Source: “Acts of the Apostles” by Ellen G. White p. 145-147

This blog today is based on Acts 12: 5-10

Double Precautions

Visual imagination 1 Remembering the former escape of the apostles from prison, Herod on this occasion had taken double precautions.

Biblical evidence

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 145.4} Remembering the former escape of the apostles from prison, Herod on this occasion had taken double precautions.

1. To prevent all possibility of release, Peter had been put under the charge of sixteen soldiers, who, in different watches, guarded him day and night.
2. In his cell he was placed between two soldiers and was bound by two chains, each chain being fastened to the wrist of one of the soldiers. He was unable to move without their knowledge.

With the prison doors securely fastened, and a strong guard before them, all chance of rescue or escape through human means was cut off. But man’s extremity is God’s opportunity (Editor note: John Flavel (1627–1691) was an English Presbyterian clergyman.  A well known quote by J.Flavel is “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity”. For more quotes by J.Flavel  see this link).

John Flavel (1627-1691)

Man’s Extremity

{AA 146.1} Peter was confined in a rock-hewn cell, the doors of which were strongly bolted and barred; and the soldiers on guard were made answerable for the safekeeping of the prisoner.

God’s Opportunity

But the bolts and bars and the Roman guard, which effectually cut off all possibility of human aid, were but to make more complete the triumph of God in the deliverance of Peter.

• Herod was lifting his hand against Omnipotence
• Herod was to be utterly defeated.

By the putting forth of His might, God was about to save the precious life that the Jews were plotting to destroy.

The Last Night

Visual imagination 2 It is the last night before the proposed execution.

Biblical evidence

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 146.2} It is the last night before the proposed execution. A mighty angel is sent from heaven to rescue Peter.

1. The strong gates that shut in the saint of God open without the aid of human hands.
2. The angel of the Most High passes through, and the gates close noiselessly behind him.
3. He enters the cell, and there lies Peter, sleeping the peaceful sleep of perfect trust.

The chains have fallen from his wrists

{AA 146.3} The light that surrounds the angel fills the cell, but does not rouse the apostle. Not until he feels the touch of the angel’s hand and hears a voice saying,

• “Arise up quickly,”

does he awaken sufficiently to see…

• to see his cell illuminated by the light of heaven.
• to see an angel of great glory standing before him.

Mechanically he obeys the word spoken to him, and as in rising he lifts his hands he is dimly conscious that the chains have fallen from his wrists.

The First Door

{AA 147.1} Again the voice of the heavenly messenger bids him,

• “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals,”

and again Peter mechanically obeys, keeping his wondering gaze riveted upon his visitor and believing himself to be dreaming or in a vision. Once more the angel commands,

• “Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.”

He (the heavenly messenger) moves toward the door, followed by the usually talkative Peter, now dumb from amazement. They step over the guard and reach the heavily bolted door, which of its own accord swings open and closes again immediately, while the guards within and without are motionless at their post.

The Second Door

{AA 147.2} The second door, also guarded within and without, is reached.

• It opens as did the first, with no creaking of hinges or rattling of iron bolts.

They (Ed. the angel and Peter) pass through, and the second door closes again as noiselessly. In the same way they pass through the third gateway and find themselves in the open street…

1. No word is spoken; there is no sound of footsteps.
2. The angel glides on in front, encircled by a light of dazzling brightness,
3. Peter, bewildered, and still believing himself to be in a dream, follows his deliverer.

Thus they pass on through one street, and then, the mission of the angel being accomplished, he suddenly disappears.

Danish translation / Dansk oversættelse

Herodes tog dobbelte forholdsregler

I erindring om apostlens tidligere udfrielse fra fængslet havde Herodes ved denne lejlighed taget dobbelte forholdsregler. For at forhindre enhver mulighed for befrielse var Peter sat under bevogtning af seksten soldater, der i forskellige vagthold bevogtede ham både dag og nat. I cellen var han anbragt mellem to soldater og var bundet med to lænker, og hver lænke var fastgjort til en af soldaternes håndled. Han kunne ikke røre sig, uden at de mærkede det. Med de sikkert låsede fængselsdøre og en stærk vagt udenfor dem var enhver mulighed for redning eller flugt ved menneskers hjælp udelukket. Men når nøden er størst, er Gud nærmest!

Når nøden er størst er Gud nærmest

Peter var indespærret i en celle, der var hugget ind i klippen, og hvis døre var forsvarligt stængede med lås og slå; og de vagthavende soldater var gjort ansvarlige for fangens sikkerhed. Men bolt og slå og det romerske vagthold, som fuldstændig udelukkede al mulighed for menneskelig hjælp, skulle kun gøre Guds sejr ved Peters befrielse endnu mere fuldkommen! Herodes havde løftet hånden mod den Almægtige, og han skulle komme til at lide et afgørende nederlag. Gud ville ved at bruge sin magt frelse det dyrebare liv, som jøderne havde besluttet at tilintetgøre.

Den sidste nat før henrettelse

Det er den sidste nat før den berammede henrettelse. En Herrens engel bliver fra Himmelen udsendt for at frelse Peter. De stærke porte, som var lukkede for Guds hellige, åbner sig uden menneskehænders hjælp. Den Allerhøjestes engel går igennem dem, og portene lukker sig lydløst bagved ham. Han går ind i cellen, og der ligger Peter fredeligt sovende i fuldkonnen tillid.

Lyset fra englen fylder fangerummet

Fangerummet fyldes af det lys, der omgiver engelen, men det vækker ikke apostlen. Først da han mærker berøringen af engelens hånd og hører en stemme sige: “Stå hurtigt op!” bliver han tilstrækkelig vågen til at se fængslet oplyst af Himmelens lys og en strålende engel stående foran ham. Uvilkårligt adlyder han de ord, der blev talt til ham, og da han løfter hænderne, går det svagt op for ham, at lænkerne er faldet af hans håndled.

Det himmelske sendebuds røst…

Atter lyder det himmelske sendebuds røst: “Bind op om dig og tag dine sandaler på!” og atter adlyder Peter mekanisk, med sit undrende blik fast rettet mod sin gæst og i den tro, at han drømmer eller ser et syn. Endnu engang befaler engelen: “Kast din kappe om dig og følg mig!” Engelen går henimod døren efterfulgt af den i almindelighed meget talende Peter, som nu er stum af forundring. De træder hen over vagten og når den svært låsede dør, som af sig selv går op og straks efter igen lukker sig, mens vagterne både indenog udenfor er ubevægelige på deres post.

Den anden dør

Nu når de til den anden dør, som også er bevogtet både indefra og udefra. Den åbner sig på samme måde som den første, uden knirkende hængsler eller raslende slåer. De går igennem den, og den lukker sig atter lydløst. På samme måde passerer de den tredie port og står nu ude på gaden. Der bliver ikke sagt et ord, og der høres ingen fodtrin. Engelen svæver i forvejen, omgivet af en blændende stråleglans, og Peter, som stadig er forvirret og tror, at han drømmer, følger med sin befrier. På denne måde går de hen ad en gade, og derpå forsvinder engelen pludseligt, fordi dens opgave er fuldført.

Source: “Acts of the Apostles” by Ellen G.White p. 143-145

Today’s blog is based on Acts 12: 1-5

This demonstration of divine justice (see Acts 12: 1-23) had a powerful influence upon the people. The tidings that the apostle of Christ had been miraculously delivered from prison and death, while his persecutor had been stricken down by the curse of God, were borne to all lands and became the means of leading many to a belief in Christ.  {AA 152.2}

Introduction

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.” The government of Judea was then in the hands of Herod Agrippa…

• Herod was subject to Claudius, the Roman emperor.
• Herod also held the position of tetrarch of Galilee.
• Herod was professedly a proselyte to the Jewish faith
• Herod was apparently very zealous in carrying out the ceremonies of the Jewish law.

Desirous of obtaining the favor of the Jews, hoping thus to make secure his offices and honors, Herod  proceeded to carry out their desires by…

1) by persecuting the church of Christ, spoiling the houses and goods of the believers.

2) by imprisoning the leading members of the church.

• He cast James, the brother of John, into prison, and sent an executioner to kill him with the sword, as another Herod had caused the prophet John to be beheaded.
• Seeing that the Jews were well pleased with these efforts, he imprisoned Peter also.

Herod's Family Tree

Passover in Jerusalem

Visual imagination 1 It was during the Passover that these cruelties were practiced.

Biblical evidence

NKJ Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.  2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 144.1} It was during the Passover that these cruelties (James, the brother of John, killed by the sword and Peter imprioned) were practiced. While (Editor: notice the contradiction in action)…

• The Jews were celebrating their deliverance from Egypt and pretending great zeal for the law of God,

They (the Jews) were at the same time…

• (The Jews were) transgressing every principle of that law (the law of God) by persecuting and murdering the believers in Christ.

{AA 144.2} The death of James caused great grief and consternation among the believers. When Peter also was imprisoned, the entire church engaged in fasting and prayer.

Execution of Peter Delayed

Visual imagination 2 Upon various pretexts, the execution of Peter was being delayed until after the Passover.

Biblical evidence

NKJ Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church…And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 12:11  11 … the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Acts 2:14  14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

Acts 2:37   37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

In imagination behold the scene

Upon various pretexts, the execution of Peter was being delayed until after the Passover.

(I) A public execution (of Peter) would have more thoroughly intimidated the believers and those sympathizing  with them.

{AA 144.3} Herod’s act in putting James to death was applauded by the Jews, though some complained of the private manner in which it was accomplished, maintaining that a public execution would have more thoroughly intimidated the believers and those sympathizing  with them. Herod therefore held Peter in custody, meaning

(II) To gratify the Jews by the public spectacle of his death

(Herodes held Peter in Custody) meaning still further to gratify the Jews by the public spectacle of his death.

(III) It would not be safe to bring the veteran apostle out for execution before all the people then assembled in Jerusalem

But it was suggested that it would not be safe to bring the veteran apostle out for execution before all the people then assembled in Jerusalem.

• It was feared that the sight of him being led out to die might excite the pity of the multitude.

( IV) The priests and elders feared lest Peter might make one of those powerful appeals which had frequently aroused the people to study the life and character of Jesus

{AA 144.4} The priests and elders also feared lest Peter might make one of those powerful appeals which had frequently aroused the people to study the life and character of Jesus

• appeals which they, with all their arguments, had been unable to controvert.

( V) Peter’s zeal in advocating the cause of Christ had led many to take their stand for the gospel.

Peter’s zeal in advocating the cause of Christ had led many to take their stand for the gospel,

( VI) The rulers feared that should he (Peter) be given an opportunity to defend his faith in the presence of the multitude who had come to the city to worship (Editor note: During the passover a multitude from various nations came to Jerusalem), his release would be demanded at the hands of the king

The rulers feared that should he be given an opportunity to defend his faith in the presence of the multitude who had come to the city to worship, his release would be demanded at the hands of the king.

Heart Searching and Prayer

Visual imagination 3 Since the execution of Peter was delayed, the members of the church had time for deep searching of heart and earnest prayer.

Biblical evidence

Acts 12:5   5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Acts 12:12  12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 145.1} While, upon various pretexts, the execution of Peter was being delayed until after the Passover, the members of the church had time for deep searching of heart and earnest prayer.

1) They prayed without ceasing for Peter…

• for they felt that he could not be spared from the cause.

2) They realized…

• that they had reached a place where, without the special help of God, the church of Christ would be destroyed.

A photo of the model ot the second temple in Jerusalem

{AA 145.2} Meanwhile worshipers from every nation sought the temple which had been dedicated to the worship of God.

• Glittering with gold and precious stones, it was a vision of beauty and grandeur.

But Jehovah was no longer to be found in that palace of loveliness.

• Israel as a nation had divorced herself from God.
• When Christ, near the close of His earthly ministry, looked for the last time upon the interior of the temple, He said, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:38.
• Hitherto He had called the temple His Father’s house (see John 2:16); but as the Son of God passed out from those walls, God’s presence was withdrawn forever from the temple built to His glory.

{AA 145.3} The day of Peter’s execution was at last appointed, but still the prayers of the believers ascended to heaven; and while all their energies and sympathies were called out in fervent appeals for help, angels of God were watching over the imprisoned apostle.

