You Should Never Walk Alone

Peter did not consider the journey to Cornelius’ house as only a personal invitation. He took with him representatives of the church in Joppa. Cornelius did not see the message of the angel as just for himself or his nuclear family. He called together all his relatives and his close friends to listen to Peter. Many non-Western societies understand more clearly that we are part of communities, and they usually make decisions together rather than as individuals. Cornelius made possible the salvation of his whole household by inviting them to hear the message together with him.

By taking other believers with him, Peter is involving them in this great act of bringing Gentiles into the church. It needed a vision to one man to open the possibility of these Gentiles hearing the Gospel, but it was the collective testimony to what God did that was a necessary part of the decision to make a permanent change in the nature and composition of the people of God. Cornelius is brought into fellowship with believers from Joppa. If Peter had had a lone-ranger attitude to his ministry, the integration of Gentiles into the church would have been much more difficult.

Cornelius knows the priority of the situation. They are together to listen carefully to all that Peter had to say. This opportunity was the vital moment in their spiritual lives and eternal destiny. Cornelius reminds them that they are in the presence of God and that Peter has been commanded by the Lord with the message he is to give. Here is instruction for both preachers and congregations: preachers are to be certain that what they are saying is what the Lord has entrusted to them; and congregations are to be obedient to all that he has commanded them.

Ask yourself if you are attentive to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you, and faithful to be obedient to it.