“So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord” (Acts 10:33).

This verse shows a fine example for our meetings as an assembly.

Background

An angel instructed the God-fearing Roman centurion Cornelius. He was to send for the apostle Peter. Through Peter’s message, he was to receive salvation (Acts 11:13–14).

While the messengers were on their way, the Lord prepared Peter for this service. As a Jew, Peter normally avoided any contact with non-Jews. Yet a vision made clear to him that this separation no longer applies in the kingdom of heaven. After this lesson, the Holy Spirit sent him to Caesarea (Acts 10:19–20). In Cornelius’s house, Peter met a large, expectant gathering (Acts 10:27). Their remarkable inner attitude is an example for us. It is an example of God speaking to us through His word. Four aspects stand out in particular.

Obedience

For the gospel to be proclaimed in Cornelius’s house, both men’s obedience was crucial. Cornelius followed the angel’s instruction and sent for Peter. Peter submitted to the Holy Spirit’s commission and traveled to Caesarea. This interaction shows their willingness was required for God’s work. This can be applied to us. The Lord can only give us tasks when He finds sincere willingness in us. He must find willingness to carry them out.

In the Presence of God

The people gathered in Cornelius’s house firmly expected God to speak to them through Peter. Aware of His presence, they did not receive Peter’s words as human words. They received them as God’s direct message (1 Thessalonians 2:13). This awareness of the Lord’s presence and authority should shape our meetings too. Then we will not receive a brother’s word as a human word. We will receive it as the word of God. This applies to brothers the Lord uses to proclaim His word.

Hearing Everything

Aware that God Himself spoke through Peter, those assembled gave him their full attention. They listened with open hearts. They received his message as a whole. They did not critically exclude individual parts. We also face the danger of filtering out only what we like. Then we ignore the rest of the message. Yet anyone who hears God’s word selectively rejects the whole message. Therefore, we want to hear everything without reservation. We want to hear what He has to say to us through His word.

What Is Commanded by God

In Cornelius’s house, Peter proclaimed exactly what God laid on his heart at that moment. He spoke the words God gave him. He left nothing out nor did he add anything (1 Peter 4:11). This impressively shows his obedience. It also shows his deep dependence on the Lord. If God uses us today to proclaim or pass on His word, we want to do the same. We want to pass on what He assigns to us with courage. We want to do so plainly and without distortion (Revelation 22:18–19). We may confidently leave the result to Him.