Breaking Barriers - Cornelius

“I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

Acts 10:33

You don’t have to be more than a casual sports fan to know that Jackie Robinson is credited with breaking down Major League Baseball’s long-established color barrier. On April 15, 1947, this skilled African-American played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Though Robinson endured merciless taunts and insults—even at Ebbets Field, his home ballpark—he opened the door for thousands of African-American players who had dreams of playing in the big leagues.

People tend to honor those who first do something of note, and very often they then follow this leader. A Roman military officer named Cornelius broke a few barriers of his own when he placed his faith in Christ; his conversion made a big difference in his family and community.

The Bible remembers Cornelius as the first Gentile to come to faith in Jesus following the Lord’s death and resurrection. Cornelius had a reputation as a generous, devout man who feared the God of Israel. He listened and obeyed when God delivered a personalized message to him, telling him to invite the apostle Peter to his home in Caesarea to more fully explain the way of salvation.

When Peter visited Cornelius, the apostle explained everything to him, and Cornelius accepted his words.

As Cornelius listened to Peter, the Spirit of God fell on everyone who heard the message. That amazed Peter’s Jewish traveling companions, who saw for themselves that God intended salvation through Jesus for Jews and Gentiles alike (see Acts 10:44-45).

Jesus’ death and resurrection broke down the long-standing barrier between God and man and between Jews and Gentiles. Because Cornelius heard and obeyed God’s instructions, he played a big part in bringing his fellow Gentiles to faith in Christ.

You receive God’s personal blessings when you listen, trust, and obey God’s Word. God blesses you when you obey, and he uses your obedience to bless those around you.