201 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered, 2 “Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me,
even by reason of my haste that is in me. 3 I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame.
The spirit of my understanding answers me. 4 Don’t you know this from old time,
since man was placed on earth, 5 that the triumphing of the wicked is short,
the joy of the godless but for a moment? 6 Though his height mount up to the heavens,
and his head reach to the clouds, 7 yet he shall perish forever like his own dung.
Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’ 8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found.
Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night. 9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more,
neither shall his place any more see him.
10 His children shall seek the favor of the poor.
His hands shall give back his wealth. 11 His bones are full of his youth,
but youth shall lie down with him in the dust. 12 “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth,
though he hide it under his tongue, 13 though he spare it, and will not let it go,
but keep it still within his mouth; 14 yet his food in his bowels is turned.
It is cobra venom within him. 15 He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again.
God will cast them out of his belly. 16 He shall suck cobra venom.
The viper’s tongue shall kill him. 17 He shall not look at the rivers,
the flowing streams of honey and butter. 18 That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down.
According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice. 19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor.
He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up. 20 “Because he knew no quietness within him,
he shall not save anything of that in which he delights. 21 There was nothing left that he didn’t devour,
therefore his prosperity shall not endure. 22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him.
The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him.
It will rain on him while he is eating. 24 He shall flee from the iron weapon.
The bronze arrow shall strike him through. 25 He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body.
Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver.
Terrors are on him. 26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures.
An unfanned fire shall devour him.
It shall consume that which is left in his tent. 27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity.
The earth shall rise up against him. 28 The increase of his house shall depart.
They shall rush away in the day of his wrath. 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God,
the heritage appointed to him by God.”
211 Then Job answered, 2 “Listen diligently to my speech.
Let this be your consolation. 3 Allow me, and I also will speak;
After I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man?
Why shouldn’t I be impatient? 5 Look at me, and be astonished.
Lay your hand on your mouth. 6 When I remember, I am troubled.
Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 “Why do the wicked live,
become old, yes, and grow mighty in power? 8 Their child is established with them in their sight,
their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear,
neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bulls breed without fail.
Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock.
Their children dance. 12 They sing to the tambourine and harp,
and rejoice at the sound of the pipe. 13 They spend their days in prosperity.
In an instant they go down to Sheol. 14 They tell God, ‘Depart from us,
for we don’t want to know about your ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’ 16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand.
The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out,
that their calamity comes on them,
that God distributes sorrows in his anger? 18 How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind,
as chaff that the storm carries away? 19 You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’
Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it. 20 Let his own eyes see his destruction.
Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21 For what does he care for his house after him,
when the number of his months is cut off? 22 “Shall any teach God knowledge,
seeing he judges those who are high? 23 One dies in his full strength,
being wholly at ease and quiet. 24 His pails are full of milk.
The marrow of his bones is moistened. 25 Another dies in bitterness of soul,
and never tastes of good. 26 They lie down alike in the dust.
The worm covers them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts,
the devices with which you would wrong me. 28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince?
Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’ 29 Haven’t you asked wayfaring men?
Don’t you know their evidences, 30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity,
That they are led forth to the day of wrath? 31 Who shall declare his way to his face?
Who shall repay him what he has done? 32 Yet he will be borne to the grave.
Men shall keep watch over the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him.
All men shall draw after him,
as there were innumerable before him. 34 So how can you comfort me with nonsense,
seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25 When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 29 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?” 30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, [1] I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37 that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also [2] killed, hanging him on a tree. 40 God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?” 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
(Read Acts 10:19-33)
When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.
(Read Acts 10:34-43)
Acceptance cannot be obtained on any other ground than that of the covenant of mercy, through the atonement of Christ; but wherever true religion is found, God will accept it without regarding names or sects. The fear of God and works of righteousness are the substance of true religion, the effects of special grace. Though these are not the cause of a man's acceptance, yet they show it; and whatever may be wanting in knowledge or faith, will in due time be given by Him who has begun it. They knew in general the word, that is, the gospel, which God sent to the children of Israel. The purport of this word was, that God by it published the good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ. They knew the several matters of fact relating to the gospel. They knew the baptism of repentance which John preached. Let them know that this Jesus Christ, by whom peace is made between God and man, is Lord of all; not only as over all, God blessed for evermore, but as Mediator. All power, both in heaven and in earth, is put into his hand, and all judgment committed to him. God will go with those whom he anoints; he will be with those to whom he has given his Spirit. Peter then declares Christ's resurrection from the dead, and the proofs of it. Faith has reference to a testimony, and the Christian faith is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, on the testimony given by them. See what must be believed concerning him. That we are all accountable to Christ as our Judge; so every one must seek his favour, and to have him as our Friend. And if we believe in him, we shall all be justified by him as our Righteousness. The remission of sins lays a foundation for all other favours and blessings, by taking that out of the way which hinders the bestowing of them. If sin be pardoned, all is well, and shall end well for ever.
(Read Acts 10:44-48)
The Holy Ghost fell upon others after they were baptized, to confirm them in the faith; but upon these Gentiles before they were baptized, to show that God does not confine himself to outward signs. The Holy Ghost fell upon those who were neither circumcised nor baptized; it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. They magnified God, and spake of Christ and the benefits of redemption. Whatever gift we are endued with, we ought to honour God with it. The believing Jews who were present, were astonished that the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also. By mistaken notions of things, we make difficult for ourselves as to the methods of Divine providence and grace. As they were undeniably baptized with the Holy Ghost, Peter concluded they were not to be refused the baptism of water, and the ordinance was administered. The argument is conclusive; can we deny the sign to those who have received the things signified? Those who have some acquaintance with Christ, cannot but desire more. Even those who have received the Holy Ghost, must see their need of daily learning more of the truth.
