When God first spoke to Peter about taking the gospel to Caesarea, Peter resisted the idea of carrying God’s Word to Gentiles. It was never done before.
But God had specifically selected Caesarea to be the first non-Jewish city to hear and receive the Gospel first.
Acts 10:1 — “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave [b]alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”
The story speaks of an Italian officer, who was part of the conquering army that occupied Israel, who was a God-fearing man who exercised generosity, a giver, and a man who prayed always. Despite the abundance of different Roman temples across Caesarea in those times, Cornelius was a man who believed in the God of Israel.
His life is an amazing lesson in many things. One of them is the importance of an active, powerful and dedicated prayer life.
When we take time to pray, intercede, to spend time with the Lord, then God starts moving on our behalf. We will most likely start seeing Ángels sent by God and the move of the Holy Spirit around us.
Another valuable lesson from Cornelius’ life is his generosity.
The importance of being a giver, which opens a powerful door in our own lives for God to come in and act on our behalf.
Equally important to remember that Cornelius wasn’t Jewish. Yet the way God blessed him and others through him is nothing short of remarkable. God told him to call Peter, a Jewish apostle, who will come and preach to Cornelius the gospel — the message of salvation.
We will continue Peter’s unique calling to the nations and its start in Caesarea in the next video.
Beit Hallel is a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ashdod, led by pastor Israel Pochtar, serving holocaust survivors and the poor and needy locally and throughout the nation of Israel, while building up the body of Messiah in the promised land of Israel.