God Fearing Officer 

Acts chapter 10

     The centurion of a Roman regiment...and his family... 

     Cornelius and family were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously and prayed to God. He had a vision, seeing an angel of God.

     The angel: "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as an offering before God." Cornelius was told to seek a man named Peter.

     Meanwhile, Peter had a vision. Then he said, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (v. 34).  

(C)  God considers our prayers a sacrifice to him, in faith and devotion. 

     Early Christians understood that God's kingdom is not experienced with only a few minutes of prayer. "Pray always" (Luke 18:1). "Pray continually" (1 Thess. 5:17). "Pray everywhere" (I Tim. 2:8). "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Eph. 6:18). 

     Yours truly falls way short of these declarations by Jesus and Paul, but we accept them as requirements for answered prayer. 

On to Antioch

Acts chapter 11

     "Those who had been scattered by persecution (in connection with Stephen) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some, however, began to speak to Greeks also, telling the good news about the Lord Jesus. A great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.  

(C)   Disciples did not assume those who received God's grace would automatically remain true to the Lord. Barnabas and others helped and encouraged new converts to continue in faith, love and fellowship with Christ and his church. 

     The word "Christian," occurring three times in the NT, denoted a servant and follower of Christ. Today it has become a general term emptied of original meaning. It should suggest that Christ and his Word have become our supreme authority and our only source of future hope.

Tomorrow: James put to death; Peter imprisoned