Acts xi. 18. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted re- pentance unto life.
HERE we have an account of an event in which we all are deeply interested, The opening of the door of salvation to the Gentiles. Peter was the honoured instrument employed. " To him our blessed Lord
had given the keys of the kingdom of heaven," that he might open it both to Jews and Gentiles. To the Jews he had opened it, on the day of Pentecost ; and now, after the lapse of six years, he opens it to the Gentiles also. In the words of my text we have,
I. The fact acknowledged —
A most remarkable fact it was. It was remarkable,
1. In its attendant circumstances —
[To enter fully into tins subject, the preceding chapter, together with this, should be read throughout. Cornelius, a Roman centurion, a heathen, was favoured by Almighty God with a vision ; and an angel was sent from heaven, to instruct him where to send for one who was enabled and authorized to preach unto him the way of salvation. The next morning, Peter also had a vision vouchsafed to him, in order to remove his scruples about going to a heathen. And, when he was musing upon the import of this vision, the servants of Corne- lius arrived, having come a day's journey to request a visit from him ; and the Spirit of God expressly enjoined him to comply with their solicitations. Accordingly, he went : and, having been informed by Cornelius by what authority his presence had been desired, he preached the Gospel to him and to his friends : and the Holy Ghost descended on the whole company, in confirmation of the word delivered, and marked them out as proper subjects to be i*eceived into the Church by baptism. Accordingly, " Peter commanded them to be baptized:" and, after a few days' abode with his new converts, left them, and went up to Jesusalem. Nor was the fact less remarkable,]
2. In its issue —
[A rumour of these events had already reached Jerusalem: and the Church there, with all the Apostles at their head, being filled with indignation against Peter " for going in to one that was uncircumcised, and eating with him," demanded of him the reasons for so extraordinary a conduct. Upon this, he reported to them all that had occurred, both respecting the vision given to Cornelius, and that vouchsafed to himself; and particularly the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them all, pre- cisely as on the Apostles themselves on the day of Pentecost. This convinced them, that what he had done was of Divine appointment ; and that " God had to the Gentiles also, no less than to the Jews, granted repentance unto life." The fact was now unquestionable ; and they could not but acknow- ledge it.]