Articles
For What Reason Have You Sent for Me?
The book of Acts contains several cases of conversion – where men and women heard the Gospel preached, were convicted by the message, repented of their sins, and were baptized into Christ. One of the most monumental and interesting conversions was that of Cornelius, a Gentile, as recorded in Acts 10-11.
Peter was summoned to the house of Cornelius in Caesarea. Upon arriving, Peter said in 10:29, “So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?” The question of “Why did you send for me” was very appropriate since an angel appeared to Cornelius and Peter had a strange vision that ultimately led him to this particular place.
These passages reveal five reasons why it was necessary for Cornelius to send for Peter since this devout, morally excellent man was looking for salvation:
1) Peter was sent for because fearing God and being religious is not enough for salvation. A description of Cornelius is given in 10:2, 22: “a devout man, one who feared God with all his household, gave many alms to the Jews, prayed to God continually, righteous, and well-spoken of by the Jewish nation.”
What a resume! Nevertheless, Cornelius still needed to be told what to do to be saved. “And he (Peter) will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (11:14). This good man needed to hear the message of salvation spoken to him.
2) Peter was sent for because salvation does not come through prayer. Cornelius prayed to God continually and was even observing the daily hour of prayer when the angel appeared to him (10:2-4). But all those prayers could not bring about salvation for this good man. For all his sincere prayers which went up as a memorial before God, he still needed to hear words by which he would be saved (11:13-14).
3) Peter was sent for because the Holy Spirit does not save by direct action. In Acts 10:19, the Holy Spirit instructed Peter to follow the three men from Cornelius to Caesarea to speak a message to him and his household. If God wanted the H. S. to save man by His direct action, this would not have been the case. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and all his household who were listening to Peter’s message (10:44-48), but those very people were commanded by the inspired apostle to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for salvation. That is how the H.S. works, not by direct action on a person’s heart.
4) Peter was sent for because salvation was now available to all men and women – Jew or Gentile, rich or poor. “Opening his mouth, Peter said, I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). On this very occasion, the first Gentile conversion to Christ, Peter learned that the Gentiles deserved to hear the Gospel just the same as the Jews. That same conclusion was reached by the apostles and brethren in Jerusalem (11:18). Later, when the issue of circumcision was being discussed, Peter referred back to this event to point out that no distinction ought to be made between Jew and Gentile (Acts 15:6-9).
5) Peter was sent for because the commandments of the Lord are the only things that save men and women. After sending for Peter, Cornelius had assembled his relatives and close friends in his house to await his arrival. After answering why he had summoned the apostle to Caesarea, the centurion announced to Peter, “Now then, we are all here present to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” In his message Peter stated, “Of Him (Jesus) all the prophets bear witness that through His name, everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (10:43). After the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles – to the utter amazement of the Jewish brethren that had accompanied Peter – the scriptures record the final instructions of the inspired message, “And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” The Gospel message truly is God’s power to save (Rom 1:16).
Upon arriving at the home of Cornelius, Peter asked a most relevant question, “For what reason have you sent for me?” He has summoned Peter because an angel had directed him to send to Joppa for the apostle so that he could learn the way of salvation. But the events recorded in Acts 10-11 give five other reasons for Cornelius’ request that have important, even eternal ramifications. God’s word, the message of salvation, is what will save your soul and mine. Nothing more and nothing less.
(Danny Johnson, via Let Your Light Shine bulletin, Wilsonville, AL)
