Week Six Reflection: The Household of Cornelius
The Household of Cornelius–Acts 10:1-9, 17bc-18, 19bc-22, 24-27, 34-38
Verse to memorize
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:47)
Passage
In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about three o ‘clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.” When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them every-thing, he sent them to Joppa.
About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray….[S]uddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon ‘s house and were standing by the gate. They called out to ask whether Simon, who is called Peter, was staying there….[While praying] the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them. So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming? ‘ They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”
…The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. On Peter ‘s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled.
…Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited them to stay for several days. (NRSV)
Questions
1. This conversion story takes place in Caesarea Maritima ? Q: Where is Caesarea? A: It is the
ancient Roman capital of the province of Judea on the Mediterranean coast. It was the seat of the Roman administration in Jesus ‘ time. Q: Where is Joppa? 39 miles south of Caesarea Q: Who is Cornelius? A: He is a centurion of the Italian Cohort (a division of the Roman Army) who was a “God-fearer” (see FBC-week Four, the Ethiopian Eunuch) who devoted himself to alms-giving and prayer. Q: What happened to Cornelius at 3 PM one day? A: An angel appeared and told him that his prayers had been heard by God and to send men to Joppa to find Simon who is called Peter. Q: What is Cornelius ‘ response? A: First he stared in terror; then sent men to Joppa to find Peter.
2. Q: Where was Peter when the men arrived at the house in Joppa? A: On the roof praying.
Q: What message did Peter get from the Holy Spirit? A: The three men had been sent by the Spirit. Go with them to Cornelius ‘ house. Q: The next day when Peter, the Christians with him and Cornelius ‘ men arrive at Cornelius ‘ house, who is there? A: A large group of Cornelius ‘ relatives and friends. Q: What did Cornelius do in receiving Peter? A: He fell at his feet and worshiped Peter. Q: What did Peter do? A: He made Cornelius get up, saying, “I am only a mortal.”
3. Q: What did St. Peter say to this group? A: He gave the original proclamation of the Gospel: that God accepts all people; that Jesus is Lord of all; that he went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil; that He was put to death; that Jesus was raised on the third day; that he appeared to witnesses; He commanded Peter and the disciples to preach that he will judge the living and the dead; and that those who believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins.
4. A: What happened while Peter preached? A: The Holy Spirit fell upon all. Q: What was the reaction of the Jewish Christians with Peter? A: Astonishment that the Holy Spirit had come to Gentiles. Q: What did Peter say? A: “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
5. What kind of a conversion story is this one? A: Conversion to a whole household of people by the agency of St. Peter. Q: Who else is very active in this story? A: The Holy Spirit!
Video
Courtesy of The Bible Project
La casa de Cornelio: Hechos 10,1-9 17bc-18 19bc-22 24-27 34-38
Versículo para memorizar:
¿Acaso se puede negar el agua del bautismo a los que recibieron el Espíritu Santo como nosotros? (Hechos 10,47)
Lea este pasaje y reflexione con estas preguntas
Había en Cesarea un hombre llamado Cornelio, centurión de la cohorte itálica.
Era un hombre piadoso y temeroso de Dios, lo mismo que toda su familia; hacía abundantes limosnas al pueblo y oraba a Dios sin cesar.
Este hombre tuvo una visión: un día, cerca de las tres de la tarde, vio claramente al Ángel de Dios que entraba en su casa y le decía: “Cornelio”.
Este lo miró lleno de temor, y le preguntó: “¿Qué quieres de mí, Señor?”. El Ángel le dijo: “Tus oraciones y tus limosnas han llegado hasta Dios y él se ha acordado de ti. Envía ahora algunos hombres a Jope en busca de Simón, llamado Pedro, que se hospeda en la casa de un tal Simón, un curtidor que vive a la orilla del mar”.
En cuanto el Ángel se alejó, Cornelio llamó a dos de sus servidores y a un soldado piadoso de los que estaban a sus órdenes.
Después de haberles contado lo sucedido, los envió a Jope.
Al día siguiente, mientras estos se acercaban a la ciudad, Pedro, alrededor del mediodía, subió a la terraza para orar.
Estos averiguaron dónde vivía Simón y se presentaron ante la puerta de la casa.
Golpearon y preguntaron si se hospedaba allí Simón, llamado Pedro.
Como Pedro seguía reflexionando sobre el significado de la visión, el Espíritu Santo le dijo: “Allí hay tres hombres que te buscan. Baja y no dudes en irte con ellos, porque soy yo quien los he enviado”.
