in the middle of the last seven years of this time measurement. It would follow then, that three and one-half years after Jesus’ death, God’s exclusive favor to the Jews would cease. It was at this time that God, in a miraculous manner, arranged for Peter to take the Gospel to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert.

At the time of this experience Peter was doing missionary work in Joppa, and staying at the home of a disciple named Simon—Simon the tanner. On this particular day he came home toward evening, and as the evening meal was not ready he went up onto the roof of the house to pray—probably to thank the Lord for the privileges of service he had enjoyed during the day. He was hungry and tired, and fell asleep. While asleep he was given a vision from the Lord of a sheet let down from heaven filled with all sorts of unclean animals—that is, to the Jew, ceremonially unclean. In the vision he was bidden to rise, kill, and eat.

Awaking from his sleep, Peter was pondering over the meaning of the vision when the Spirit of the Lord indicated that three men were at the door desiring to see him. These had been sent to Peter from the home of Cornelius, in Caesarea. Cornelius was a Gentile, and a devout man, and while praying had also been given a vision in which he was instructed to send for Peter. Peter met these men, and they made known their mission. The next day he accompanied them to Cornelius, who, while waiting for them, had called together his kinsmen and near friends and thus had an audience waiting for the apostle.

ACTS 10:34-43

Cornelius explained to Peter why he had sent for him, that it was in obedience to a vision from the Lord. Peter, by comparing this account with his own experience, was able readily to realize the significance of God’s providences, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” This was true enough. It had always been true.

But to believe in God, and in his beloved Son, and to work righteousness acceptable to him, it is necessary to be enlightened. “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how can they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Rom. 10:14,15) The implied answer to these inspired questions was the controlling factor in the experience of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert.

Had it been God’s due time previous to this for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles, the Lord would have seen to it that a “preacher” was sent to enlighten them. The fact that he did not do this until he sent Peter to Cornelius was in keeping with the prophecy of the seventy weeks of special favor which he had promised Israel.

It is always well to remember that no one can get the truth except by divine appointment. But, thank God, he has arranged in his plan that there is ultimately to be a day of visitation for all—if not in this life, then it will be during the Millennium, after they have been awakened from the sleep of death.

QUESTIONS

Why did Jesus instruct his disciples not to go to the Gentiles?

What prophecy of the Old Testament determined the due time for the Gospel to be preached to Cornelius?

What combination of circumstances convinced Peter that God is no respecter of persons?

When will be the “time of visitation” for the world of mankind in general?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |