Tag: cornelius

  • Caesar’s Palace East welcomes PETRUS

    Caesar’s Palace East welcomes PETRUS

    Caesar's Palace 21st c Las Vegas, Nevada, US
    Caesar’s Palace

    Peter in Roman Sin City

    A background behind Caesar’s Palace in Judea

    Initially, a few decades before..

    Caesarea is sixty some miles northwest of Jerusalem. Herod had expanded it to become one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire, which would later serve Rome as Judea’s capital. (Yes, it would later have a grande Caesar’s Palace intended for the Herodian rulers of Judea.)

    Herod the Great had sold his political soul to an alliance with the great Caesar Augustus (title first claimed by Herod’s ally, Octavian). But Herod’s alliance accomplished only a brief stay of execution of Roman dominance over Judea, even as he began many magnificent building projects. These included an incomplete Temple in Jerusalem where Jesus would preach and an opulent port of Caesarea Maritima (one of several Caesar’s Palaces of these times).

    Romans, Egyptians and the Greeks before them under the dominance of Alexander’s world empire worshiped MANY gods. Jerusalem’s differing parties of Jews argued constantly over such forced relationships with their pagan overseers. A Caesar or Cleopatra as one of these gods was common occurrence in the A.D. first century world where Jews mostly traded liberally with other cultures.

    Caesar’s, Ptolemy’s & Herod’s

    You probably know about the whoredom of Cleopatra (glamorized by Hollywood) from when the Queen of Egypt willingly made her bed with the power of Rome in order to hold onto her kingdom. (It’s a complex plot of military/political/religious drama of real life at its best.)

    In fact, Jews recognized that the ruling party of the Herod’s was no less in bed with Rome than had been Cleopatra.

    She had commanded a personal fleet of 60 ships and sent 200 ships to Antony at Actium [33 B.C.]. This Egyptian Pharaoh also appointed her own governors of conquered regions like Syria and Cypress.

    Cleopatra had incited a war against Herod. Octavian later takes power as Caesar Augustus. [See more linked to the quote below.]

    Herod, who had personally advised Antony after the Battle of Actium that he should betray Cleopatra, traveled to Rhodes to meet Octavian and resign his kingship out of loyalty to Antony. Octavian was impressed by his speech and sense of loyalty, so he allowed him to maintain his position in Judea, further isolating Antony and Cleopatra.

    Wikipedia.org – citing additional sources

    Herod’s new harbor of Caesarea was forty acres and could accommodate 300 ships. According to the historian Josephus, he built a “most magnificent palace” on a promontory jutting out into the waters of Caesarea and lengthy aqueduct to bring water from springs at the base of Mount Carmel nearly ten miles away.

    Read more & see additional photos: https://www.bibleplaces.com/caesarea/

    Enter Peter encountering Rome in Caesarea

    In ~ the year of our Lord, 40

    Your additions or corrections to this approximate scenario of A.D. 40'ish from various sources are welcome as a COMMENT to this post. - RH
    • Joseph ben Caiaphas, who had condemned the Messiah JESUS to a Cross and unsuccessfully tried Peter and John remains powerful in Jerusalem.
    • Pontius Pilate had been recalled from office as governor by Tiberius Caesar three years earlier after Pilate had ordered great violence to suppress a Samaritan rebelion.
    • Tiberius Caesar Augustus died that same year and was succeeded by his son Caligula, who declared himself a god.
    • Caligula ordered a statue of himself is to be erected in the temple at Jerusalem, but Herod delays implementation long enough to prevent widespread revolt in Judaea and prior to Caligula’s assassination by men of a succeeding Emperor, Claudius.
    • Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great & Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, whose wife Herodias had incited him to behead John the Baptist, has also died just a year earlier.

    • AND NOW, The Lord has summoned Simon Peter to accompany three Roman men sent from Caesarea by a Roman military leader to find Peter in Joppa.

    ACTS 10: of PETER in Caesarea

    CLICK ACTS 10 [above] to view:  New American Standard Bible; Conferenza Episcopale Italiana; Orthodox Jewish Bible; SBL Greek New Testament 
    + consider the significance of this crucial cross-cultural visit by Simon Peter to a Roman in Caesarea.

    Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. On the following day he entered Caesarea.

    ACTS 10:23b-24a NASB

    Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

    • Peter has brought fellow followers of Christ, fellow jews from Joppa [v.23].
    • Cornelius is A devout man, &–an uncircumcised Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith, of whom there were a very great number at this time; a distinguished proselyte, who had brought his whole household establishment under the hallowing influence of the Jewish faith and the regular observance of its principal seasons of worship. – source

    When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.


    This is more than respect and above customary honor of one man to a delegate coming to him from another place or as a representative of the true faith he seeks.

    Cornelius, a Roman Jew in every way except birth and circumcision, recognizes that Peter, is ambassador of the Messiah Jesus, a man of miracles.

    Faithful and reliable men have even told him about Peter and his miracles in Jerusalem confirming the Messiah AND Jesus’ anointing of this Apostle who has now come into his presence in his Roman city of Caesarea.

    Just like the healed lame man who clung to Peter at the Temple, Cornelius meets a man with the Power of the Lord who gives all credit to the Lord Jesus Christ.

    26 But Peter helped him up, saying,

    “Stand up; I, too, am just a man.”

    27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. And he said to them,

    “You yourselves know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner;


    Just let this sink in for a moment, as Peter’s Roman listeners in Caesarea certainly must have done:

    Cornelius may have instructed the men in his command in this manner:

    These JEWISH subjects of our Roman legions are NOT at all like the tolerant Hellenists we meet throughout Caesar’s Empire! So avoid them when possible.

    Peter continues with words of comfort to these gentiles:

    and yet God has shown me that I am not to call any person unholy or unclean.

    That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for.


    NEXT:

    Cornelius recounts his own ‘coming to Jesus’ experience at Caesar’s Palace East in Caesarea.

    To be continued...
  • The Gospel of an Angel to Cornelius

    The Gospel of an Angel to Cornelius

    ACTS 10 of Cornelius – a devout Roman Centurion

    Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian [~600 man] cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

    Who do we see here?

    A Roman soldier in a navy town built by Caesar.

    A devout humble worshipper of God.

    A family man, leader of his household as well.

    A generous man who gave to the Jews subjected to Roman rule, taxes and its army.

    This is the Italian Centurion Κορνήλιος [Cornelius].


    We have already read about the Angel he will encounter in ACTS 10:3

    Learn more about angels by clicking on our previous post below.
    About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!”

    Answer to a Roman prayer:

    And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?”

    Cornelius, a Roman centurion, calls the Angel, lord; that is respectfully addressing him as “sir” and waiting for the response of a superior.

    And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

    ACTS 10:4b – the answer of an angel to the Roman Centurion Cornelius
    plain of Sharon Israel looking back from Mediterranean toward Joppa and the samarian hills

    Meanwhile, back in Joppa

    Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with a man named Simon who was a leatherworker. – CLICK HERE for Greek, English, Italian & Russian for Acts 9:43

    We have already travelled to Joppa from Jerusalem with Simon Peter in Luke's account prior to this angelic encounter in Caesarea.
    Ταβιθά – Δορκάς – Dorcas = “gazelle”
    the name of a woman Peter raised from the dead

    An Angel’s Command to a Roman Soldier in Caesarea

    piadoso y temeroso de Dios con toda su casa, y que hacía muchas limosnas al pueblo, y oraba a Dios siempre.

    Hechos 10:2 :: Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR60)

    Luke’s Greek text describes Cornelius as εὐσεβής [eusebēs]. We would not want to miss the significance of worshipers of God of any ethnicity. [Above]

    The word in Spanish resembles an English word which will put off some free-thinking evangelicals, but don’t miss it:

    AN ANGEL of GOD came to an Italian in Roman Syria.

    (NOT a Hebrew like the Apostles).

    Cornelius is NOT even a Greek like Luke, born a Greek and a Gentile in Antioch, Syria.

    The word Luke uses to describe him is Pious.

    Cornelius EXEMPLIFIES the ACT of being pious or dutiful to all – especially God.


    The Angel’s Messengers to Peter

    εὐαγγέλιον [pronounced] yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-onGospel

    • good tidings
    • same as εὐαγγελίζω (G2097)
      • to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
    • Do you recall from our look at Angels that they are messengers from God generally with a message for a man of God?

    ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΩΝ [ACTS] 10:4-8

    “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”

    ACTS 10:5-6 [NASB20] of an Angel of God instructing Cornelius with his gospel message

    Obedient immediate response to the gospel

    7 The angel who spoke to Cornelius left.

    Then Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier. The soldier was a religious man, one of his close helpers.

    8 Cornelius explained everything to these three men and sent them to Joppa.


    NEXT: A most unlikely lunch meeting in Joppa

    Comment on Scripture in our series from ACTS +
    Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord

    TalkofJESUS.COM + Acts of the Apostles for a 21st c. Church
  • He distinctly saw an angel of God

    He distinctly saw an angel of God

     “Cornelius!” the angel said.

    Cornelius stared at him in terror.

    “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

    ACTS 10:4 of angels

    roman centurion

    Sir, yes Sir!?!

    ACTS 10: of an angel & a Roman warrior

    What an unlikely scene in this new missionary journey of Twelve Jewish Apostles of JESUS the Messiah of Israel.

    Luke records an encounter of a Roman soldier, Cornelius, with an angel of God!

    Previously, we left Peter in Joppa, where the Apostle has just performed another resurrection.

    We will get to Cornelius and then Peter; but TODAY I would like us to consider the role of an angel of God in the mission of the Church.

    A missionary moment with a timeless messenger

    Man, even a prophet or an Apostle, is mortal – spirit adorned in flesh with beating heart tirelessly churning the blood of life from limb to limb.

    We know the nature of a fellow being of dust whom we meet in the street.

    But what of an angel?

    How would you and I react to such an encounter with that which is unlike us – an angel – a living being created of spirit without flesh and bone, an eternal messenger who may appear to mankind only once in many lifetimes?

    What do we really know about angels?

    Angels in art have blurred our view of truth, eternity and the messengers of the Lord our God.

    Roger@TalkofJESUS.com
    • What do YOU think?

    We cannot take time here for an exhaustive quest for God-sent angels or an unveiling of messengers veiled in darkness, but let’s glance at the evidence of angels in the Bible.

    What do you know about them?

    Angels in a Biblical Context

    • Question: What book of the Bible makes the most mentions of an angel (or angels)?
    If you guessed: The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John [51x in the KJV]
    you would be correct. (But that's a scene somewhat challenging for any to get a clear picture of an angel in its usual mission for the Lord.)
    • What about all the angels in Luke’s Gospel announcing Jesus’ birth?
      • Pretty good guess. [15x KJV] But it comes in fifth.
      • Two Old Testament Books come in at #3 and #4.
        • Any guesses? [hint: one is a Prophet]
        • CLICK HERE for that answer [19x]

    • TWO books of the Bible, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, contain the most references (second only to Revelation) to an angel or angels).

    • DO YOU KNOW WHAT THESE TWO BOOKS REFERRING TO ANGELS HAVE IN COMMON?

    Answer:

    History.

    • #3 is Judges
      • & you have probably guessed..
    • #2 is ACTS of the Apostles.
    So before we proceed with our look at an angel bringing messages to Cornelius, Peter and others, let's take a brief glance at what the Bible reveals about these messengers of God.

    מַלְאָךְ

    mal’āḵ – From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy

    1. messenger
    2. angel
    3. the theophanic angel

    a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher):—ambassador, angel, king, messenger.

    Strong’s H4397 – mal’āḵ

    An angel may be a heavenly being with a message from God.

    BUT a man such as Zechariah (or the Apostle John) may also bring a commanded message and/or a prophetic message of the future from the Lord.

    We see this many times:

    • And the angel H4397 of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
    • And Jacob went on his way, and the angels H4397 of God met him.
    • And Jacob sent messengers H4397 before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

    We needn’t debate if these angels of specific instances were men or heavenly beings; the point is that these angels bring a message of God to men and women for whom He cares.

    וַיַּעַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה מִן־הַגִּלְגָּל אֶל־הַבֹּכִים פ וַיֹּאמֶר אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם וָאָבִיא אֶתְכֶם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם וָאֹמַר לֹֽא־אָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם לְעוֹלָֽם׃

    CLICK FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION FROM HEBREW: Shoftim (Judges) 2:1 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)
    Would you like to READ an encounter from the Old Testament between an angel and the parents of Samson?
    CLICK HERE FOR JUDGES 13 CSB with ten references to this angel.