Pedro bajó y se acercó a ellos, diciendo: “Yo soy el que ustedes buscan. ¿Para qué vinieron?”.
Ellos respondieron: “El centurión Cornelio, hombre justo y temeroso de Dios, que goza de la estima de todos los judíos, recibió de un ángel de Dios la orden de conducirse a su casa para escuchar tus palabras”.
Al otro día, llegaron a Cesarea. Cornelio los esperaba, y había reunido a su familia y a sus amigos íntimos.
Cuando Pedro entró, Cornelio fue a su encuentro y se postró a sus pies.
Pero Pedro lo hizo levantar, diciéndole: “Levántate, porque yo no soy más que un hombre”.
Y mientras seguía conversando con él, entró y se encontró con un grupo numeroso de personas, que estaban reunidas allí.
Entonces Pedro, tomando la palabra, dijo: «Verdaderamente, comprendo que Dios no hace acepción de personas, y que en cualquier nación, todo el que lo teme y practica la justicia es agradable a él.
El envió su Palabra al pueblo de Israel, anunciándoles la Buena Noticia de la paz por medio de Jesucristo, que es el Señor de todos.
Ustedes ya saben qué ha ocurrido en toda Judea, comenzando por Galilea, después del bautismo que predicaba Juan: cómo Dios ungió a Jesús de Nazaret con el Espíritu Santo, llenándolo de poder. El pasó haciendo el bien y curando a todos los que habían caído en poder del demonio, porque Dios estaba con él.
(Biblia “El libro del Pueblo de Dios”)
Preguntas para reflexionar:
1. Esta historia de conversión tiene lugar en Cesarea Marítima.
P: ¿Dónde está Cesarea?
R: Es la antigua capital romana de la provincia de Judea en la costa mediterránea. Era la sede de la administración romana en tiempos de Jesús.
P: ¿Dónde está Jope?
R: 39 millas al sur de Cesarea
P: ¿Quién es Cornelio?
R: Se trata de un centurión de la Cohorte Italiana (una división del ejército romano) que era un “temeroso de Dios” (véase la cuarta semana del Desafío Bíblico Familiar, “El eunuco etíope”) que se dedicaba a la limosna y a la oración.
P: ¿Qué le pasó a Cornelio un día a las 3 de la tarde?
R: Un ángel se le apareció y le dijo que sus oraciones habían sido escuchadas por Dios y que enviara hombres a Jope para encontrar a Simón, llamado Pedro.
P: ¿Cuál es la respuesta de Cornelio?
R: Primero miró con terror; entonces envió hombres a Jope para encontrar a Pedro.
2.
P: ¿Dónde estaba Pedro cuando los hombres llegaron a la casa de Jope?
R: En el tejado rezando.
P: ¿Qué mensaje recibió Pedro del Espíritu Santo?
R: Los tres hombres habían sido enviados por el Espíritu. Ve con ellos a la casa de Cornelio.
P: Al día siguiente, cuando Pedro, los cristianos que le acompañan y los hombres de Cornelio llegan a la casa de éste, ¿quién está allí?
R: Un gran grupo de familiares y amigos de Cornelio.
P: ¿Qué hizo Cornelio al recibir a Pedro?
R: Cayó a sus pies y adoró a Pedro.
P: ¿Qué hizo Pedro?
R: Hizo que Cornelio se levantara, diciendo: “Levántate, porque yo no soy más que un hombre”.
3.
P: ¿Qué dijo San Pedro a este grupo?
R: Él dio la proclamación original del Evangelio: que Dios acepta a todas las personas; que Jesús es el Señor de todo; que anduvo haciendo el bien y curando a los oprimidos por el diablo; que fue condenado a muerte; que Jesús resucitó al tercer día; que se apareció a los testigos; Ordenó a Pedro y a los discípulos que predicaran que él juzgará a los vivos y a los muertos; y que los que creen en Él reciben el perdón de los pecados.
4.
R: ¿Qué ocurrió mientras Pedro predicaba?
R: El Espíritu Santo descendió sobre todos.
P: ¿Cuál fue la reacción de los judíos cristianos con Pedro?
R: Asombro de que el Espíritu Santo haya llegado a los gentiles.
P: ¿Qué dijo Pedro?
R: “¿Acaso se puede negar el agua del bautismo a los que recibieron el Espíritu Santo como nosotros?”.
5. ¿Qué clase de historia de conversión es ésta?
R: Una conversión a toda una casa de personas por intermedio de San Pedro.
P: ¿Quién más es muy activo en esta historia?
R: ¡El Espíritu Santo!