Danish translation / Dansk oversættelse

ApG 12,1

På den tid lagde Herodes hånd på nogle af menigheden og mishandlede dem. Dengang lå Judæas regering i hænderne på Herodes Agrippa, som var den romerske kejser Claudius undersåt. Herodes beklædte også stillingen som fjerdingsfyrste over Galilæa. Han hævdede at være tilhænger af den jødiske religion og var tilsyneladende meget nidkær for at gennemføre den jødiske lovs formaliteter. I ønsket om at opnå jødernes gunst og på den måde sikre sine embeder og sin værdighed gav han sig til at imødekomme deres ønsker ved at forfølge Kristi menighed, ødelægge de troendes huse og ejendom og fængsle menighedens ledende medlemmer. Han kastede Jakob, Johannes broder, i fængsel og sendte en bøddel hen for at henrette ham med sværdet, ligesom en anden Herodes havde ladet profeten Johannes halshugge. Da han så, at dette i høj grad behagede jøderne, lod han også Peter sætte i fængsel.

Det var i påsketiden…

Det var i påsketiden, at disse grusomheder blev forøvet. Medens jøderne fejrede deres udfrielse af Ægypten og foregav stor nidkærhed for Guds lov, overtrådte de samtidig enhver grundsætning i denne lov ved at forfølge og myrde dem, der troede på Kristus.

Sorg og forfærdelse

Jakobs død vakte stor sorg og forfærdelse blandt de troende. Da nu også Peter blev fængslet, hengav hele menigheden sig til faste og bøn.

Herodes holdt Peter under bevogtning

Herodes henrettelse af Jakob vandt jødernes bifald, skønt nogle af dem klagede over, at den var foregået så hemmeligt, og hævdede, at en offentlig henrettelse ville have virket mere skræmmende på de troende og dem, der havde sympati for dem. Derfor holdt Herodes Peter under bevogtning i den hensigt senere at tilfredsstille jøderne ved at lade hans død foregå offentligt. Men nogle mente, at det var risikabelt at lade apostlenes leder henrette i folkets påsyn, mens så mange var samlet i Jerusalem. Man var bange for, at det skulle vække mængdens medlidenhed, når de så ham blive ført hen for at dø!

Præsterne og de ældste nærede frygt

Præsterne og de ældste nærede også frygt for, at Peter skulle fremkomme med en af disse mægtige henvendelser til folket, som tit havde vakt det til at overveje Jesu liv og personlighed, en sådan appel, som de med alle deres argumenter ikke havde været i stand til at tilbagevise. Peters nidkærhed for at fremme Kristi sag havde ført mange til at antage evangeliet, og rådsherrerne var bange for, at hvis han skulle få lejlighed til at forsvare sin tro i nærværelse af de mange, der var kommet til byen for at tilbede, ville man kræve hans løsladelse af kongen.

Menigheden i ransagelse og bøn

Mens Peters henrettelse under forskellige påskud blev opsat til efter påskehøjtiden, havde menigheden tid til grundig ransagelse af hjerterne og alvorlig bøn. Uden ophør bad de for Peter; for de følte, at han ikke kunne undværes i tjenesten. De var klare over, at de var nået til et punkt, hvor Kristi menighed ville gå til grunde, om ikke Gud på en særlig måde greb ind.

Tilbedere søgte Templet i Jerusalem

Imidlertid søgte fromme mennesker (worshippers) fra alle folkeslag til det tempel, som var viet til Guds ære. Det strålede af guld og ædelstene og var et både skønt og storslået skue. Men Jehova var ikke længere at finde i denne pragtfulde bygning. Som folk betragtet havde Israel skilt sig fra Gud. Da Kristus ved afslutningen af sin jordiske gerning for sidste gang betragtede det indre af templet, sagde han: “Se, jeres hus bliver forladt og overladt til jer selv!” Matt. 23,38. Hidtil havde han kaldt templet sin Faders hus, men da Guds Søn gik ud fra disse mure, forsvandt Guds nærværelse for evigt fra det tempel, som var bygget til hans ære.

Dagen for Peters henrettelse var fastsat

Til sidst blev dagen for Peters henrettelse fastsat, men de troendes bønner opsteg stadig til Himmelen; og mens al deres styrke og kærlighed brød frem i inderlige bønner om hjælp, vågede Guds engle over den fangne apostel.

Ellen G. White visits Denmark.

For readers who are not familiar with the danish language, please notice that this is a danish summary. The original Ellen G. White biography about her travel and visits to Scandinavian missions is placed under Ellen G. White visit to Denmark (see content list).

Danish summary / Dansk sammendrag

Ellen G. White besøger Danmark i 1885. På det tidspunkt er hun i Basle, Schweiz til et missionsmøde. Hun forlader Basle tirdag den 6 oktober for at rejse til Danmark og senere til andre Skandinaviske lande. Hun rejser sammen med hendes søn, søster McEntefer hendes medhjælper og søster Cecilie Dahl fra Christiania. Cecilie var både guide og oversætter. De rejser med tog gennem Schweiz, tyskland og Danmark.

Tog i 1885 er opdelt i 4 klassser, beskriver hun i hendes selvbiografi. Første klasse er med elegante møbler. Anden klasse er ren og komfortabel møbleret. Halvdelen af vognen er for rygere og den anden halvdel er for ikke rygere. Tredje klasse vognsæt er mindre og med mindre plads og hårde sæder. Fjerde klasse var for meget fattige folk. Her er ingen sæder og alle må stå op under transporten.

Tidlig onsdag morgen når de til  Frankfurt i Tyskland. Det regner og de ser ikke meget til byen. I sin selvbiografi beskriver Ellen G. White byens religiøse betydning i historien. Hun nævner Charles V som var Luthers store fjende. Fra Frankfurt rejser de videre til Hamburg. Hun beskriver i sin beretning om landskabet i tyskland. Reformationen, skriver hun, løftedes moralen og menneskers frihed i Tyskland. I de følgende århundreder efter reformationen forsvandt reformations indflydelse gradvis og undertrykkelsen fra tiden før reformationen vendte tilbage og indskrænkning af borgernes frihed blev indført og nogle frygtelige år for befolkningen fulgte.

De når til Hamburg om 19 om aftenen. Lokalerne i banegården er fyldt med tobaksrøg, så de foretrækker at opholde sig udendørs, fri for røgen i lokalerne. Hamburg er en handelsby, skriver hun, og ligesom i Frankfurt er Hamburg vigtig i reformationen. Tyndale der måtte flygte fra England begyndte i Hamburg at udgive Det Ny Testamente på modersmål.

Endelig når de til Danmark. Det danske landskab er anderledes end det tyske. Landskabet med små gårde ligner landskabet i USA hvor hun kom fra.  Bøgeskovene minder hende om USA. Danmark var, skriver hun, oprindeligt dækket med skove. Men skovene er så efterhånden blevet fældet. I København møder hun bror Matteson. Hun og resten af rejseselskabet bor hos Matteson. Hun beskriver København som en smuk by med mange blomster og parker og kunstige søer. Selv kirkegården ligner en park! Ud mod havet ser de vindmøller der laver mel fra korn.

Fredag aften og Sabbath (Lørdag) har hun møde og holder sin første prædiken i Danmark. Hun taler om det ufrugtbare figentræ fra Lukas evangeliet. Hun talte ialt fem gange i København. Danskerne i København er glade for at høre hendes tale. I hendes prædiken taler hun om nødvendigheden af renhed og en fuldkommen karakter. Men hun minder også om at karakter udvikling er en livstids opgave. Det sidste var til stor trøst for tilhørerne

Købenavn 1875

København er en missionsmark. Hun sammenligner København med Athen på Pauli tid. Ligesom Paulus i Athen, finder hun at københavnerne er glade for fornøjelser og rigdom. Ateisme er populær. Der er mange smukke og store kirker. Men folket i  København er ligesom i Athen tilbedere af en ukendt Gud. Der er ingen mangel på kloge teologer, skriver hun, men de er uvidende om bibelsk religion. Hun sammenligner de danske teologer og lærde præster med rabbinerne og farisæerne på Jesu tid som gjorde stort ud af dem selv med beklæding og krav om ærbødighed fra andre ,men som  gør det for at blive set af mennesker.

København fra en luftballon i 1876

Det kan synes vanskelig at vække interesse for religiøse ting, skriver hun, men der er i København mange ærlige sjæle som vil acceptere lyset og reflektere lyset til andre. Ironisk nok sendte København på det tidspunkt (1885) misisonære til fjerne lande, mens byen selv er, skriver hun, i ligeså høj grad selv uvidende om Gud som de fjenere beliggende lande til hvor byen sendte sine missionære.

Udsigt fra Nørrebro 1870

København er en smuk by. Havnen er excellent. Kongen, skriver hun, bor i byen og hærens hovedsæde er også i København. I byen er mange øvelsespladser for militæret. Den danske konge er allieret med nogle af de mægtiske nationer i verden.

Den gamle Rådhusplads omkring 1872

Få byer i verden er så smukke som København, skriver hun. Byen har smukke parker, kunstige søer og flotte alleer. Vandet er krystalklart og mange smukke svaner er i byens søer. Der er mange flotte broer. I byen er legepladser med skyggende store træer for børn. Ingen køretøjer er tilladt på disse områder.

Legepladser i København i ca. 1880

En dag red de ud til  kysten ca. 10 mil. fra byens centrum. Her kan man tydelig se Sverige i horisonten. Vandet er meget klart og det hvide sand  ses langt ud i havet. Langs kysten er smukke bøgetræer. Skoven er velholdt som en have.

En mørk skygge i denne skønhed er øl haver (beer gardens). Fristelser luer om hjørnet i al denne natur skønhed. Det er, skriver hun, Guds formål at naturens skønhed burde have en opløftende indflydelse på os. Gud har givet os fornuften så vi kan gå fra årsag til virkning.Ved at se skønheden i naturen, kunne mennsket med sin fornuft lære om Guds storhed, godhed og magt. Men Satan søger at hindre dette. Derfor frister han mennesker med vin og stærk drik som forvirre sanserne og fornuften og forståelsen. Mennesker kan se den smukke natur, men de tænker ikke på Gud. Mennesker natur bliver dyrisk. Det er umuligt for dem at være himmelsk sindet. Således søger Satan at hindre mennesker i at opfylde Guds formål –nå det højeste udvikling, fysisk, mentalt og moralsk så at mennesket selv kan blive lykkelig og Gud blive herliggjort. .Vi må, skriver hun, overgive vores selv og vilje til Gud hvis vi vil have det guddommelige og evige harmoni i vores sjæle.

