彼得抓紧神的心意
使徒行传十章1至7节，23至26节
1在凯撒利亚有一个人，名叫哥尼流，是意大利营的百夫长。
2他是个虔诚人，他和全家都敬畏神，多多赒济百姓，常常祷告神。
3有一天，约在申初，他在异象中明明看见神的一个使者进去，到他那里，说：“哥尼流。”
4哥尼流定睛看他，惊怕说：“主啊，甚么事呢？”天使说：“你的祷告和你的赒济达到神面前，已蒙记念了。
5现在你当打发人往约帕去，请那称呼彼得的西门来。
6他住在海边一个硝皮匠西门的家里，房子在海边上。”
7向他说话的天使去后，哥尼流叫了两个家人和常伺候他的一个虔诚兵来，
23彼得就请他们进去，住了一宿。次日起身和他们同去，还有约帕的几个弟兄同着他去。
24又次日，他们进入凯撒利亚。哥尼流已经请了他的亲属、密友等候他们。
25彼得一进去，哥尼流就迎接他。俯伏在他脚前拜他。
26彼得却拉他说：“你起来，我也是人。”
信息分享
今天的经文告诉我们，彼得当时身在沿海城巿约帕。在约帕以北约三十公里的凯撒利亚，有一个敬虔的人，名叫哥尼流，常常祷告神；他也乐善好施，但仍未得救。主愿意拯救他（见十一14），并满有恩慈要透过彼得将福音带给他。
然而，彼得需要主赐他崭新的异象，看见外邦人的福音需要。于是，主给他一个奇特的异象，记载在9至17节。彼得终于明白主的心意，当哥尼流的仆人前来请他，他已准备好随外帮的信使北上哥尼流家。那里正等着迎接他呢！
哥尼流非常关心亲友的需要，他邀请他们一同来聆听彼得的教训（24节）。彼得一开口传讲救恩的信息，圣灵便降临在众人身上，彼得还为哥尼流等人施洗。多么令人振奋的事件！你何不读完全章呢？
我们可能注意到两点。首先，神用非同寻常的方法来吸引彼得的注意，并扩大他的异象。有许多时候也是神先以非同寻常的事情来引起我们的注意，使我们看见了他人的需要。那原本不是我们的功劳。
其次，令人慨叹的是，彼得事后遭到其他信徒的批评。请看十一章1至2节。幸好，彼得处理得很好，他向众人讲述神如何用异象带领他，怎样赐福他传讲福音。感谢神，其他信徒终于接受整件事是神的带领。
当我们遵从神的带领，可能也会遭到别人的批评。我们怎样回应呢？我们能否认定：「我只是遵从神的旨意而行，我的行动已获得神的允许。」
反思：活在神的旨意中，安全又稳妥。
PETER USING THE KEYS
Acts 10: 1-7 & 23-26
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.[a] He will tell you what you must do.”
7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.
On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
Message
In our reading today, we find Peter in the coastal town of Joppa. About 30 km straight north in Caesarea was a godly man named Cornelius. He prayed often. He was a generous giver but he was not saved. The Lord wanted to save him (see 11:14) and graciously brought this about through Peter.
But Peter needed a fresh vision of the need of the Gentiles outside of Christ. The Lord gave him this strange vision recorded in verses 9-17. Peter came to understand what the Lord was saying to him and when he was asked, he readily went north with the Gentile messengers to Cornelius' home. What a welcome awaited him there!
Cornelius had a burden for both his loved ones and friends (v24). He called them all together to hear Peter. While he was speaking, the Holy Spirit came in His own remarkable way and a thrilling baptismal service was held. What a story! Why not read the whole chapter?
Two points we might notice. God had to use an unusual method to catch Peter's attention and enlarge his vision. If God has to do something unusual to attract our attention or make us life up our eyes to see the needs of others, it is not always to our credit.
Secondly, it was a great pity that Peter was criticised for what he had done. Look at Acts 11:1-2. Peter handled the situation extremely well by telling how God had led him and had blessed the preaching of the Gospel. Praise God the others recognised God's hand.
When we step out and follow God's leading, we may well be criticised. What is our answer? 'This is the will of God for me and God has put His seal on my actions.
A THOUGHT: The safest place is always in the centre of God's will.