Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
ACTS 10:1-8 | In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.” When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.
ACTS 10:17-20 | Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate. They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”
Peter has had supernatural evidence to change his view of who and what is clean and unclean. But God also wants him to have a human experience, an encounter with Gentiles to confirm his meaning. Cornelius, a Centurion, leads a Roman cohort and is a “ God fearer.” This is a technical term for a Gentile who attends synagogue, respects Jewish law, gives alms, prays, and protects the interests of Israelites in his district.
Cornelius is guided by a vision to connect with Peter. God uses the same means to bring them both together and reassures Peter the meeting is part of his will.
Has an unlikely encounter ever shifted your perspective?
Did you see God’s hand in it?