Source: HS 174-187

Editor note. Danish summary/ Dansk sammendrag. Af tekniske årsager er et dansk sammendrag lagt ud på næste indlæg. Se oversigten over indlæg på Ellen G. White–Biography and Works

Ellen G. White visits Denmark in 1885

The Scandinavian Missions

At the close of the meetings at Basle the question was raised as to when we should visit the Scandinavian missions. I was weary with labor, and needed rest, having spoken twenty-two times through an interpreter, besides writing many pages. We knew that it was late in the season for a visit to these northern countries; June was said to be the best time to travel in the North, and it was planned to hold the Conferences for the next year in that month. But we were not sure that we should remain in Europe till that time, and we felt that the safest course was to visit the leading churches in Scandinavia at the earliest opportunity. The condition of some of these churches had been presented to me in years past, with many things showing that Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were promising fields for labor. We knew that a great work lay before the missionaries in this field. They desired our counsel about the different branches of the work, and we felt that we could advise with them to much better advantage after making them a visit. It seemed unwise to postpone till another summer this part of the work which we had made the long journey from America to accomplish.  {HS 174.1}

Scandinavian

Ellen G. White left Basle Tuesday evening 10/6

We left Basle Tuesday evening, October 6. There were four in our party, —my son William and myself, Sister McEnterfer my attendant and stenographer, and Sister Cecilie Dahl of Christiania, who had remained after the Conference to be our guide and interpreter. We could not afford to patronize the sleeping car, which is more expensive here than in the United States, but we were very fortunate in securing a compartment to ourselves, and by the use of our blankets, were enabled to rest quite comfortably. The plan of the European car is quite favorable to a comfortable night’s travel, when it is not crowded.  {HS 174.2}

Diversity in the railway carriages

There is a great diversity in the railway carriages on the roads in Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia. On some roads they are divided, like those in England, into small compartments between which there is no communication; on other roads, especially in Switzerland, they are more like our American coaches, where they are entered at the end. The first-class compartments are elegantly furnished. The second-class compartments, which often occupy part of the same car with the first-class, are usually clean and comfortably furnished, and when not overcrowded are more comfortable than our American day-coaches. Many of the second-class cars are divided into two compartments, two-thirds of the room being devoted to the smokers, and one-third to those
who do not smoke. The third-class cars are often closely seated with narrow, hard seats. On some roads, fourth-class cars without seats are run for the accommodation of the very poorest classes. Most of the express trains run first, second, and third class coaches, and so different are the patterns that it is not uncommon to see a long train with no two cars alike.  {HS 174.3}

In the car they chanced to take for Frankfort

In the car which we chanced to take for Frankfort, the seats could be drawn together, and the high, upholstered back fell forward from one side, making quite a comfortable couch.  {HS 175.1}

They reached Frankfort Wednesday morning

Railways in Germany in 1885

We reached Frankfort Wednesday morning about daylight, where we waited two hours. As it was raining, we saw but little of the city. We found the waiting room very pleasant, being large, and furnished with tables, chairs and comfortable sofas, and well supplied with maps and guide books. We spread our lunch upon one of the tables, and with the addition of hot milk from the restaurant, enjoyed our simple breakfast.  {HS 175.2}

Frankfort is an ancient city

Frankfort is an ancient city, mentioned in history as having been the seat of a religious council more than a thousand years ago. It is a place of great wealth, and is said to possess more beautiful promenades than perhaps any other city in the world. Within a short distance of the town are delightful villages, and several famous watering-places.  {HS 175.3}

Charles V, Luthers great enemy

In this city Charles V., Luther’s great enemy, was elected to the throne of Germany, and here his coronation took place. Hither came the reformer on his way to the Diet at Worms. Having been taken suddenly ill on the journey, he rested for a short time at Frankfort. Suffering as he was, and with the prospect of a martyr’s death before him, but still undaunted, he wrote to Spalatin at Worms, announcing his approach. “I am arrived here,” he said, “though Satan sought to stop me in my way by sickness. From Eisenach to this place I have been suffering, and I am at this moment in a worse condition than ever. I find that Charles has issued an edict to terrify me; but Christ lives, and we shall enter Worms in spite of all the counsels of hell, and all the powers of the air.” The dwelling occupied by the reformer is still known as “Luther’s house.”  {HS 175.4}

From Frankfort to Hamburg

From Frankfort we pursued our journey toward Hamburg, passing through a country diversified with hamlets and cities, mountains, rivers, forests, and cultivated lands. Many features of the landscape are quite unlike America. The farming lands are not divided by fences, and instead of our wide spreading fields much of the land is cultivated in narrow strips, each appropriated to a different crop. In summer the plains appear as if covered with ribbon work of almost every shade of green and brown, giving a very pleasing effect. There are few scattered farm-houses. From the open country we pass suddenly into the midst of high, square blocks, in which the people are crowded together almost as closely as in the most populous cities. The houses are usually large, each containing many families. They are expected to last for hundreds of years, and are built in the most substantial manner, of brick or stone plastered over on the outside. The partition walls and the floors are often of stone or brick, and tile or slate is used instead of shingles for covering the roof. There is little danger of fire passing from one story to another.  {HS 175.5}

Houses with a very ancient appearance

Many of the houses present a very ancient appearance, with their steep roofs and small-paned windows. Often  a considerable part of the house appears to be above the eaves. There may be only three or four stories below the eaves, while there are sometimes four or five above, with as many rows of odd little dormer-windows on the roof. Many of the houses in the small villages and in the outskirts of the towns serve the purpose both of barns and dwellings, the people living in one end of the building and the cattle in the other. Sometimes each end is occupied by a family, while the beasts have the center; these are usually kept in the stable by day as well as by night, for most of the land is too valuable to be used for pasturage.  {HS 175.6}

Every foot of avaiable land is cultivated

In this densely populated country, every foot of available land has been cultivated for centuries. Wherever the country is too barren and mountainous for other uses, and there are rivers to furnish means of transportation, it is devoted to the raising of forests. In many places where in former times the forests had been destroyed, they have been replanted at the public expense. In many States they are the property of the government, and are as carefully kept as gardens. There are laws prohibiting even private owners from wasting their forests without regard to the public good.  {HS 176.1}

Ancient castles on the loftiest highs

Here and there, crowning the loftiest and most inaccessible heights, we see an ancient castle, often in ruins, but sometimes kept in repair and still inhabited. Those old battlements must have an eventful history. Some of them, like the Wartburg, were the refuge of the Protestants in the time of the Reformation. Could those moss-grown walls but tell what has transpired within their strongholds, or in the mountain fastnesses around them, we would hear stories of thrilling interest connected with the lives of the defenders of the faith. Those witnesses for the truth were hunted down by the fury of their persecutors, driven into dens and mountains and caves of the earth, because they honored the law of God above the precepts of the church of Rome.  {HS 176.2}

The right of religious liberty has been maintained

Only by terrible struggles has the right of religious liberty been maintained. When the stake and the scaffold proved ineffectual to destroy the Reformation in Germany, popery summoned her armies, the Catholic States banded together to crush out Protestantism, and for thirty years the tempests of war swept over these now fertile plains and populous cities. At the opening of the thirty years war, in 1618, the country had reached a high state of prosperity. It is said that at that time the methods of cultivation were fully equal to those of 1818. “Germany was accounted a rich country. Under the influence of a long peace its towns had enlarged in size, its villages had increased in number, and its smiling fields testified to the excellence of its husbandry. The early dew of the Reformation was not yet exhaled. The sweet breath of that morning gave it a healthy moral vigor, quickened its art and industry, and filled the land with all good things. Wealth abounded in the cities, and even the country people lived in circumstances of comfort and ease.” Since the Reformation, a school had existed in every town and village in which there was a church, and a knowledge of reading and writing was generally diffused among the people. The Bible had found its way into their houses. The hymns of Luther were sung in their churches and their homes.  {HS 176.3}

The terrible years that followed

But during the terrible years that followed, all this was changed. Foreign soldiery, savage and blood-besmeared, traversed the country, marking their course by pillage, fire, and murder. The greatest imaginable horrors were so common that it was a matter of surprise when they failed to be perpetrated. At the approach of the troops, the terror-stricken people sought safety in one-fiftieth of the population remained, and there were regions left without inhabitant.  {HS 176.4}

The spirit of popery

Such was the spirit of popery in the seventeenth century, and such is her spirit today. Let Rome but gain the power, and our own favored land would witness scenes like those that covered Germany with heaps of slain, and made her harvest fields a lair for the wild beasts.  {HS 178.1}

At Hamburg, about 7 P.M.

At Hamburg, about 7. P.M., we again changed cars, and had to wait two hours. After walking from one station to the other, we were shown into a waiting-room where men and women were eating and drinking, and the air was full of tobacco smoke. We chose to remain on the platform outside.  {HS 178.2}

Hamburg situated on the river Elbe

Hamburg, situated on the river Elbe, contains upwards of two hundred and seventy thousand inhabitants. The trade of all Northern Europe centers here; it is the great port of entry for the German empire, and is the most important commercial town on the Continent. Though very ancient, it is a beautiful city. It was here that Tyndale, when forced to flee from England, began the publication of the English New Testament. In wretched lodgings he endured hunger and cold while toiling day and night to give the gospel to England. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark, translated and printed here, were secretly sent to London as the first-fruits of his great work.  {HS 178.3}

Ride from Hamburg

A three-hours’ ride from Hamburg brings us at midnight to Kiel, on an arm of the Baltic Sea. Here we are transferred to a little steamer, and are soon at rest in our state-rooms, glad of an opportunity for a few hours’ repose. In the early morning, we land at Corsor, Denmark, and resume our journey by rail.  {HS 178.4}

Denmark

Denmark is a small country

Denmark is a small country, consisting of a peninsula and larger and smaller islands. Its area is about the same as that of Maryland, but it contains more than double the number of inhabitants, its population being upwards of two millions. This country lies as far north as Labrador and Hudson’s Bay in America; yet the climate is not severe; the winter is milder than in most of our Northern States. No doubt this is largely due to the influence of the gulf-stream, which brings a current of warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of Europe. This is a priceless blessing to its far northern countries, which would otherwise be deprived of many of the blessings of life.  {HS 178.5}

Tog fra Korsør til København i 1885

The Scenery of Denmark is unlike Germany

The scenery of Denmark is unlike that of Germany. The surface is an almost unbroken plain, in most places but a few feet above the level of the sea. Some parts, indeed, are hilly, but it is said that if the sea level were one hundred feet higher, more than half the country would be covered with water. The fine forests with which Denmark was once adorned have decayed or been cut down. The land is mostly divided into small farms, the possession of a few acres being the summit of a Danish farmer’s ambition. Formerly the greater part of the country was owned by the nobility, but during the present century the peasants or farmers have had an opportunity to buy the land, and thus have become an independent class of society. To us this country wears a more familiar aspect than Germany. The fences separating the fields, the farm-houses dotted over the landscape, and the pretty beech groves, remind us of some parts of the United States.  {HS 178.6}

Denmark has considerable moorland

Denmark has considerable moorland, from which a great quantity of peat is obtained. When burned, this produces much heat, and it is largely used by the country people for fuel. The black turf is cut in square blocks like brick, and laid in long rows to dry in the sun; when dry, it is stacked, ready for market. About the homes of the people it was piled in neat stacks, rounded on the top, like beehives. This is one of God’s merciful provisions for the poor. The laboring class are so poorly paid that without this it would be extremely difficult for them to obtain fuel.  {HS 178.7}

Copenhagen

They reached Copenhagen Thusday forenoon

Thursday forenoon we reached Copenhagen, and were met by Eld. Matteson, who for some months had resided in the city, and who took us to his home. Here we wound our way up long flights of stairs that seemed almost interminable. We do not find elevators in the cities of Europe as in America, though there is quite as much need of them. In the sixth story we found our friends. They were comfortably and pleasantly situated, though very high up in the world.  {HS 179.1}

Copenhagen 1890

The view from the window was fine

The view from our windows was very fine. Just across the street were beautiful grounds which had the appearance of an extensive park or garden. We were somewhat surprised to learn that it was a cemetery. The tombstones were mostly concealed from view by trees and shrubbery. Evergreen hedges separated the inclosures, and choice flowers and shrubs were scattered everywhere. Close by was the large botanical garden and floral nursery, containing rare trees and shrubs, and the most beautiful flowers in almost endless variety.  {HS 179.2}

Huge windmills used for grinding grain

Toward the sea we saw the huge windmills used for grinding grain. A little to the right is the glistening dome of the Greek church. This dome, we are told, is overlaid with gold, and it is customary to adorn these houses of worship in this manner.  {HS 179.3}

Copenhagen 1890

The first meeting on Friday evening

Our first meeting was held on Friday evening, in a little fourth-story hall close at hand, used for Sabbath meetings by our people. About thirty-five were present, most of whom had received the truth through the labors of Brn. Matteson and Brorsen. There were about a dozen in Copenhagen who had begun to keep the Sabbath, and the remainder had come in from the adjacent churches.  {HS 180.1}

Sermon

Parable of the Fig Tree

(Editor note. This is Ellen G.Whites first sermon in Copenhagen,Denmark. The sermon impressed upon the listeners the necessity of purity and perfection of character.)

