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1. Surely this is put on record as a pattern of the Lord's chosen way of doing His work, by making each one who receives His grace a centre for making his own immediate surroundings bright therewith. Cornelius "called together his kinsmen and near friends."

2. When each agent in the Lord's service obediently fulfils his own task "without gainsaying or tarrying," all the manifold parts fit together in a wondrous completeness of success. It is one portion of a perfect design which the Master accomplishes when He works in you to serve Him. Another portion of the same design He is preparing elsewhere. Obedient faith brings the portions together.

3. When Peter received the Lord's Word about "the keys of the kingdom of heaven," he little thought that it would be given to him to throw open the gates of the kingdom to the Gentile world. Glad surprises of result are given also to the humblest and weakest disciple, who simply takes each step of service, waiting on Jesus with dutiful love.

4. In the few full words of Peter here, we are made to feel how all the gathered riches of the old covenant are completed and freely given to all in Christ, so that "whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." This "the law could not do."

(G. S. Rowe.)

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KJV: And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

WEB: On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.