Daily Bible Reading Acts 10 and 11
Acts 10
Right away a Gentile (non Jewish heritage) is converted. The passage says Cornelius is a man who prays and gives money to the poor. Two things close to God’s heart. Sometimes we can forget how much helping those who are in need touches God’s heart. There were a whole sect of “God fearing” Gentiles who were not in the blood line of the chosen people of God the Jews, but who were in the faith line/heart line as they embraced and followed the Jewish God.
Interesting how God was preparing hearts for Peter to touch before he even told Peter it was going to happen. This story is another great reminder that God is at work before we even hear His call.
Visions
It is interesting that both Cornelius and Peter had a “vision” and knew it was God speaking to them. It may have at the time seemed like a dream, but it was so powerful and real that both parties knew it was the Lord who had spoken to them. Especially since the events that followed authenticated their experience.
Peter at Cornelius’s (the Gentiles) house
At this point in history the Jews kept themselves separate from those who were not from the Jewish nation. They may overlap in daily living but for Cornelius to invite Peter to his house and for Peter to say yes were mini-miracles in and of themselves.
In this moment at Cornelius’s house Peter’s life changes, his eyes like the Apostle Paul’s have been opened through God speaking to him by His Spirit to see God’s wonderful plan.
34Then 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.
Peter then preaches the good news of Jesus to these people that were once far off. His gospel message includes:
-Jesus has unique power and authority
-Was dead
-Was resurrected
-He is the one to judge the living (the quick) and the dead
-He gives forgiveness of sins to everyone who believes
The Holy Spirit “came on” those who were there. They ended up speaking in tongues and praising God. I discussed tongues earlier, but isn’t it cool that part of the Spirit’s work is it leads us humans to PRAISE GOD… If the Spirit of God is in you or has “come on” you, you will worship.
Acts 11
Peter catches some heat from the other apostles because his actions don’t coincide with what they normally do or experience! Peter then explains the whole story and they realize that God is at work, to their credit they responded joyfully… THIS IS A HUGE SHIFT IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH, but the people trusted God and were willing to change as God led… A good word.
18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
And God honored their willingness by working powerfully in their midst.
21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