Luka 13:6-9

“A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” Luke 13:6-9.  {HS 180.2}

"He sougt fruts"

Jewish nation represented as the fig-tree

The Jewish nation was represented as the fig-tree which God had planted in his vineyard. This people he had taken unto himself as his own. They had been greatly favored with temporal and spiritual blessings, and he looked to them to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. Year after year he had come to them hoping to find fruit, but had found none. He had been long forbearing. Justice had urged, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” But mercy pleaded for still another trial. The Dresser of the vineyard will put forth yet one more effort to save the fruitless tree. The Son of God will come in person to plead with the chosen people. He will take upon himself humanity, and set before them the example of his own life. If this fails to bring them to repentance, it is their last trial. “After that thou shalt cut it down.” In the terrible destruction which came upon the Jewish nation we read the fate of the unfruitful tree.  {HS 180.3}

Fig tree

All who have neglected the gifts of heaven

Under the symbol of the fig-tree, Christ represents, not the Jews only, but all who have neglected to improve the gifts of Heaven. He has bestowed upon us greater blessings than were granted to his ancient people, and he claims of us fruit corresponding to the gifts bestowed. What is this fruit? It is a pure and holy character; godliness, self-denial for others’ good, meekness and lowliness of heart. Jesus claims penitence, faith, and obedience. He came to leave for men a perfect model of character. He was obedient to all the requirements of his Father. If we follow him, we shall in our life carry out the precepts of God’s holy law.  {HS 180.4}

You are capable of bearing fruits

Dear brethren, He who has given you talents, has by these sacred trusts made you capable of bearing precious fruit to his glory. Through Christ, God has opened heaven before you, and all needful grace is brought within your reach. The Saviour died that by his grace you might become partakers of the divine nature. He expects you to bear fruit. With what interest has he watched and waited for some returns for his great sacrifice.  {HS 180.5}

Consider the solemn lesson of the parable

Consider, I pray you, the solemn lesson of this parable. The dresser of the vineyard pleads for a respite for the doomed fig-tree; but if it still bear no fruit, he himself declares, “After that thou shalt cut it down.” May not this be the position of some now before me? May they not be even now receiving the last trial? The divine illumination, the example of perfect goodness, are granted us. From time to time, new opportunities, new lessons, are given. And what will be the result? If we are careless and neglectful, we know not how soon the word may be spoken of us, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” {HS 180.6}

Consider

How many years have we been in the Lord’s garden? and what profit have we brought to the Master? How are we meeting the inspecting eye of God? Are we increasing in reverence, love, humility, confidence in God? Do we cherish gratitude for all his mercies? Are we seeking to bless those around us? Do we manifest the spirit of Jesus in our families? Are we teaching his word to our children, and making known to them the wonderful works of God? The Christian must represent Jesus by both being good and doing good. Then there will be a fragrance about the life, a loveliness of character, which will reveal the fact that he is a child of God, an heir of heaven.  {HS 181.1}

Be no longer slothful servants

Brethren, be no longer slothful servants. Every soul must battle against inclination. Christ came not to save men in their sins, but from their sins. He has made it possible for us to possess a holy character; do not, then, be content with defects and deformities. But while we are to seek earnestly for perfection of character, we must remember that sanctification is not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime. Said Paul, “I die daily.” Day by day the work of overcoming must go forward. Every day we are to resist temptation, and gain the victory over selfishness in all its forms. Day by day we should cherish love and humility, and cultivate in ourselves all those excellencies of character which will please God and fit us for the blessed society of heaven. To all who are seeking to accomplish this work, the promise is very precious, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”  {HS 181.2}

Every Christian will have a missionary spirit.

Every Christian will have a missionary spirit. To bear fruit is to work as Christ worked, to love souls as he has loved us. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Saviour: and just as soon as a person is converted to the truth, he feels an earnest desire that those in darkness should see the precious light shining from God’s word.  {HS 181.3}

We are grateful…

We are grateful that a few in Copenhagen have accepted the truth of God. Missionaries are needed to spread the light of truth in these great cities, and the children of God—those whom he calls the light of the world—ought to be doing all they can in this direction. You will meet with discouragements, you will have opposition. The enemy will whisper, What can these few poor people do in this great city? But if you walk in the light, you can every one be light-bearers to the world. Do not seek to accomplish some great work, and neglect the little opportunities close at hand. We can do very much by exemplifying the truth in our daily life. The influence which we may thus exert cannot be easily withstood. Men may combat and defy our logic; they may resist our appeals; but a life of holy purpose, of disinterested love in their behalf, is an argument in favor of the truth that they cannot gainsay. Far more can be accomplished by humble, devoted, virtuous lives than can be effected by preaching when a godly example is lacking. You can labor to build up the church, to encourage your brethren, and to make the social meetingsinteresting; and you can let your prayers go out, like sharp sickles, with the laborers into the harvest field. Each should have a personal interest, a burden of soul, to watch and pray for the success of the work.  {HS 181.4}

In meekness call the attention of others

You can also in meekness call the attention of others to the precious truths of God’s word. Young men should be instructed that they may labor in these cities. They may never be able to present the truth from the desk, but they could go from house to house, and point the people to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. The dust and rubbish of error have buried the precious jewels of truth; but the Lord’s workers can uncover these treasures, so that many will look upon them with delight and awe.  {HS 182.1}

A great variety of work adapted to different minds

There is a great variety of work, adapted to different minds and varied capabilities. In the day of God not one will be excused for being shut up to his own selfish interests. And it is by working for others that you will keep your own souls alive. Do you shrink from this work because there is a cross connected with it? Remember that self must be denied if you would win Christ. Earnest, unselfish effort will garner sheaves for Jesus. The humble worker who obediently responds to the call of God, may be sure of receiving divine assistance. The Lord is a mighty helper. If the workers will rely wholly upon him, he will accomplish a great work through them.  {HS 182.2}

The Sabbath Meetings

It was with difficulty that she could speak

The Hall was cold and very damp

It was with difficulty that I could speak at the meeting of Friday evening, for the hall was cold and very damp. In this building the plaster had been put directly onto the brick walls, leaving no air chamber, and thus permitted the dampness of the wall to be communicated to the room. There had been no fire in the hall during the season, until a few hours before we assembled, and then it only served to draw out the dampness, and render the atmosphere humid. There was a penetrating chill in the air, that made one shiver in the warmest wrappings. I suffered much from pain in my lungs, while I was speaking, and for hours afterward.  {HS 182.3}

Børsen in Copenhagen 1890

Sabbath morning

Suffering from some teeth improperly treated by dentist

Sabbath morning I still felt the effects of the evening’s chill. For two weeks I had been suffering much from some teeth that had been improperly treated by the dentist, and the cold that I had taken not only affected my lungs and throat, but rendered the pain in my teeth almost unendurable. I felt unable to speak to the people; but my earnest prayer went up to heaven for needed strength. Again I ventured to the hall, and found it well filled with interested hearers. I spoke from John 15:1-8, on the subject of the True Vine. I was strengthened and blessed; my infirmities were forgotten in the interest I felt for precious souls. The dear Saviour seemed very near, and the Holy Spirit rested upon the assembly.  {HS 182.4}

A Social Meeting

Brother Matteson acting as interpreter

The discourse was followed by a social meeting, Bro. Matteson acting as interpreter. Many good testimonies were borne. Some expressed their thankfulness to God that he had sent Sister White such a great distance to visit them. They had read her books and her articles in their paper, and had thus received most precious light and a great blessing. The Testimonies which had been translated into their language had opened to them the Scriptures, and had made the truth so plain that they could not resist it. A high standard had been presented for them to reach, and this had led them to read the Bible, to searchtheir hearts, to pray more, to have greater love for Jesus, and to seek more earnestly to save souls.  {HS 182.5}

One Danish brother felt that his case was hopeless

Yet he was encouraged when it was stated (in the Sabbath sermon on the need of purity and perfection of character) that sanctification is of a lifetime

One brother said that when he listened to the sermon impressing upon them the necessity of purity and perfection of character, he felt that he could not be saved; that his case was hopeless. But when it was stated that sanctification was not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime, he was encouraged, and determined that day by day he would pray and watch, and search the Scriptures; he would be an overcomer, gaining an experience daily, until he should become strong, and be able to be a blessing to others. With many tears, some expressed their gratitude for the interest the American brethren had taken in them in this far-off country.  {HS 183.1}

Evening Meetings

Efforts to obtain a suitable place for meetings

As the meeting-room occupied by our people was small, and at a distance from the central part of the city, it was thought best to secure for our Sunday and evening services a hall in a more favorable location, and one capable of accommodating a larger audience. It is difficult in Copenhagen, as in all the cities of Scandinavia, to obtain a suitable place for meetings. The halls are mostly used for dancing, concerts, and theatrical entertainments, and they are rented at a high price. After some effort, however, the brethren secured a hall which they assured us would meet the requirements. What was our surprise, upon going to the place for service, to find it in the basement of a building, in the upper stories of which were halls for dancing, and places for drinking. The room was large enough to accommodate two hundred persons, but contained seats for only half as many. It was quite damp, the moisture at times being plainly seen on the walls. One evening, while I was speaking, some young men from the drinking halls above, half intoxicated, gathered about the windows of our hall, and by loud talking and laughing endeavored to interrupt the meeting. They even thrust their heads through an open window, shouting into the room. If it is necessary to speak in such places, we will do so cheerfully. If in this rich and beautiful city there is no suitable room where the truth can be presented to the people, we remember that there was no room in the inn at Bethlehem for the mother of Jesus, and that the Saviour of the world was born in a stable.  {HS 183.2}

Thorvaldsens museum Copenhagen 1890

Deeply Interested

There were some in the audience who seemed deeply interested, persons of talent whose countenances I remembered, for they had been presented before me. These persons had been pleasure-lovers, enshrouded in darkness and error, but God was permitting beams of light to shine upon them from his world. The arrows of the Lord were wounding the heart, that the sin-sick soul might turn to the great Physician. I felt such an intense interest while speaking to these souls that I lost sight of my surroundings; I felt that some were in the valley of decision, and I longed to see them take their stand fully and decidedly upon the side of Christ. The Saviour had purchased them by his blood, and he had given them precious talents of influence which they had wasted and abused, and given to the service of the Lord’s bitterest enemy. Now there was an opportunity for them to change leaders, and to unite their interests with those of Christ’s true workers.  {HS 183.3}

She Felt a Perils of Souls

As I spoke, I felt the peril of souls;that some would decide from that time to obey the truth, or would refuse the cross, and reject the offers of mercy. We are to do our work in sowing the gospel seed as though each opportunity were our last to present Christ and him crucified before those assembled; and we should speak to them in such tenderness and love, yet with plainness and fidelity, that though we never meet them again, we shall have done our whole duty.  {HS 183.4}

Five Times in Copenhagen

Ellen G. White spoke five times in Copenhagen

I spoke five times in Copenhagen. While I was glad to present the truth to the few who could be accommodated in our small meeting-rooms, I would have been pleased to honor my Master by bearing his message to a large number. I am far from being convinced that these small and obscure halls were the best places that could be secured, or that in this great city of three hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, the message should be given in a basement room that will accommodate but two hundred, and this but half seated, so that a large part of the congregation have to stand. When God sends our brethren help, they should make earnest effort, even at some expense, to bring the light before the people. This message is to be given to the world; but unless our brethren have broad ideas and plans, they will not see much accomplished. While we should labor earnestly for the poorer classes, we are not to confine our efforts to them, nor should our plans be so laid that we shall have only this class of hearers. Men of ability are needed. The more intellectual ability is brought into the work, so long as the talent is consecrated to God and sanctified by his Spirit, the more perfect the work will be, and the higher it will stand before the world. The people generally will refuse the message of warning; yet efforts must be made to bring the truth before those of position and education as well as the poor and illiterate.  {HS 184.1}

Influence of a Tract

An interesting experience related to us by one of our Danish brethren, shows how the truth is sometimes advanced by the very efforts made to hinder its progress. Bro. C. C. Hansen had been convinced by reading the Bible, that the seventh day is the Sabbath. And as the Baptist minister had been presenting to him the Bible argument for immersion, his mind was exercised on the subject of baptism also. About this time Bro. Brorsen visited the place, and gave to the Methodist minister the tract, “New Testament Sabbath.” When he had read it, he gave it to Bro. Hansen, in the hope that by showing that the Bible presents as forcibly the duty of keeping the seventh day, which is universally disregarded, as it does the duty of baptism, he could lead him to renounce the idea of being immersed. He argued that the Sabbath is disregarded by Baptists as well as others, and it could be no worse to set aside immersion than to reject the Sabbath. But the result of this effort was the reverse of what the minister wished. Bro. Hansen read the tract again and again, wept and prayed over it, and instead of renouncing baptism, he decided to keep the Sabbath. At first he thought it his duty to keep Sunday also, and in the attempt to keep two days became discouraged, and gave up the Sabbath. But just at this time Bro. Brorsen came to his help, and explained from the Bible the true relation of the Sabbath and Sunday. Some time later, he was much impressed by reading in the Advent Tidende an account of what I had seen in regard to
some in foreign countries receiving the papers and tracts, reading them, praying over them, and finally taking their stand on the Sabbath, for this exactly described his experience.  {HS 184.2}

