“Cornelius, God’s Angel”
"One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"" (Acts 10:3closeActs 10:3 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” (ESV) closeActs 10:3closeActs 10:3 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” (ESV) 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” (ESV) )
God speaks to people who do not follow all of the church’s ideas of right & wrong; Cornelius was not a "model member". Church attendance is not a prerequisite for God being interested in people. 3pm was a time of public prayer for observant Jews. We already know that Cornelius was a person with a powerful prayer life
This “vision” was not just in his mind; he was not in a sleepy trance like Peter. God actually sent an Angel to Cornelius.
The word “angel” appears in the NIV 207 times; “angels” appears 96 times in the NIV. “Angel” is used in 79 different chapters of the Bible (42 are OT; 37 are NT) "Angels” is used in 67 different chapters of the Bible (11 are OT; 56 are NT)
Angels are never sent on trivial missions by God.
*When you consider that the OT is 3x the size of the NT; the proportion of references to angels is heavier in the NT; than the OT. Especially if you consider that many OT references to “angel” are understood by very reliable commentators/theologians to be preincarnate theophanies (Christ appearing). If you subtract the uses of “angel” which refer to Christ from the OT count; the weight shifts even more heavily to the NT
Angels are not from the “dark past” of human history; but the more current history of mankind.
Angel means “messenger”. It is used to describe prophets (Isaiah 42:9closeIsaiah 42:9
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.” (ESV)
closeIsaiah 42:9closeIsaiah 42:9
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.” (ESV)
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.” (ESV)
); priests (Malachi 2:7closeMalachi 2:7
7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (ESV)
closeMalachi 2:7closeMalachi 2:7
7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (ESV)
7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (ESV)
) & pastors (Rev 1:20closeRevelation 1:20
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (ESV)
closeRevelation 1:20closeRevelation 1:20
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (ESV)
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (ESV)
).
"Angel” is also used to describe the Priesthood of the Baptized (Luke 7:24closeLuke 7:24 24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (ESV) closeLuke 7:24closeLuke 7:24 24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (ESV) 24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (ESV) ).
Cornelius is a faithful messenger of God to his family & friends.
*House Church Planters are angels of God. Like Cornelius, they gather people to hear from the Pastor.
*When an Angel brings a message to someone; they had better listen, learn & lead accordingly. Zechariah was made mute (Luke 1:20closeLuke 1:20 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (ESV) closeLuke 1:20closeLuke 1:20 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (ESV) 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (ESV) ) because he doubted the Angel.
* House Church Planters must likewise have full confidence in God
Jim Buckman
