DAY #197: Acts 10:34-48

Peter’s words—God doesn’t show partiality, every nation, he accepts those who fear him—express Peter’s clear understanding of the universal application of Christ’s work on the cross and the subsequent universal offer of the gospel.

Assuming that his audience had already heard much of the information about the coming of Christ and the birth of the church, Peter proceeded to tell the story of Christ’s life and death in detail. Peter started where Mark’s Gospel does—with John the Baptist. He mentioned Christ’s ministry, including the good works and healing Jesus had done. The miracles and the healings were a demonstration of Jesus’ power over the Devil as well as the fact that God was with him and in fact had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.

In short order, Peter stated the fact that he and others had been witnesses to the ministry of Jesus, including his crucifixion and his resurrection. The fact that they had eaten and had drunk with him should squelch any rumor that Jesus had appeared in some “phantom” form. This was solid, decisive proof of Christ’s resurrection and was confirmed by one who had been there, had seen it, and had participated fully in it.

Christ came to judge. He is the one before whom ultimately all people (Jew and Gentile alike) will stand and give account. Christ came to forgive sin. Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Savior who would offer forgiveness of sins to everyone who believes in him (John 3:16).

Peter’s sermon was interrupted by the Holy Spirit, who fell upon all who had heard the message. Unlike the Samaritan believers who had waited between belief and the baptism of the Spirit, which had come by the laying on of apostolic hands, the Spirit fell on these Gentile believers, just as he had at the first Pentecost—no laying on of hands, no praying for the Spirit to fall; God just did it!

This was a powerful testimony to Peter and his Jewish contingency of the necessity of fully accepting Gentile believers into the body of Christ. Whatever lingering questions Peter may have had about his vision of a sheet and animals or about Cornelius’s visit by an angelic messenger would have been put aside in light of this event.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Preach the Gospel. Share the good news. Over and over, this is the message from the book of Acts. We need to train and teach the people of COV to do just that. Evangelism exposion. Each one reach one. We need to help people prepare their testimonies. We must train people about key questions to ask of others regarding faith. We must teach the basic principles of salvation.

Lord, we will do our part, but I need you to do Your part. I ask You to give our people a boldness to share their faith. I ask You to raise up men and women who will desire to be trained and equipped to share their faith. I ask You to pour out Your Holy Spirit upon our church and do a fresh work each week.

(Jesus) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)