A Missionary Field

Copenhagen seems like ancient Athens

Ancient Athen

Copenhagen seems like Athens in Paul’s day. The pursuit of wealth and pleasure engrosses the attention of the people. Atheism is popular. Eating and drinking, dancing and merry-making, are the subjects of thought and conversation. There are many large and beautiful churches; but the people, like some of the Athenians, are worshiping an unknown God. There is no lack of doctors of divinity, of learned preachers, but they are ignorant of Bible religion.  {HS 185.1}

The Teachers in the State Church

Unquestionable authorities in matters of religion

The teachers in the State Church are looked up to by the people as unquestionable authority in matters of religion. They appear upon the street in a long clerical robe reaching to their feet, with a stiff, quilled ruffle of white linen, nearly a quarter of a yard in width, about the neck. As they pass, men take off their hats and make a low obeisance, and women courtesy, with an air of the greatest reverence. As I saw them, I could not but think of the words of Christ,—and the words apply to these priests as truly as to the ancient rabbis,—“All their works they do for to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”  {HS 185.2}

Difficult to awaken interest in religious things

It seems a difficult matter to awaken an interest in religious things in these large cities; and yet there are many honest souls in them who will yet accept the light and reflect its rays to others. Copenhagen is sending missionaries to convert the heathen in far-off lands, when there are multitudes of her people who are as truly ignorant of God and his word. Men with the spirit of Paul are needed to preach Christ and him crucified.  {HS 185.3}

A Beautiful City

Copenhagen is a large city for the little kingdom of Denmark. It possesses an excellent harbor, and being situated on the narrow straits connecting the Baltic with an arm of the North Sea, it is on the highway through which passes much of the commerce of Sweden, Germany, and Russia. It is the residence of the king, and the head-quarters of the Danish army. In the midst of the city, and surrounded on all sides by massive stone blocks, are wide, open spaces containing many acres, which are reserved as training-grounds for soldiers. In the early morning we hear the measured tread of large companies of soldiers marching along the streets, and wherever we go on the streets we see companies of tall, athletic young men dressed in the light, jaunty uniform of the king’s guards. The king of Denmark is allied with some of the most powerful nations of Europe. While we were in Copenhagen, he was receiving a visit from his son-in-law, the czar of Russia. One of his daughters is wife of the prince of Wales; another is married to the duke of Cumberland. The crown prince is married to a Swedish princess; another son has married a French princess; while one of his sons is the king of Greece.  {HS 185.4}

Dronning Louises bro 1888

Many Beautiful Parks

There is probably no city of its size which has so many beautiful parks, artificial lakes, and pleasant avenues. At a little distance from our stopping-placeis an artificial lake which is two miles in length. The water is clear as crystal, and upon its glassy surface many beautiful white swans were floating gracefully. It is crossed by pretty foot bridges, while a broad street runs all around it, and rows of chestnut-trees beautify its borders. In Copenhagen the children have not been forgotten. In different parts of the city there are small inclosures of three or four acres with groves of shade-trees, which are kept solely for play-grounds. No vehicles are allowed to pass through them, and the children can here enjoy their sports in safety.  {HS 185.5}

A Place of Resort at the Sea-shore

One day we rode out to a place of resort at the sea-shore, about ten miles from the city. As we look across the strait, here about sixteen miles wide, the hills of Sweden are visible in the distance. The water is very clear, so that the white, sandy bottom can be distinctly seen for a considerable distance. It is strewn with rocks, and with mounds of sea moss of lighter and darker shades of green, forming a lovely picture. At a little distance from the beach is an extensive park four miles in length, a dense forest of beech-trees interspersed with evergreens. This forest is kept like a garden, and there are walks and drives extending through it in all directions.  {HS 186.1}

The Dark Blot on This Beautiful Scenery

The dark blot on this beautiful scenery is the beer gardens. At the entrance to the grounds are buildings fitted up in the most attractive manner for the sale of wine and beer, and these places are liberally patronized. It is not enough that temptation lurks at every street corner in the great city, but it lies in wait for all who go out for recreation amid the scenes of nature. God designed that we should be refreshed and invigorated by the blessings he has bestowed upon us in his created works. It is his purpose that the beauties ofnature should have a refining, elevating influence upon us. He has endowed men with mental powers capable of reasoning from cause to effect; by studying the great book of nature, they may comprehend the majesty, the goodness, and the power of the Creator. Were the senses kept clear, and the intellect unclouded, they would thus find manifold sources of elevated, satisfying enjoyment, and their hearts would go out in praise and gratitude to God.  {HS 186.2}

Satan Temps men to the use of wine

But this Satan is determined to prevent. Therefore he tempts men to the use of wine and strong drink, by which the understanding is darkened, the senses confused, and the image of God defaced. By the indulgence of appetite the perceptions become so blunted that men cannot discern God in his works; they may range through the most beautiful scenes in nature, but they have not a thought of the Creator. How many, endowed with good natural abilities, thus degrade the intellect and dishonor God. Their nature becomes brutish; it is impossible for them to be heavenly-minded. They have rendered themselves incapable of governing or guiding the springs of mental or moral activity. Thus Satan prevents man from fulfilling the destiny which Heaven has marked out for him,—to reach the highest attainments, physical, mental, and moral, that he himself may be happy, that his fellow-men may be blessed by his example, and that God may be glorified.  {HS 187.1}

The Curse of Sin

The things of this world would be enjoyable, were it not for the curse of sin; but crime, sorrow, suffering, and death meet us everywhere. Property, and even life itself, is not safe. Upon the most beautiful portions of the earth, in the valleys, on the mountains, in the crowded cities, in the wilderness, or upon the waters of the great deep, there is danger and death. The restless, surging masses of humanity have forgotten their Creator; transgression of God’s law has brought discord, misery, and desolation upon our world; and yet, in their blindness and madness, men continue to transgress. They refuse to listen to the voice of God, inviting them to find peace in him. Kings, statesmen, the mighty ones of the earth, are powerless to give peace and rest to the soul. It is only in obedience to God’s law that true happiness can be found. We must submit our will to God if we would have his divine and eternal harmony in our souls.  {HS 187.2}

The Future Immortal life

The richest treasures, the highest blessings of this life, are meager and unsatisfying when compared with those of the future, immortal life. There will open to the senses scenes of beauty that no language can portray. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” And these precious treasures are freely offered to all who will accept them. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” {HS 187.3}

Source: The Acts of the Apostle by Ellen G. White p. 141-142

Surprised and Offended

Visual imagination 1 When the brethren in Judea heard that Peter had gone to the house of a Gentile and preached to those assembled, they were surprised and offended.

Biblical evidence

NKJ Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.  2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,  3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 141.1} When the brethren in Judea heard that Peter had gone to the house of a Gentile and preached to those assembled, they were surprised and offended.

• They feared that such a course, which looked to them presumptuous, would have the effect of counteracting his own teaching.

When they next saw Peter they met him with severe censure, saying,

• “Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.”

The Whole Matter laid Open

Visual imagination 2 Peter laid the whole matter before them.

Biblical evidence

Acts 11:4-17   4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:  5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.  6 “When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  7 “And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’  8 “But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’  9 “But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’  10 “Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.  11 “At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.  12 “Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.  13 “And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,  14 ‘who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’  15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.  16 “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  17 “If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 141.2} Peter laid the whole matter before them (Editor: the brethren in Judea).

• He related his experience in regard to the vision.
• He pleaded that it (Editor: the vision) admonished him to observe no longer the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision, nor to look upon the Gentiles as unclean.
• He told them of the command given him to go to the Gentiles,
• He told them of the coming of the messengers,
• He told them of his journey to Caesarea, and
• He told them of the meeting with Cornelius.
• He recounted the substance of his interview with the centurion, in which the latter had told him of the vision by which he had been directed to send for Peter.

Peter said, in relating his experinece…

• “As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?”

The Brethren were Silenced

Visual imagination 3 On hearing this account, the brethren were silenced.

Biblical evidence

Acts 11:18  18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 142.1} On hearing this account, the brethren were silenced. Convinced that…

• that Peter’s course was in direct fulfillment of the plan of God
• that their prejudices and exclusiveness were utterly contrary to the spirit of the gospel

They now glorified God, saying,

• “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

{AA 142.2} Thus, without controversy…

• Prejudice was broken down
• The exclusiveness established by the custom of ages was abandoned
• The way was opened for the gospel to be proclaimed to the Gentiles.

Danish translation / Dansk Oversættelse

Brødrene var Overraskede og Fornærmede

Da brødrene i Judæa hørte, at Peter var gået ind i en hednings hus, blev de overraskede og krænkede. De ængstede sig for, at en sådan fremgangsmåde, der forekom dem overmodig, ville komme til at modarbejde hans egen lære. Da de næste gang traf Peter, mødte de ham med alvorlig kritik og sagde: “Du har besøgt uomskårne mænd og spist sammen med dem.”

Peter klarlagde hele sagen for brødrene

Peter klarlagde hele sagen for dem. Han fortalte om sin oplevelse med synet og hævdede, at det formanede ham til ikke mere at overholde den vedtagne adskillelse mellem omskårne og uomskårne og til heller ikke at betragte hedninger som urene. Han fortalte om den befaling, han havde fået om at gå til hedningerne, om sendebudenes ankomst, om sin rejse til Kæsarea og om mødet med Kornelius. Han berettede dem indholdet af sin samtale med høvedsmanden, hvorunder denne havde fortalt ham om sit syn, hvorved han havde fået anvisning på at sende bud efter Peter.

“Men da jeg var begyndt at tale,” sagde han, da han fortalte om sine oplevelser, “faldt Helligånden på dem, ligesom på os i den første tid. Da kom jeg Herrens ord ihu, hvorledes han sagde: “Johannes døbte med vand, men I skal døbes med Helligånden. Når Gud nu har givet dem den samme gave, som vi fik, da vi kom til at tro på Herren Jesus Kristus, hvem var da jeg, at jeg skulle være i stand til at stå Gud i vejen.”

Brødrene måtte tie ved at høre beretningen

Brødrene måtte tie ved at høre denne beretning. De var overbeviste om, at Peters handlemåde var en direkte opfyldelse af Guds vilje, og om at deres fordomme og udelukkelse af andre var fuldstændig i modstrid med evangeliets ånd, og derfor priste de Gud og sagde: “Så har Gud altså også givet hedningerne omvendelse til liv.”

Fordomme nedbrudt uden strid

Således blev fordommene nedbrudt uden strid, og den adskillelse, der var oprettet ved tidernes vane, blev opgivet, og vejen stod åben for evangeliets forkyndelse for hedninger.

Source: The Acts of the Apostles by Ellen G. White p. 138-141

NKJ Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.  2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

Genesis 18:17-19  17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,  18 “since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  19 “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

Acts 10:1-4  Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,  2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.  3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

God is Seeking for Souls

Lesson 1 Today God is seeking for souls among the high as well as the lowly.

Biblical evidence

NKJ Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

Acts 10:3   3 About the ninth hour of the day he (Cornelius) saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

Practical application

{AA 139.4} Today God is seeking for souls among the high as well as the lowly. There are many like Cornelius, men whom the Lord desires to connect with His work in the world.

• Their sympathies are with the Lord’s people, but the ties that bind them to the world hold them firmly.

• It requires moral courage for them to take their position for Christ.

Special efforts should be made for these souls, who are in so great danger, because of their responsibilities and associations.

God Calls for Workers

Lesson 2 God calls for earnest, humble workers, who will carry the gospel to the higher class.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:9-16   9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.  10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance  11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.  12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”  15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”  16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Practical application

God calls for earnest, humble workers

{AA 140.1} God calls for earnest, humble workers, who will carry the gospel to the higher class.

• There are miracles to be wrought in genuine conversions,–miracles that are not now discerned.
• The greatest men of this earth are not beyond the power of a wonder-working God.

