⁵“Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; ⁶he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, ⁸and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. ⁹On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance.

With a decided military ring to it, the angel’s order was to send for Peter; Cornelius, being a commander with one hundred men under his command, obeyed without hesitation (see Matt. 8:5–13; interestingly centurions in the NT are often presented in favorable terms). Like a good delegator, the angel gave specifics so that Cornelius would have his men bring back the right Simon!

Luke mentions that one of the men in the group Cornelius sent was a “devout” soldier, the same word used to describe the centurion. One can imagine a fellowship of like-faith that transcended military protocol. Belief in God levels societal class distinctions, as the church was in the process of finding out. Although the Lord may use our status in various cultures and contexts, it has no bearing on fellowship in the body of Christ. The Christian movement is a great leveler of people, whether centurion or common soldier, Jew or Gentile. This truth is a common theme of the apostle Paul’s (see, for example, Gal. 3:28 and the letter to Philemon).

Noteworthy it is, as well, that Cornelius takes the sending team into his confidence, explaining the angelic vision and the rationale for their mission. We see in this a true humility. While he was not yet a believer in Jesus Christ (we do not know that he was even aware of the existence of one who was purported to be the Jewish Messiah), his heart was toward God and open to what Simon Peter would have to say to him. Since it was later in the day—“the ninth hour” (vs. 3) would have been 3 p.m.—preparations were made and the delegation left the next day.

They were traveling by foot—and quite quickly to cover the approximately thirty-two miles south to Joppa in one day. It is said that a normal, fit person can walk twenty to thirty miles in a day. Peter had his vision around noon (a Jewish day began at 6 a.m., so the sixth hour was noon). The arrival of the contingent from Caesarea was somewhere around then. The anticipation and eagerness were great. Now the attention turns to Peter’s side of the story: his preparation for what was about to happen required direct, divine intervention.

Lord, I am convinced of my need for quick obedience to Your leading in my life.