It is not surprising to read that, while Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius and his friends, "The Holy Ghost fell upon them which heard the word" (v. 44). Such a marvelous manifestation of God's grace may be reasonably expected when men and women come to hear the Word of God with the attitude Cornelius and his friends had when they assembled to hear Peter. (Read verses 30-33). When preachers faithfully proclaim the gospel of the grace of God and those who hear them receive the Word of God with reverent, submissive, obedient faith, the blessings of God's grace are very likely to accompany the ministry of the Word. In this study, I will use both Peter and Cornelius as examples, showing us what should be reasonably expected both from preachers and their hearers.

WHAT SHOULD A PERSON'S ATTITUDE BE TOWARD THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY PREACH THE GOSPEL? Generally, people run to one of two extremes in their attitudes toward gospel preachers. Some hold them in contempt, despising them, ignoring them, or even opposing them, as the Judaizers at Galatia did Paul (Gal. 4:16). Others put preachers on a pedestal, as though they are to be adored and blindly followed, like Cornelius was ready to do with Peter (vv. 25-26). Both these extremes are evil. Those who faithfully preach the gospel of Christ are only men. Therefore, they must not be adored and followed blindly. But every faithful gospel preacher is God's man. Therefore, he is not to be despised, ignored, or treated with contempt. The servant of God is to be known, loved, and highly esteemed by those to whom he ministers (I Thess. 5:12-13). He is to be generously provided for by those who receive the benefit of his instruction (Gal. 5:6; I Cor. 9:7-14; I Tim. 5:17-18). And believers ought to remember their pastors in prayer, follow both their doctrine and their example, and obey the messages they deliver as God's servants (Heb. 13:7, 17, 18).

WHAT DID CORNELIUS AND HIS FRIENDS EXPECT FROM PETER? Cornelius had received a special revelation from God, showing him that Peter was ordained of God to be his instructor in the way of life and faith in Christ (vv. 5, 6, 32). Therefore, he regarded Peter as God's ambassador. He expected to hear from Peter all that God had commanded him to declare (II Cor. 5:18-21).

Every faithful servant of God should be held in this high esteem by God's saints (I Cor. 4:1-2). God's preachers today (pastors, elders, evangelists, and missionaries) are not prophets or apostles. They do not possess prophetic or apostolic gifts. But they are God's ambassadors to eternity bound sinners. They are sent to proclaim the same message to all men that Peter was sent to proclaim to Cornelius - justification and peace, remission and forgiveness of sins through Christ, who is Lord of all (vv. 36, 43; Heb. 7:25). They are sent to preach Jesus Christ the Lord in his substitutionary redemption, sovereign reign, and saving power.

You have a right to expect from every man who claims to be a gospel preacher the same thing Cornelius expected from Peter (v. 33). Those who preach the gospel must be men of utmost fidelity to the Word of God and to the souls of men. They must keep back nothing that is profitable, but faithfully declare all the counsel of God (Acts 20:28). God's express command is, "He that hath my word, let him speak it faithfully" (Jer. 23:28). Three things must characterize every gospel preacher. You should expect and require these three things of any man who ministers to your soul. The preacher must be...

1. A man who knows the gospel (I John 1:1-3).

2. A man who preaches the gospel faithfully, regardless of cost or consequence (I Cor. 9:16; Ezek. 33:7-8).

3. A man whose conduct is consistent with the gospel (I Tim. 3:1-7; 4:12-16; II Tim. 4:1-5).

WHAT DID PETER FIND IN THE ASSEMBLY AT CAESAREA? Here are four things Peter found among Cornelius and his friends which every gospel preacher might reasonably expect to find among God's saints, when he comes before them to expound the Holy Scriptures.

1. Peter found in Cornelius a man who was truly concerned for the souls of men (v. 24). Cornelius knew some people who were perishing. He knew where they could hear the gospel. And he put forth considerable effort, time, and expense to get those people under the sound of the gospel. Surely, it is reasonable to expect all who fear God to behave in the same way.

2. Those men and women were gathered in the appointed place of worship, at the appointed hour with reverence, as in the presence of God to hear the Word of God, expecting to hear God speak to them by his servant (v. 33). Like the young child Samuel in the temple, they came to the house of God saying, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth" (I Sam. 3:9). Many do not hear from God when his servant preaches simply because they do not come to the house of God seeking a Word from God.

3. Peter found in this band of people a readiness to receive the Word of God with meekness. Not one of them arrived late (v. 33). As far as they were concerned nothing was so important as the hearing of the gospel. They readily received God's message (Isa. 66:1-2). They did not try to mold God's message to their way of thinking. They molded their thoughts to the Word of God.

4. The congregation at Caesarea was willingly determined to obey God. What God said, they immediately believed. What God required, they immediately gave. What God commanded, they immediately did. They submitted to Christ as Lord of all, trusted Christ for the remission of sins, and confessed Christ in believer's baptism. These men and women did not merely acknowledge the truth of the Word of God. They took it as their only rule of faith and practice. They addicted themselves to it. We must do the same! Hold fast the truth of God (II Tim. 1:8-13) and proclaim it everywhere (Matt. 28:18-20).

WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THIS MEETING? Peter was faithful to God, his Word, and the souls of men. Cornelius and his friends received the Word gladly. The result was glorious! The Lord God graciously visited and poured out his Spirit upon the band of chosen sinners (vv. 44-45).

Blessed is the man who has the privilege of hearing a man, like Peter, faithfully preach the gospel. And blessed is the preacher who ministers to such a congregation as Peter found in Cornelius' house. Wherever such preachers and such hearers are found God the Holy Spirit is present and shall be manifest!

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