If those who are workers together with Him will be men of opportunity, doing their duty bravely and faithfully, God will convert men…

• Men who occupy responsible positions
• Men of intellect
• Men of influence.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit many (Editor note: men of the higher class) will accept the divine principles.

• Converted to the truth, they will become agencies in the hand of God to communicate the light.
• They will have a special burden for other souls of this neglected class.
• Time and money will be consecrated to the work of the Lord, and new efficiency and power will be added to the church.

Nearer the Kingdom of God

Lesson 3 There are in our world many who are nearer the kingdom of God than we suppose.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:21-22   21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”  22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

Acts 10:34-36   34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all –

Practical application

"in touch with one who could lead him into greater light"

{AA 140.2} Because Cornelius was living in obedience to all the instruction he had received, God so ordered events that he was given more truth.

• A messenger from the courts of heaven was sent to the Roman officer and to Peter in order that Cornelius might be brought into touch with one who could lead him into greater light.

{AA 140.3} There are in our world many who are nearer the kingdom of God than we suppose.

"The Lord has many precious jewels"

In this dark world of sin the Lord has many precious jewels, to whom He will guide His messengers.

• Everywhere there are those who will take their stand for Christ.
• Many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage, and will become faithful light bearers.
• Constrained by the love of Christ, they will constrain others to come to Him.

Danish translation / Dansk oversættelse

Gud søger efter sjæle blandt rige som fattige

I dag søger Gud efter sjæle såvel blandt rige som blandt fattige. Der findes mange som Kornelius, mennesker, som Herren ønsker at knytte til sin tjeneste i denne verden. De har sympati for Herrens folk, men de bånd, som binder dem til verden, holder dem for godt fast. Det kræver moralsk mod, hvis de skal tage standpunht for Kristus. Der burde gøres særlige anstrengelser for disse sjæle, som er i så stor fare på grund af deres forpligtelser og forbindelser.

Gud behøver alvorlige og ydmyge arbejdere

Gud har brug for (God calls for earnest, humble workers; Dictionary: The army and Navy calls for more men) alvorlige, ydmyge tjenere, der vil bringe evangeliet til de højere klasser. Der kan komme til at ske undere i form af virkelige omvendelser, undere, som endnu ikke lader sig skimte. De største mænd på denne jord er ikke udelukkede fra Guds undergørende magt. Hvis de, som arbejder i fællesskab med ham, vil gribe lejligheden, når den viser sig, og gøre deres pligt både tappert og trofast, vil Gud omvende mænd, der står i ansvarsfulde stillinger, kloge og indflydelsesrige mennesker. Ved Helligåndens kraft vil mange komme til at gå ind for de guddommelige principper. Når de er omvendt til sandheden, vil de blive Guds villige hjælpere til at bringe lyset til andre. De vil få en særlig opgave med andre sjæle af denne forsømte klasse. Både tid og penge vil blive viet til Herrens tjeneste, og menigheden vil komme til at vinde ny virkeevne og kraft.

Gud lod det ske, at…

Fordi Kornelius levede i lydighed mod al den belæring, han havde modtaget, lod Gud det ske således, at der blev givet ham mere sandhed. Et sendebud fra de himmelske boliger blev udsendt til den romerske officer og til Peter, for at Kornelius kunne komme i kontakt med en, der kunne føre ham ind i mere lys.

Mange i verden er nærmere Gud end vi aner

Der findes her i verden mange, der er Guds rige nærmere, end vi aner. I denne mørke syndens verden har Herren mange kostbare klenodier, til hvem han vil lede sine sendebud. Allevegne findes der mennesker, der vil gå ind for Kristus. Mange vil vide at værdsætte Guds visdom højere end nogen jordisk fordel og blive trofaste fakkelbærere. Selv tvungne af Kristi kærlighed, som de er, vil de nøde andre til at komme til ham.

Source: The Acts of the Apostles by Ellen G. White p. 136-139

Men from Cornelius Arrive

Visual imagination While Peter was meditating on the meaning of the vision, the men sent from Cornelius arrived in Joppa

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:17-20  17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.  18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.  19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.  20 “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 136.4} While Peter was meditating on the meaning of the vision, the men sent from Cornelius arrived in Joppa and stood before the gate of his lodginghouse. Then the Spirit said to him…

• “Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.”

Peter is Doubting

Visual imagination To Peter this was a trying command, and it was with reluctance at every step that he undertook the duty laid upon him; but he dared not disobey.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:19-22   19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.  20 “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”  21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”  22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 137.1} To Peter this was a trying command, and it was with reluctance at every step that he undertook the duty laid upon him; but he dared not disobey. He…

• “went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?”

They told him of their singular errand, saying,

• “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.”

The Apostle promises to go

Visual imagination 3 In obedience to the directions just received from God, the apostle promised to go with them.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:23   23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 137.2} In obedience to the directions just received from God, the apostle promised to go with them.

(1) On the following morning he set out for Caesarea, accompanied by six of his brethren.

• These were to be witnesses of all that he should say or do while visiting the Gentiles, for Peter knew that he would be called to account for so direct a violation of the Jewish teachings.

Cornelius Salutes Peter

Visual imagination 4 As Peter entered the house of the Gentile, Cornelius did not salute him as an ordinary visitor, but as one honored of Heaven and sent to him by God.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:25-26   25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.  26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 137.3} As Peter entered the house of the Gentile, Cornelius did not salute him as an ordinary visitor, but as one honored of Heaven and sent to him by God.

• It is an Eastern custom to bow before a prince or other high dignitary and for children to bow before their parents;
• But Cornelius, overwhelmed with reverence for the one sent by God to teach him, fell at the apostle’s feet and worshiped him.

Peter was horror-stricken, and he lifted the centurion up, saying,

• “Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

Visual imagination 5 When Peter arrived, he found a large company eagerly waiting to listen to his words.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:24   24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 138.1} While the messengers of Cornelius had been gone upon their errand, the centurion had…

• “had called together his kinsmen and near friends,”

that they as well as he might hear the preaching of the gospel. When Peter arrived, he found a large company eagerly waiting to listen to his words.

The Customs of the Jews

Visual imagination 6 To those assembled, Peter spoke first of the custom of the Jews.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:28-29   28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  29 “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 138.2} To those assembled, Peter spoke first of the custom of the Jews, saying that it was looked upon as unlawful for Jews to mingle socially with the Gentiles, that to do this involved ceremonial defilement. He said…

• “Ye know,how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?”

Experience

Visual imagination 7 Cornelius then related his experience and the words of the angel,

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:30-33   30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,  31 “and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.  32 ‘Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’  33 “So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 138.3} Cornelius then related his experience and the words of the angel, saying in conclusion,

• “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”

{AA 138.4} Peter said…

• “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.”

Peter preached Christ

Visual imagination 8 Then to that company of attentive hearers the apostle preached Christ

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:34-43  34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all –  37 “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 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 “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.  40 “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,  41 “not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.  42 “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  43 “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 138.5} Then to that company of attentive hearers the apostle preached Christ–

• His life
• His miracles
• His betrayal
• His crucifixion
• His resurrection
• His ascension
• His work in heaven as man’s representative and advocate.

As Peter pointed those present to Jesus as the sinner’s only hope (Editor note, Jesus is the secret hidden for the sinner), he himself understood more fully the meaning of the vision he had seen, and his heart glowed with the spirit of the truth that he was presenting.

Descent of the Holy Spirit

Visual imagination 9 Suddenly the discourse was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:44-48  44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,  47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”  48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 139.1-2} Suddenly the discourse was interrupted by the descent of the Holy Spirit.

• “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

• “Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

{AA 139.3} Thus was the gospel brought to those who had been strangers and foreigners, making them fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was but the first fruits of a harvest to be gathered in.

• From this household a wide-spread work of grace was carried on in that heathen city.

Danish translation/ Dansk oversættelse

Mænd ankommer til Peter’s indgangsdør

Mens Peter grundede over betydningen af synet, ankom de mænd, som Kornelius havde sendt, til Joppe og stod nu foran husets indgangsdør. Nu sagde Ånden til ham: “Se, der er to mænd, som søger efter dig. Stå op og gå ned og drag uden betænkning med dem; thi det er mig, som har sendt dem.”

Peter i tvivl

Denne befaling var en prøvelse for Peter. og det var kun modstræbende, at han påtog sig den pligt, der var pålagt ham; men han vovede ikke at være ulydig. Han gik ned til mændene, der var sendt af Kornelius og sagde: “Se, jeg er den, som I søger; hvad er grunden til, at I er kommet?” De fortalte ham om deres ualmindelige ærinde og sagde: “Høvedsmanden Kornelius, en retfærdig og gudfrygtig mand, som har godt lov hos hele det jødiske folk, har af en hellig engel fået en åbenbaring om, at han skal lade dig hente hjem til sig og høre, hvad du har at sige.”

Peter lover at følge med dem

Lydig mod den anvisning, han lige havde modtaget fra Gud, lovede apostlen at følge med dem. Næste morgen begav han sig til Kæsarea, ledsaget af seks af brødrene. Disse skulle være vidne til alt, hvad han måtte sige eller gøre, mens han var hos hedningerne; for Peter vidste, at han ville blive draget til ansvar for en så direkte krænkelse af den jødiske lære.

Kornelius hilser på Peter

Da Peter kom ind i hedningernes hus, hilste Kornelius ham ikke som en almindelig gæst, men som en, der er æret højt af Himmelen og sendt fra Gud. Det er østerIandsk skik at bøje sig for en fyrste eller en anden rangsperson, og børn bøjer sig for deres forældre; mem Kornelius, der var betaget af ærefrygt for den, Gud havde sendt for at belære hm, faldt ned for apostlens fødder og tilbad ham. Peter blev forfærdet; han rejste høvedsmanden op og sagde: “Stå op! jeg er selv et menneske.”

Høvedsmanden kalder på slægtninger og venner

Medens Kornelius sendebud var draget af sted med deres ærinde, havde høvedsmanden “sammenkaldt sine slægtninge og nærmeste venner,” for at også de kunne høre evangeliet blive prædiket. Da Peter kom, fandt han en stor forsamling, der ivrigt ventede på at komme til at lytte til hans ord.

Peter taler om Jødernes skik

Til denne forsamling talte Peter først om jødernes skik, idet han sagde, at det blev betragtet som ulovligt for jøder at have samkvem med hedninger, og at dette efter vedtægterne medførte besmittelse. Han sagde: “I ved, at det er utilbørligt for en jøde at omgås eller besøge nogen, som hører til et fremmed folk; men mig har Gud vist, at jeg ikke skulle kalde noget menneske vanhelligt eller urent. Derfor kom jeg også uden indvending, da jeg fik bud derom; og nu vil jeg gerne vide: hvorfor har I sendt bud efter mig?”

Kornelius konkluderer

Så fortalte Kornelius om sin oplevelse (experience) og om engelens ord og endte  med at sige (saying in conclusion) : “Jeg sendte så straks bud til dig, og du har gjort vel i at komme. Og nu er vi alle til stede for Guds åsyn for at høre alt, hvad der er befalet dig af Herren.”

Peter sagde: “Nu forstår jeg i sandhed, at der hos Gud ikke er personsanseelse; men i hvert folk er den, som frygter ham og øver retfærdighed, kærkommen for ham.”

Peter prædiker om Kristus

Derpå prædikede apostlen om Kristus for denne forsamling af opmærksomme tilhørere om hans liv, hans undergerninger, hvordan han blev forrådt og korsfæstet, om hans opstandelse og himmelfart, og om hans gerning i Himmelen som menneskers stedfortræder og talsmand. Mens Peter for de tilstedeværende udpegede Jesus som synderes eneste håb, forstod han selv mere fuldt og helt betydningen af det syn, han havde haft, og hans hjerte brændte af den sandhedens Ånd, som han var talsmand for.

Peter’s tale bliver pludselig afbrudt

Helligånden nedstiger til Hedningerne

Pludselig blev hans tale afbrudt ved, at Helligånden nedsteg til dem. “Endnu mens Peter talte, faldt Helligånden på alle dem, som hørte ordet. Og alle de troende af jødisk herkomst, som var kommet derhen sammen med Peter, blev ude af sig selv af undren over, at Helligåndens gave var blevet udgydt også over hedningerne; thi de hørte dem tale i tunger og prise Gud.”

