30/10 “What Is It, Lord 主啊，什么事？”（Read阅读Acts 使徒行传 10:1-8）
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 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!’ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men 在该撒利亚有一个人，名叫哥尼流，是意大利营的百夫长。他是一个虔诚的人，他和全家都敬畏神，对人民行过许多善事，常常向神祷告。有一天，大约下午三点钟，他在异象中，清清楚楚看见神的一位天使来到他那里，对他说：“哥尼流！”他定睛一看，害怕起来，说：“主啊，什么事？”天使说：“你的祷告和善行，已经达到神面前，蒙他记念了。现在你要派人Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants 他就叫了两个家仆和侍候他的一个虔诚的士兵来 … and sent them to Joppa. 然后派他们到约帕去。（Acts 使徒行传 10:1-8）
Cornelius was a Roman army officer, who would naturally be disliked or even hated by patriotic Jews, and yet a devout God-fearer who had a real relationship with God giving generously to those in need and praying to Him regularly. God sent an angel in a vision to Cornelius telling him that his prayers and gifts to the poor pleased Him and He then used Peter to preach the gospel to him. ‘About three in the afternoon,’ which was a customary time of prayer for Jews (as Cornelius relating this incident to Peter later confirmed this), implies that Cornelius was praying. Apparently, Cornelius’ faith was contagious having those of his household and under his command who also honoured the God of Israel. 哥尼流是一位罗马军队的军官，爱国的犹太人自然不喜欢甚至仇恨他，他却是一个虔诚而与神有着真实关系、敬畏神的人，对那些有需要的人乐善好施，并经常向神祷告。神派了一位天使出现在哥尼流的异象里，告诉他神喜悦他的祷告和赒济穷人，而祂之后使用彼得向他传讲福音。「大约下午三点钟」是犹太人惯常祈祷的时间（哥尼流将此事件与彼得联系起来时确认这事），意味着哥尼流在祈祷中。显然，哥尼流的信心是有「感染性」的，使他的家人和仆人也敬重以色列的神。
Prayer禱告: Dear Lord Jesus, you do not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but you look at the heart. How beautiful Cornelius’ example of being devout and God-fearing is! He had been keeping a real relationship with God before he (and his household) came to know and believe in you. Thank you for reminding us that simply living up to our faith like Cornelius with praying and loving those in need will indeed please you and receive commendation from you. 亲爱的主耶稣，你看人不像人看人，人是看外表，你是看内心。哥尼流虔诚又敬畏神的榜样，是何等的美丽！在他（与他的的家人）认识和相信你之前，他与神已一直在保持一个真实的关系。感谢你提醒我们，像哥尼流一样，只不过以祈祷和关爱那些有需要的人，去符合我们的信仰，就必一定讨你喜悦，并从你得着嘉许。Amen.
