Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 10
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 10
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Here is another story of how the Good News spread to the Gentiles, this time through the apostle Peter. The angel of the Lord and the Spirit arranged a meeting between Peter and Cornelius, and the members of his household. As Peter was sharing the Good News of Jesus with Cornelius’ household, the Holy Spirit fell on the members of his household in the form of speaking in tongues and praising God.
When Peter saw they were coming to Christ, he ordered that they be baptized. So here we see the order of the reception of the Spirit happened first, and then baptism second. This and many other stories in Acts show us that there is no exact order in which people experience salvation, belief in Christ, and reception of the Holy Spirit.
We also see that many were baptized at once. We see that all of Cornelius’ household were baptized, not just him alone. This culture was not as individualistic as our Western culture. Faith was experienced more as a part of a household. Cornelius was a man of influence and his conversion meant the conversion of all or at least many in his household.
What is most clear is that God is orchestrating all these events, not men. As we allow God to work and we get out of the way, God can speak and act powerfully and bring many to faith. As Peter let go of being in control, we see God’s true desire for all people to come to faith, whereas if Peter would allowed his preconception of how God was supposed to act, he would have not seen or been a part of Cornelius’ conversion, which led to the spread of the Gospel.
In what ways do you need to let go of your preconceptions or formulas for how God is supposed to act?
Prayer: Jesus we pray that you would give us the boldness of Peter to go to where you have called us to go. Make us aware of the Cornelius’ in our lives so that Gospel might go where it has never gone before. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Here is another story of how the Good News spread to the Gentiles, this time through the apostle Peter. The angel of the Lord and the Spirit arranged a meeting between Peter and Cornelius, and the members of his household. As Peter was sharing the Good News of Jesus with Cornelius’ household, the Holy Spirit fell on the members of his household in the form of speaking in tongues and praising God.
When Peter saw they were coming to Christ, he ordered that they be baptized. So here we see the order of the reception of the Spirit happened first, and then baptism second. This and many other stories in Acts show us that there is no exact order in which people experience salvation, belief in Christ, and reception of the Holy Spirit.
We also see that many were baptized at once. We see that all of Cornelius’ household were baptized, not just him alone. This culture was not as individualistic as our Western culture. Faith was experienced more as a part of a household. Cornelius was a man of influence and his conversion meant the conversion of all or at least many in his household.
What is most clear is that God is orchestrating all these events, not men. As we allow God to work and we get out of the way, God can speak and act powerfully and bring many to faith. As Peter let go of being in control, we see God’s true desire for all people to come to faith, whereas if Peter would allowed his preconception of how God was supposed to act, he would have not seen or been a part of Cornelius’ conversion, which led to the spread of the Gospel.
In what ways do you need to let go of your preconceptions or formulas for how God is supposed to act?
Prayer: Jesus we pray that you would give us the boldness of Peter to go to where you have called us to go. Make us aware of the Cornelius’ in our lives so that Gospel might go where it has never gone before. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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