“Da tog Peter til orde: “Skulle nogen kunne hindre disse i at blive døbt med vand, da de jo dog har fået Helligånden lige så vel som vi?” Og han befalede, at de skulle døbes i Jesu Kristi navn.”

Således blev evangeliet bragt til dem, som havde været fremmede og udlændinge, og gjorde dem til de helliges medborgere og medlemmer af Guds husstand. Omvendelsen af Kornelius og hele hans hus var kun førstegrøden af, hvad der senere skulle høstes. Fra denne husstand udførtes et omfattende nådens værk i denne hedenske by.

Source. Acts of the Apostles by Ellen G. White p. 154-156

A Roman Centurion

Visual imagination 1. Cornelius was gladly obedient to the vision.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:3-8   3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.  5 “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.  6 “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”  7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.  8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

In imagination behold the scene

Roman centurion

{AA 134.4} Cornelius (Editor note: he was a roman centurion) was gladly obedient to the vision. When the angel had gone, the centurion

• “called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; and when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.”

The angel went to Peter

Visual imagination 2 The angel, after his interview with Cornelius, went to Peter, in Joppa.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:9-16   9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.  10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance  11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.  12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”  15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”  16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 135.1} The angel, after his interview with Cornelius, went to Peter, in Joppa. At the time, Peter was praying upon the housetop of his lodging, and we read that he

• “became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.”

It was not for physical food alone that Peter hungered.

• As from the housetop he viewed the city of Joppa and the surrounding country he hungered for the salvation of his countrymen.
• He had an intense desire to point out to them from the Scriptures the prophecies relating to the sufferings and death of Christ.

Reproof and Instruction

Visual imagination 3 The vision conveyed to Peter both reproof and instruction.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:34-36   34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all –

In imagination behold the scene

Kosher food

{AA 135.2} In the vision Peter saw…

“saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”

{AA 135.3} This vision conveyed to Peter both reproof and instruction. It revealed to him the purpose of God–

• that by the death of Christ the Gentiles should be made fellow heirs with the Jews to the blessings of salvation.

Reproof

As yet none of the disciples had preached the gospel to the Gentiles.

1) In their minds the middle wall of partition, broken down by the death of Christ, still existed

2) Their labors (the disciples) had been confined to the Jews,

• for they had looked upon the Gentiles as excluded from the blessings of the gospel.

Instruction

Now the Lord was seeking to teach Peter the world-wide extent of the divine plan.

{AA 136.1} Many of the Gentiles had been interested listeners to the preaching of Peter and the other apostles, and many of the Greek Jews had become believers in Christ, but the conversion of Cornelius was to be the first of importance among the Gentiles.

{AA 136.2} The time had come for an entirely new phase of work to be entered upon by the church of Christ.

• The door that many of the Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles was now to be thrown open.
• And the Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to be regarded as on an equality with the Jewish disciples, without the necessity of observing the rite of circumcision.

{AA 136.3} How carefully the Lord worked to overcome the prejudice against the Gentiles that had been so firmly fixed in Peter’s mind by his Jewish training! By the vision of the sheet and its contents He sought…

1) to divest the apostle’s mind of this prejudice

2) to teach the important truth

• that in heaven there is no respect of persons;
• that Jew and Gentile are alike precious in God’s sight
• that through Christ the heathen may be made partakers of the blessings and privileges of the gospel.

Danish translation / Dansk oversættelse

Kornelius adlød med glæde

Kornelius adlød med glæde synet. Da engelen var forsvundet, “kaldte han på to af sine tjenestefolk og en gudfrygtig soldat af dem, som stadig var om ham; og han fortalte dem det hele og sendte dem så til Joppe.”

Engelen begav sig til Peter i Joppe

Efter mødet med Kornelius begav engelen sig til Peter i Joppe. På det tidspunkt var Peter ved at bede oppe på taget, og vi læser, at han “blev meget sulten og ville have noget at spise; og medens de lavede det til, kom der en henrykkelse over ham.” Det var ikke blot efter fysisk føde, at Peter hungrede. Mens han fra husets tag så ud over byen Joppe og det omkringliggende land, hungrede han efter sine landsmænds frelse. Det var hans inderlige ønske ud fra skriften at vise dem de profetier, der viste hen til Kristi lidelse og død.

Peter så et syn

I sit syn så Peter “Himmelen åben og noget dale ned; det lignede en stor dug, som ved de fire hjørner blev sænket ned på jorden; i den var der alle slags af jordens firføddede dyr og krybdyr og himmelens fugle. Og en røst lød til ham: “Stå op, Peter, slagt og spis!” Men Peter svarede: “På ingen måde, Herre! Jeg har jo aldrig spist noget vanhelligt eller urent.” Og røsten lød atter, for anden gang, til ham: “Hvad Gud har erklæret for rent, må du ikke holde for vanhelligt!” Dette skete tre gange, og straks efter blev dugen taget op til Himmelen igen.”

Tilrettevisning og instruktion

Dette syn virkede både dadlende og belærende på Peter. Det åbenbarede ham, hvad der var Guds hensigt, at hedningerne ved Kristi død skulle blive jødernes medarvinger til frelsens velsignelse. Indtil nu havde ingen af disciplene prædiket evangeliet for hedninger. Efter deres mening bestod den skillemur, som var nedbrudt ved Kristi død, stadig, og de havde koncentreret sig om arbejdet for jøderne. De havde nemlig betragtet hedningerne som udelukkede fra evangeliets velsignelse. Nu prøvede Herren at lære Peter, at den guddommelige plan omfattede hele verden.

En omvendelse blandt hedningerne

Mange af hedningerne havde været interesserede tilhørere til Peters og de andre apostles prædiken, og mange af de græsktalende jøder var kommet til at tro på Kristus, men Kornelius omvendelse skulle blive den første af større berydning blandt hedningerne.

En ny fase i arbejdet kan begynde

Nu var tiden inde til at en helt ny side af arbejdet (an entirely new phase) kunne påbegyndes af Kristi menighed. Den dør, som mange af de jødiske omvendte havde lukket i for hedningerne, skulle nu åbnes på vid gab. Og de hedninger, som tog imod evangeliet, skulle betragtes som ligestillede med de jødiske disciple, uden at det var nødvendigt at overholde omskærelsesceremonien.

Gud arbejder forsigtigt

Hvor Herren dog arbejdede omhyggeligt (working carefully) for at overvinde den fordom mod hedningerne, som på grund af Peters jødiske opdragelse var så indgroet hos ham. Ved synet af dugen og det, den indeholdt, søgte Gud at frigøre apostlens sind for denne fordom og at lære ham den betydningsfulde sandhed, at der i Himmelen ikke er persons anseelse; at jøder og hedninger er lige dyrebare for Gud; at ved Kristus kan hedninger få del i evangeliets velsignelse og forrettigheder.

Ellen G. White and “unconscious plagiarism”

While Ellen White’s early writings revealed the phenomenon of “unconscious plagiarism,” a more serious charge of plagiarism was made in the 1980s against the books she wrote as an adult. She was not the most skillful writer, and it’s easy to recognize the long quotes in her historical and medical studies, because they were written by people with better ears for language. After she became an established author, Mrs. White hired secretaries. A critic easily gained access to her manuscripts and found notes directing the secretaries to insert whole pages from other authors’ books.

Copyright laws were different in the 1890s than they were in the 1980s. Quoting from earlier books without identifying the author, title, or publisher was not only legal, but considered flattering to readers, since it implied that the readers had already read the earlier books. Now that most nineteenth-century books have crumbled away, the critic’s ability to find the sources of quotations Ellen White wrote out for herself shows an impressive knowledge of Victorian literature; it also shows what must be a deliberate ignorance of Victorian copyright laws.

The critic who went to the trouble of digging up books that would have been available to Ellen Harmon between 1840 and 1843 was Walter T. Rea. He poured out the disillusionment that drove him to this feat in a book called The White Lie, which is out of print.Reactions from loyal Adventists, in Review & Herald magazine and elsewhere, were too numerous to list. Mr. Rea’s research efforts were greatly admired, even by Adventists, but his hostile insistence on denouncing rather than understanding the phenomenon of “unconscious plagiarism” aroused hostility even from non-Adventists.

Ellen G. White and women

It is possible that feminist historians have neglected Mrs. White because some of her public statements were not as compatible with feminist movement goals as they might have been. I personally don’t have such a problem with these remarks. After raising several children, travelling and lecturing around the world, organizing churches, schools, hospitals, printing houses, even planning whole towns, and writing more than fifty books nearly all of which are still in print, Ellen White insisted that James White (whose one full-length book never sold well) was the ordained minister in the family, and women should not compete with men in seeking ordination as ministers. She had to leave the poor fellow something of his own.

Ellen White generally advised that, instead of competing with men for jobs, women should make themselves full partners in their husbands’ businesses. At that time family-owned small businesses were the norm, so this advice was more practical than it may seem today.

And, when asked whether she endorsed the idea of votes for women, or for poor or non-White men for that matter, Ellen White spoke for her generation — the least politically active generation in American history. She said that everybody would be better off to concentrate on carrying out “the Great Commission” of preaching Christianity all over the world, and not waste their time on politics.

Nevertheless, in the same articles where she advised women not to seek ordination as ministers, Ellen White advised ministers to choose wives who were qualified to pray and counsel with women in the congregation. She also stipulated that the Adventist church consider prospective pastors as couples, and pay them accordingly. She also required Adventist medical colleges to train and employ women doctors…at a time when most medical schools weren’t even willing to teach women to be competent nurses. And she wrote and lectured extensively on the need for women to ignore fashions and customs that compromised their health, wearing more comfortable clothes, walking and working outdoors, and bathing more often than some of her contemporaries considered decent.

Does Ellen G. White promote naturopathy and natural healing

It was as a poster child for natural healing that Ellen first became famous, and it was as an advocate of natural healing that she had most influence on the world. Again, her influence has been indirect. Ellen White never went back to school and never became a doctor. She attracted doctors who were interested in her case, organized them to build what were initially called “sanitariums” for people with any of the respiratory complaints that were lumped together as “consumption,” and encouraged them to study the benefits of what became known as the naturopathic or holistic approach to medicine.

The attraction and purpose of these “sanitariums” was to find out whether others could receive the same benefits Ellen Harmon had received by following, as closely as possible, her advice on health. Little Ellen’s ideas on health might have lacked credibility, being influenced by early advocates of a temperate diet like Sylvester Graham and Amos Bronson Alcott, but, again to her credit, Ellen White refused to lay down the law as some other religious “prophets” had done. She encouraged experimentation to find out what kind of diet and exercise regimen really did improve people’s immunity.

The doctors who worked with her, including the Kellogg brothers (who would probably disapprove of most Kellogg cereals sold today) and Jethro Kloss, knew what helped patients breathe deeply without coughing, a hundred years before anybody knew why. Subsequent research discovered a few minor errors in Jethro Kloss’s masterwork, Back to Eden, as well as Ellen White’s own Ministry of Healing, but these errors were in the explanations, not in the recommendations. Most people who went to the sanitariums almost certainly had diseases less fatal than tuberculosis…but most of them came back from the sanitariums healthy.

What made the sanitarium experience so helpful? The Ministry of Healing gave ten basic rules for natural health. Those rules will be explained in another article. Of the ten rules, one was so completely adopted by Americans of all belief groups that nobody needs to preach it today, at least not in its original form. One was poorly understood and has been played down even by Adventists, but recent research is showing its value. The other eight rules are things any respectable doctor will recommend today…after about a hundred years of debate between Adventists and other “health nuts” and the once completely allopathic American Medical Association.

Ellen White’s “health reform” worked for her and her family. Apart from one son who died very young (by drowning), the Whites lived long, healthy lives. After James White had died and the grandchildren had grown up, in fact, Ellen White became rather difficult for fellow Adventists to work with. The problem was not that she was weak, whiny, or forgetful (she wasn’t) or demanded special attention as a “prophet” (she didn’t), but that her energy put younger people, who still had family responsibilities, to shame. The church suggested that Mrs. White go out to organize Adventist church groups in Australia. The climate must have agreed with her. In her mid-nineties, she finally slowed down enough to be considered semi-retired for the last two years of her life.

