April 05, 2023 | Be On Mission
Peter Offers the Gospel of Christ
Scripture: Acts 10:23b-48 (NIV)
23 The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how 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 cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He 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. 42 He 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. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Devotional
In the Great Commission, Jesus had told his disciples:
“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
“You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
All nations. All the world. The ends of the earth. In today’s Scripture, Peter finally gets it. The gospel of Jesus Christ is even for Gentiles. Even for Roman centurions. Even for people in Caesarea.
The city of Caesarea was a modern Roman port city in Israel on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea. It was built only a few years before the birth of Jesus and became the political and commercial capital of the Roman province of Judea. Everything about it represented the best in Greek culture, an offense to people like Peter who grew up in northern Israel where Pharisees taught that purity meant keeping a distance from modern enticements.
Caesarea had an aqueduct for fresh water, a Roman temple for emperor and idol worship, an amphitheater for entertainment, and a 10,000+ seat hippodrome for Olympic-like games and chariot races. Some say that Caesarea was a Rome away from Rome. It was forty miles southwest of Nazareth (where Jesus grew up) and fifty miles northwest of Jerusalem (where He was crucified). But Caesarea was really worlds apart from other ancient Jewish towns and cities. When Peter entered Caesarea he might have said, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Israel anymore.”
Yet there he was, a thoroughly Jewish man in a thoroughly Gentile city meeting with a very Roman centurion. His response: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean… I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (v. 28, 34-35). His glass barrier separating Jews from Gentiles had been shattered.
Peter then shared the story of Jesus with his Gentile audience, who listened intently, received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, praised God and got baptized, right in the presence of Peter’s circumcised Jewish companions. Glory be to God!
Spend some time praying for your city. There may be things, buildings or practices that take place in your community that seem worlds apart from God. There may be people who seem to be far from God. There may be beliefs that are anti-God. How is the Lord calling you to pray for your city?
Prayer
Dear Lord, use me as a witness to others, testifying to what You do in my life every day. Today, I will do my best to fear You and do right in Your name. I know I cannot do it on my own, so I ask You to be with me today and every day. Thank you for Your radical forgiveness and unconditional love. Just as Peter did not hesitate to answer the call of a fellow believer, I pray for boldness and compassion to pursue what You have in store for me. Amen.
Poem
Howdy, Neighbor
Howdy, Neighbor
Come on in
Let's sit and chat awhile
It matters not
Your shade of skin
I like you for your style
I want to hear
What you would say
Please share what you are thinking
I'm sure we have
Some common hopes
With which we could be linking
My house is clean
There's scones and tea
What comfort are you needing?
What are your views?
What troubles you?
What good book are you reading?
I’ll share with you
My finest Bread
If Good News you are seeking
God sent you here
With vision clear
God’s hand to you is reaching
I hope you feel
A safety here
Our thoughts we can explore
If you've a need
Please give a call
I have an open door
