Devotions at Caesarea Maritima - Dr. Ed

Our first stop at Caesarea Maritima

Dr. Ed, our leader sharing devotions.

The ampitheater where we sat, looking out on the Mediterranean Sea.

The amazing aqueduct that brought fresh water for King Herod.

Ed Smelser Blog for Acts 10 On the first morning of our tour, the first stop was the ruins of Caesarea Maritima, the once magnificent ancient capital of Israel during the reign of Herod the Great. In Acts 10 we read the details of a most important piece of Bible history, the founding of the Gentile Church. It is the story of two men who honored God , Cornelius, the Roman Centurion who feared God and the Apostle Peter, who was obedient to the voice of God . Both of these men changed to course of history. Cornelius was a devout man, one who feared God with all his household who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always (Acts 10:2). There are two important clues as to why this Roman soldier was a blessed man. He gave generously to people who were poor slaves, Jewish slave laborers constricted to build this palatial capital city and second ,”He prayed to God always”. Cornelius’ prayers and alms have come up for a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:4) God had noticed this Gentile because he had given generously to the Jewish slaves working in Caesarea and because he was a man of prayer he had a vision. Cornelius’ instructions in the vision were “Now send men to Joppa and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He will tell you what you must do.” (Acts 10:5,6) The next day, while Peter prayed on a rooftop in Joppa, Cornelius sent men to bring Peter to Caesarea. God had found two men in close proximity geographically, who He would bond together to jumpstart the New Testament Gentile church. “Cornelius, the just man who feared God and had a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews” (Acts 10:22)whose prayer had been heard and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. (Acts 10:31) And Peter, who the Lord had told not “to call any man common or unclean” had therefore come without objection to the meeting at Cornelius’ home. Later in Cornelius’ house, “While Peter was speaking the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word… the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” (Acts 10:44,45) • The prophecy had been fulfilled, “I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 48:6, Acts 13:47) • IT ALL BEGAN WHEN A MAN BLESSED ISRAEL. • The Centurion Heard the word by personal appointment because he was generous to the Jews Was Saved Was filled with the Holy Spirit Was Water baptized