If you have any Questions or commentaries about Ellen G. White please write to l.sorensen@post4.tele.dk

Source: Acts of the Apostles by Ellen G. White p. 131-134

NKJ Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles –  2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,  3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,  4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),  5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:  6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,  7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.  8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,  9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;  10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,  11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,  12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.  13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Lydda

Peter healed Aeneas

Visual imagination 1 In the course of his ministry the apostle Peter visited the believers at Lydda.

Biblical evidence

Acts 9:32   32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.

In imagination behold the scene

Location of Lydda and Joppe

{AA 131.1} In the course of his ministry the apostle Peter visited the believers at Lydda. Here he healed Aeneas, who for eight years had been confined to his bed with palsy.The apostle said…

• “Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole,arise, and make thy bed.”
• “He arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.”

Joppa

A woman, greatly beloved

Visual imagination 2 At Joppa, which was near Lydda, there lived a woman named Dorcas, whose good deeds had made her greatly beloved.

Biblical evidence

Acts 9:36-38  36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.  37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.  38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 131.2} At Joppa, which was near Lydda, there lived a woman named Dorcas, whose good deeds had made her greatly beloved. She was a worthy disciple of Jesus, and…

• Her life was filled with acts of kindness.
• She knew who needed comfortable clothing
• She knew who needed sympathy
• she freely ministered to the poor and the sorrowful.

Her skillful fingers were more active than her tongue.

{AA 131.3} “And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died.” The church in Joppa realized their loss, and hearing that Peter was at Lydda, the believers sent messengers to him,

• “desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

In view of the life of service that Dorcas had lived, it is little wonder that they mourned, that warm teardrops fell upon the inanimate clay.

Peter at Joppa

The apostle’s heart touched with sympathy

Visual imagination 3 The apostle’s heart was touched with sympathy as he beheld their sorrow.

Biblical evidence

Acts 9:39-41  39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.  40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.  41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 132.1} (1) The apostle’s heart was touched with sympathy as he beheld their sorrow. (2) Then, directing that the weeping friends be sent from the room, (3) he kneeled down and prayed fervently to God to restore Dorcas to life and health. (4) Turning to the body, he said,

• “Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”

Dorcas had been of great service to the church, and God saw fit to bring her back from the land of the enemy,

• That her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others,
• That by this manifestation of His power the cause of Christ might be strengthened.

{AA 132.2} It was while Peter was still at Joppa that he was called by God to take the gospel to Cornelius, in Caesarea.

Caesarea

Cornelius a Roman Centurion

Visual imagination 4 Cornelius was a Roman centurion.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:1-2  NKJ Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,  2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

In imagination behold the scene

Picture: Caesarea

{AA 132.3} Cornelius was a Roman centurion.He was a man of wealth and noble birth, and his position was one of trust and honor.A heathen by birth, training, and education, through contact with the Jews he had gained a knowledge of God, and he worshiped Him with a true heart, showing the sincerity of his faith by compassion to the poor.

• He was known far and near for his beneficence
• His righteous life made him of good repute among both Jews and Gentiles.

His influence was a blessing to all with whom he came in contact. The inspired record describes him as

• “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”

{AA 133.1} Believing in God as the Creator of heaven and earth, Cornelius…

• revered Him,
• acknowledged His authority
• sought His counsel in all the affairs of life.

He was faithful to Jehovah in his home life and in his official duties.

• He had erected the altar of God in his home, for he dared not attempt to carry out his plans or to bear his responsibilities without the help of God.

Knowledge of the Gospel

Visual imagination 5 Though Cornelius believed the prophecies and was looking for the Messiah to come, he had not a knowledge of the gospel as revealed in the life and death of Christ.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:34-43   34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all –  37 “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 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 “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.  40 “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,  41 “not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.  42 “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  43 “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 133.2} Though Cornelius believed the prophecies and was looking for the Messiah to come, he had not a knowledge of the gospel as revealed in the life and death of Christ.

• He was not a member of the Jewish church and would have been looked upon by the rabbis as a heathen and unclean.

But the same Holy Watcher who said of Abraham, “I know him,” knew Cornelius also, and sent a message direct from heaven to him.

An Angel gives Directions

Visual imagination 6 The angel appeared to Cornelius while he was at prayer.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:3-6   3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.  5 “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.  6 “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

In imagination behold the scene

{AA 133.3} The angel appeared to Cornelius while he was at prayer. As the centurion heard himself addressed by name, he was afraid, yet he knew that the messenger had come from God, and he said,

• “What is it, Lord?”

The angel answered,

• “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.”

Practical applications for today

God is acquainted wtih…

Lesson 1 Heaven is acquainted with the history and business of men in every station of life

Biblical evidence

“he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside”

Practical application

{AA 133.4} The explicitness of these directions, in which was named even the occupation of the man with whom Peter was staying, shows that God is…

• that Heaven is acquainted with the history and business of men in every station of life.
• that God is familiar with the experience and work of the humble laborer
• that God is familiar with the experience and work of the king upon his throne.

God chooses human beings…

Lessen 2 God gave evidence of His regard for the gospel ministry and for His organized church.

Biblical evidence

Acts 10:5  5 “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.

Practical application for today

{AA 134.1} “Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon.” Thus God gave evidence of His regard for the gospel ministry and for His organized church. The angel was not commissioned to tell Cornelius the story of the cross.

• A man subject, even as the centurion himself, to human frailties and temptations, was to be the one to tell him of the crucified and risen Saviour.

{AA 134.2} As His representatives among men, God does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save.

• Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity.A divine-human Saviour was needed to bring salvation to the world.
• And to men and women has been committed the sacred trust of making known “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8.

{AA 134.3} In His wisdom the Lord brings those who are seeking for truth into touch with fellow beings who know the truth.

• It is the plan of Heaven that those who have received light shall impart it to those in darkness.

Humanity, drawing its efficiency from the great Source of wisdom, is made the instrumentality, the working agency, through which the gospel exercises its transforming power on mind and heart.

Danish translation / Dansk oversættelse

Peter besøger de troende i Lydda

Under sin tjenestegerning besøgte apostlen Peter de troende i Lydda. Her helbredte han Æneas, som i otte år havde været lam og lænket til sin seng. “Æneas! Jesus Kristus helbreder dig,” sagde apostlen, “stå op og red selv din seng.” “Da stod han straks op. Og alle beboerne i Lydda og på Saronsletten så ham, og de omvendte sig til Herren. ”

En højt elsket kvinde

I Joppe, som ligger i nærheden af Lydda, boede der en kvinde ved navn Tabita, som var højt elsket på grund af sine gode gerninger. Hun var en værdig Kristi discipel, hendes tilværelse bestod af barmhjertighedsgerninger. Hun vidste, hvem der trængte til gode klæder, og hvem der trængte til venlighed, og hun gav gavmildt til de fattige og bedrøvede. Hendes flinke fingre havde mere travlt end hendes tunge.

“Hun blev syg og døde”

“Men det skete i de dage, at hun blev syg og døde.” Menigheden i Joppe forstod, hvor meget de havde mistet; og da de hørte, at Peter var i Lydda, sendte de troende bud til ham “og bad ham: “Kom uden tøven over til os.” Peter brød så op og fulgte med dem. Og da han kom derhen, førte de ham op i salen ovenpå, og alle enkerne stod grædende omkring ham og viste ham alle de kjortler og kapper, som Tabita havde syet, mens hun endnu var hos dem.” Når man tænker på det tjenende liv, som Tabita havde ført, kan man ikke undres over, at der faldt hede tårer.

Apostlens hjerte bevæget af sympati

Apostlens hjerte blev dybt bevæget af medlidenhed, da han så deres sorg. Så bød han, at de grædende venner skulle forlade stuen, knælede ned og bad inderligt til Gud om at give Tabita livet og sundheden tilbage. “Så vendte han sig til det døde legeme og sagde: “Tabita, stå op!” Og hun slog øjnene op, og da hun så Peter, satte hun sig op.” Tabita havde været en stor hjælp for menigheden, og Gud fandt det rigtigt at hente hende hjem fra fjendens land, for at hendes flid og dygtighed stadig kunne være til velsignelse for andre, og også for at han ved denne åbenbaring af sin magt kunne styrke Kristi sag.

I Joppe fik Peter et kald

Det var, mens Peter stadig var i Joppe, at han fik kald fra Gud til at bringe evangeliet til Kornelius i Kæsarea.

Kornelius var en romersk høvedsmand

Kornelius var en romersk høvedsmand. Han var en rig og fornem mand, og han var både agtet og æret. Skønt han var hedning af fødsel, opdragelse og uddannelse, havde han ved at komme i kontakt med jøderne erhvervet sig kundskab om Gud, og han tilbad ham af et oprigtigt hjerte og viste, hvor ærlig hans tro var, ved at have medynk med de fattige. Han var vidt og bredt kendt for sin velgørenhed, og hans retfærdige liv skaffede ham et godt rygte både blandt jøder og hedninger. Hans indflydelse var en velsignelse for alle, som han kom i berøring med. Beretningen beskriver ham som “en from mand, som frygtede Gud tillige med hele sit hus og gav folket mange almisser og stadig bad til Gud.”

Kornelius troede på Gud som skaberen

Kornelius troede på Gud som himmelens og jordens skaber, han ærede ham, erkendte hans magt og søgte råd hos ham under alle livets forhold. I sit hjemliv og under sine offentlige pligter var han tro mod Jehova. I sit hjem havde han rejst et alter for Gud, for han vovede ikke at forsøge at udføre sine planer eller bære sit ansvar uden Guds hjælp.

Han kendte ikke til evangeliet om Jesu liv og død

Skønt Kornelius troede på profetierne og ventede Messias komme, kendte han ikke noget til evangeliet, sådan som det er åbenbaret ved Kristi liv og død. Han var ikke medlem af den jødiske menighed og ville af rabbinerne være blevet betragtet som hedning og uren. Men den samme hellige vægter, der om Abraham sagde: “Jeg kender ham!” kendte også Kornelius og sendte ham et direkte budskab fra Himmelen.

En engel viser sig for Kornelius

Engelen viste sig for Kornelius, mens han bad. Da høvedsmanden hørte sit navn blive nævnet, blev han bange, skønt han vidste, at sendebudet var kommet fra Gud, og han sagde: “Hvad er det, Herre?” Engelen svarede: “Dine bønner og dine almisser er steget op til Gud som et ihukommelsesoffer. Send nu nogle mænd til Joppe og lad dem hente en mand, som hedder Simon med tilnavn Peter. Han er gæst hos en garver ved navn Simon, der har sit hus ved havet.”

Himlen kender til menneskets beskæftigelse

Disse nøjagtige forklaringer, hvori der endog nævnes den mands livsstilling, hos hvem Peter boede, viser os, at Himmelen har kendskab til menneskers historie og beskæftigelse indenfor alle livsstillinger. Gud kender nøje den bekendende arbejders liv og gerning såvel som kongen på sin trone.

Gud viser agtelse for evangeliets tjeneste

“Send nu nogle mænd til Joppe og lad dem hente en mand, der hedder Peter.” Således bevidnede Gud sin agtelse for evangeliets tjenere og for sin oprettede menighed. Det var ikke engelens opgave at fortælle Kornelius korsets historie. Et menneske, der på samme måde som høvedsmanden selv var offer for menneskelige skrøbeligheder og fristelser, skulle være den, der fortalte ham om den korsfæstede og opstandne Frelser.

Gud vælger mennesker som Hans repræsentanter

Gud vælger ikke engle, der aldrig har syndet, til at være hans repræsentanter blandt mennesker, men mennesker, mænd med samme slags lidenskaber som dem, de søger at frelse. Kristus blev menneske, for at han kunne nå ind til mennesker. Der behøvedes en guddommelig-menneskelig Frelser for at bringe frelsen til verden. Og mænd og kvinder har fået betroet den hellige tjeneste at lade andre få del i “Kristi uransagelige rigdom.” Ef. 3,8.

Himlens plan

I sin visdom bringer Herren dem, der søger sandheden, i berøring med medmennesker, der kender sandheden. Det er Himmelens vilje, at de, som har modtaget lyset, skal give det videre til dem i mørket. Menneskeslægten, der får sin kraft fra den store visdommens kilde, bliver det redskab, den virksomhed, hvorigennem evangeliet udøver sin forvandlende magt over sjæl og sind.