Cornelius and Peter: Witnesses to Providence
Some people call it, “The Gentile Pentecost.” Acts 10 is also the case study of Gentile inclusion into the New Testament Church (c/f Acts 15). Two men had supernatural encounters that brought them together in a divine appointment. They each told their story, and the result was a new beautiful unity in the church, as the Lord added new members…Gentiles.
There is no question that God was doing a new thing following the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was at work in a new way. The Spirit had come upon the apostles of Jesus at the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 2). Following this supernatural event, including tongues of fire resting on their heads, their disposition changed (Acts 2:3).
Bold preaching was now the apostolic endeavor wherever the apostles went. Filled with the Spirit, they preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In doing so, the apostles became witnesses to the work of the Holy Spirit in convicting both Jews and Gentiles of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:8). Many were cut to the quick, repenting, and believing the Gospel of salvation.
Witnessing the new work of the Spirit was marvelous and wonderful for those who were at Pentecost and at the Gentile Pentecost (Acts 2; 10). God was not only inspiring the preaching, but He was also, regenerating those who were being made alive spiritually (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). The new birth was like life from the dead, as with Lazarus of Bethany (Jn 11).
Today, the reader of Acts 10 will likely focus on Cornelius’ angelic encounter and Peter’s trance/vision. Supernatural occurrences are awe-inspiring. They are a break from the everyday routine of normal. The student of providence, however, becomes aware of God working in everything, both natural and supernatural.
For Cornelius, the supernatural direction and his obedience to it would directly lead to His conversion. For Peter, the supernatural directive would directly lead to the church understanding God’s expanded program to include elect Gentiles. Cornelius, his family, and select friends were appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48), demonstrated by the grace of God in this divine encounter.
Irresistible grace brought about an obedient response that brought a preacher with a message that would give the hearers new and abundant life (Jn 10:10). All of it had the fragrance of Christ because God was moving everything and everyone to bring about salvation for a certain God-fearing Gentile and those he loved.
In God’s providence, He creates the people, the places, and the events. After all, this is His story. He is the author and perfecter of faith (Heb 12:2). Next, He governs the timing and events, moving everything and everyone toward His end goal objective (Rom 11:36). The people in this case, Cornelius and Peter, were making decision and taking action. They were the secondary cause agents, but it was God who was directing their steps (Prv 3:5–6), teaching them (Jn 14:26), accomplishing what concerned them (Ps 57:2–3; 138:8), and giving them joy (Gal 5:22). God’s providential working of His will (Eph 1:11), for both men and those who were providentially attached, we, too, are witnesses (Spirit and Word).
Providence manifests the grace of God toward God’s chosen people both Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:8–9; 1 Pet 2:9), as He builds His church, the Israel of God (Mt 16:18; Gal 6:16). As Christ builds His church, one living stone at a time, He knows those who are His (2 Time 2:19) and He calls each one by name (Jn 10:3). He is gathering His flock and bringing each one into the fold of His church, the Temple in the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:20–22).
The circumstances, for each one’s coming to Christ and receiving salvation through sanctification by the Spirit (2 Thess 2:13), will have different people, places, and events involved. There is, however, one Spirit accomplishing what He did through Peter and unto Cornelius. There is one baptism that incorporates each born again into Christ’s one body of believers, His church (1 Cor 12:13)
The one faith handed down to all the saints is a work of God’s providence, too (Jude 1:3). Only those who belong to Christ (1 Cor 3:23), having been given to Him by the Father (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24), will receive the Spirit of Christ by the will of God (Jn 1:12–13; 14:17; Rom 8:9), as He takes up permanent residence in their souls (heart and mind). The indwelling Spirit is the reason the believer believes.
Upon hearing the Word of Christ preached by the Spirit, through the preacher (Acts 10:44), the Spirit opens the heart (Acts 16:14) and the response is faith (Rom 10:17), a supernatural juxtaposition from previous unbelief. The only difference between the believer and the unbeliever is the abiding presence of the Spirt in one and not the other (Jn 3:36; Rom 8:9; 1 Jn 5:11–13).
When the born again Jews in Peter’s party witnessed the Spirit’s supernatural move upon Cornelius, his family, and friends, they became witnesses of God’s providence in making new creatures (2 Cor 5:17), now possessing newness of life (Rom 6:4). Their witness to the supernatural was going to become their way of life because the obedient Christian who speaks of Christ to others has the assurance that his planting, watering, or harvesting will occur in the providence of God’s timing, location, and in the souls who belong to Him in Caesarea, Corinth, and your city, too.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 21, 2021
