If you read the whole of chapter 10 of Acts, you’ll learn that what Cornelius wanted was a relationship with God. The thing that God told him that Peter was going to tell him to do, was how to receive salvation.

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

Salvation was the vision. By receiving Christ Cornelius and His household became newborns (birth), and their old selves passed away (death). The instruction for them to reach out to Peter who would tell them how to receive salvation, came to Cornelius in a vision, while he was praying. He then got his breakthrough when he and his household got saved and were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Their salvation and baptism in the Holy Spirit speaks volumes.

First, Salvation is of the Jews first and then the Gentiles. Gentiles are non-Jews. This is another classic example of those who were last receiving the same thing as those who were first. The Gentiles, Cornelius’ household, received the same salvation that the Jews received. Not only this, they were also baptized with the same Holy Spirit that the Jews received on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The last received as much as the first. The Gentiles received the same blessings as the Jews.

Furthermore, people have wondered why Cornelius’ household received the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water. That in itself is another prime example of the last being first and the first being last. Usually, the process is that a person receives salvation, then gets baptized in water, and then the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Cornelius’ case, he and his household got baptized in the Holy Spirit before they got baptized in water. The last (Holy Spirit baptism) became first, and the first (Water Baptism) became last.

I have an opinion why they got baptized in the Holy Spirit before they got baptized in water. This is not to suggest that this is the absolute reason why this took place or that this is the only correct answer to why they received the experience in the way they did. This is just an opinion. My opinion is derived from Peter’s response to their baptism in the Holy Spirit:

… Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days (Acts 10:46-48 NKJV).

After the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit the Bible says “then Peter answered.” When there is a “then” in a phrase we can get a better feel of what the phrase is saying when we find out what happened before “then.” What happened was the Gentiles being baptized with the Holy Spirit; then Peter responded to their experience. His response was his command for them to be baptized in water since the Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit just as the Jews did. This suggests that had they not received the Holy Spirit, Peter would not have baptized them in water.

God had to show Peter three visions in order to prepare him to receive and go to Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:9-23). Apparently despite the visions and God’s move on the lives of the Gentiles, Peter still had a problem being comfortable around Gentiles. This is evident when he was confronted by Paul some time later about this issue (Galatians 2:11-14). I believe God had to baptize Cornelius’ household with the Holy Spirit in order to let Peter know that they could be baptized in water too. Had that not happened, I believe Peter would have just preached to them and left.

The children of Israel also exemplify people who underwent a 911 situation. Like I said earlier, 911 is having a vision, praying for it to come to pass (to come and to pass), dying to yourself to birth the vision and get your breakthrough, which usually happens at the last minute. The Promised Land was the vision. Moses had to intercede through prayer for the Israelites to be birthed into the vision. Meanwhile for forty years most of them who were rebellious had to die off in order for the younger ones to get in, or be birthed into the vision. And as revealed in Deuteronomy 1:1-3, after 40 years passed and all the rebels had died off, on the last part of the 40th year; the first day of the 11th month to be precise, they were 11 days from their breakthrough.

The same concept of 911 is seen when a woman is about to deliver a baby. We are like women trying to deliver babies. In our everyday language we say things like “that’s my baby.” Meaning that the baby is my project, my dream, my vision, my plan, my desire and so forth. The baby is like the vision which is first conceived by a woman. Most, if not all women pray to conceive and pray for strength to deliver. They pray for their babies to come into their womb, and pass out through their birth canal so that they could be birthed when it’s time for them to be.

While she is carrying the baby the woman has to die to herself to enable the baby to be birthed. She has to sacrifice habits and her normal mode of operation to ensure that the baby is birthed with no complications. Some, if not all women, throw up. Similarly, we all have to die to ourselves and make some sacrifices to birth the dreams, visions, ideas, desires or babies that God has placed in the wombs of our hearts. Sometimes we have to throw up some people and habits out of our lives so that we can birth our babies.

Joshua and Caleb could have made it into the Promised Land in 11 days, forty years before they did, but because of the people they were affiliated with they couldn’t do so. It makes me wonder what you and I could have accomplished had we thrown up or let go of people that we needed to let go from our lives. Perhaps you could have been in the pinnacle of your career now. Perhaps you could have been in the thick of your destiny now. Maybe you could have been married with children now. Perhaps your career and marriage would be much better now had you let go of certain people from your past, earlier. Whichever case we have to die to ourselves and make sacrifices to birth our visions.

And the vision or baby is usually birthed at the last minute. Ask the average mother and she’ll agree that the baby is birthed at the last of the birth process. This takes place after the baby breaks through the birth canal. Interestingly, the point where the baby’s head is first seen is called crowning. Obviously this has to do with the crown of the baby’s head. Notwithstanding can you envision that the ordeal, 911, or emergency you are going through is because God is trying to crown you? God is trying to manifest your royalty in your life. God is trying to lavish you with favor. We have been made unto God, kings and priests (Revelations 1:6).

Here is another glimpse of what 911 looks like for us as it pertains to God’s purposes:

So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (Luke 15:3-7 NLT)

I know that multiplying 3 and 33 will give you 99, but the emphasis is on 911. So when you multiply 9 and 11 you get what? Yep, 99. The lost sheep usually takes the cake, makes the headlines, and gets the award. Rightfully so; because there is more joy in heaven over a sinner who repents and returns to God, than 99 others who are righteous, do not need to repent, and not strayed away.

Did you notice where the shepherd left the 99? He left them in the wilderness. Sometimes 911 people are individuals who are left in a wilderness situation. Such situations are like emergencies. This is the case because being in the wilderness is like being in a dry place. It feels like God is not present, which was the case because he went to rescue the lost sheep. Sometimes we feel that we messed up and God has left us out of anger. To the contrary. Sometimes being a 911 person in a 911 situation (the wilderness) is God’s way of complementing us. He is proud of us that despite our wildernesses, we haven’t strayed away. We remain committed to His cause. We still trust Him, don’t need to repent or have our minds changed or renewed because our minds are fixed on Him. And despite our circumstances He keeps us in perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3)

Therefore we can view a 911 situation as an emergency (emerge-and-see)—an opportunity for us to emerge and see God move in our lives. This is where God shows up and resolves your situation at the last minute. This is when you birth your baby or vision in the last hour.