    Angel in the New Testament

    ἄγγελος – angelos

    • The KJV translates Strong’s G32 in the following manner:
      • angel (179x),
      • messenger (7x).

    Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

    STRONGS G32:
    ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ,

    1. a messenger, envoy, one who is sent: Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:24, 27; Luke 9:52; Mark 1:2; James 2:25. [From Homer down.]
    2. In the Scriptures, both of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, one of that host of heavenly spirits that, according alike to Jewish and Christian opinion, wait upon the monarch of the universe, and are sent by him to earth, now to execute his purposes (Matthew 4:6, 11; Matthew 28:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 16:22; Luke 22:43

    ἄγγελος θεός – angelos theos

    AN ANGEL OF GOD

    Acts 10:3 (and other passages) referenced by Thayer’s Greek Lexicon [above]

    He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

    sent by him to earth, now to execute his purposes

    hence, the frequent expressions ἄγγελος (angel, messenger of God, מַלְאָך) and ἄγγελοι κυρίου or ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ.


    They are subject not only to God but also to Christ (Hebrews 1:4ff; 1 Peter 3:22, cf. Ephesians 1:21; Galatians 4:14), who is described as hereafter to return to judgment surrounded by a multitude of them as servants and attendants: Matthew 13:41, 49; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:31; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, cf. Jude 1:14.


    Up until now, we have encountered an angel seven times in Acts of the Apostles.

    What is your COMMENT about any similarities and differences between these seven angels we have met so far in ACTS of the Apostles?


    NEXT: Cornelius and the Angel of God

    in ACTS 10: [click for NASB]

  • The Gospel: Witnessed by the Romans

    The Gospel: Witnessed by the Romans

    Roman squad

    Acts 10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

    Don’t miss this: Caesarea is the administrative capital and military outpost of the Roman Empire by which Rome ruled, taxed and maintained civil order in Judea and Idumea.

    Cornelius is a centurion – a Roman soldier, part of the Italian Cohort sent across the Great Sea (Mediterranean) to maintain the claim of Rome in these foreign colonies; much as the Spanish, English and other empires have done in more recent centuries.

    We recognize that Jesus was Messiah to the Jews and preached to Jewish converts from other nations. We recognize that Jesus also taught in other areas – gentile towns – clearly with little or no connection to Judea or long-ago destroyed Israel.

    We may have missed (until the missionary journeys of Paul) that Romans, as occupying residents of the Land of Promise, were witness to the Gospel.

    Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?”

    And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

     How does it happen that a Roman is witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

    Again, it’s just like you or me at work: we probably didn’t see that ‘Roman’ right there beside us (doing their own job) as we were witness to all of the truth of our faith.

    Let’s focus on some Romans (other than Pontius Pilate) at the spectacle of the Crucifixion of Christ Jesus on the Cross in Jerusalem some months earlier than this scene with Cornelius.

    Luke 23: Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”

    Were there Roman Centurions present in this scene with the potential for an uprising against Roman authority? Or course; many Roman soldiers.

    20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

    Were Roman Centurions present? Yes, and the crowd is growing even more unruly. They continue to do as ordered (even though the Roman ruler of the occupied territory has declared this man ‘innocent.’) How can he do that? Yet orders are orders.

    27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

    A military escort for the condemned criminals through the crowds of Jerusalem? SOP – (Standard Operating Procedure).

    33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

    The soldiers cast lots to see who would win his clothes. (A rather macabre occupation of time for executioners to be distracted from the cries of dying men.)

    44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed.

    A foreboding storm covers the scene of the skull of death (as it was known). Are the Roman Legions fearful?

    Would you be fearful? … Probably.

     46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

    And having said this he breathed his last.

    47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

    48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.

    What who you (as the Centurion) think of the witness of this spectacle?

    Just one more additional thought (which I mentioned in an earlier writing about the Sermon on the Mount):

    Do you think that Jesus (or anyone) could gather 5000 people or 4000 people or multitudes together to witness His teaching and witness His miracles and witness the truth of His daily life without Roman Centurians also being present?

    Not likely.

    We witness the gospel to any the Lord also sends to the places we live, work, play, travel and worship.

    What is your witness of the Gospel to the Romans guarding over you (who you rarely notice)?

     

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