Acts 10:37-43

Peter preaches to Cornelius, his family, and his friends the essence of the Gospel message. I thought it was interesting that he assumed they knew about all that had gone on with John the Baptist and with Jesus, even though the Scriptures do not record that Jesus ever ministered in Caesarea Maritima where Cornelius was stationed. It’s not like they had CNN back then, but I imagine the word got out.

The fact that Peter was one of the original disciples who was a direct witness to Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection certainly helped him make the case before Cornelius. Like so many of us, we may often be aware that something is going on, but not know the particulars, and who better to hear from than a direct witness?

The fact that Peter tells them that Jesus ordered them to preach the Gospel had to mean something to Cornelius, as he understood giving and receiving orders, being a soldier. Cornelius was also aware that Peter took those orders so seriously that he would risk being ostracized by his own people in order to travel a day’s journey to minister to unknown Gentiles.

“Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge of all—the living and the dead! He is the one the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.”

I remember hearing a Muslim man testify about how the Lord gave him a vision, and he was surprised that it was Jesus who came to him instead of Muhammad. There will be many people surprised, I am afraid, when that time comes. People may not want to hear the message, but we must put it out there anyway. Orders are orders. Then, there are those who truly want to know, but they simply need to hear the message from someone who knows.

I firmly believe that there are those for whom God will move heaven and earth because they genuinely want to know the truth, just as He did here with Cornelius. Spiritual hunger for the truth will always be answered. The question is: “Are we hungry for the truth?”


God is always searching for hearts that are sincerely seeking Him. Cornelius’ hunger for truth positioned him for a divine encounter that changed not only his life, but the lives of many around him. God orchestrated visions, journeys, and conversations to make sure one spiritually hungry man heard the Gospel. The same God is still pursuing people today, often using ordinary believers willing to obey His voice. We may never fully realize how one act of obedience or one conversation about Jesus could impact eternity for someone else.