In Acts 10, Peter processes the teaching “What God has made clean, you must not call profane” (v. 15), and then preaches it to the people who have gathered. His sermon begins with the testimony that he now sees that “God shows no partiality, but in every people [or nation, or group] anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (v. 35-36). Imagine how good this Good News is to those who have historically not been included as part of the chosen people. It means they are no longer outsiders!
One of the great things about Acts is that things happen when Peter preaches! He has not even finished his sermon before the Holy Spirit moves through (“falls on”) everyone gathered and listening. Holy, holy, holy!
Note the reaction of the people from Joppa. Luke calls them “circumcised believers” – they are devout Jews who follow Jesus. With their own eyes they see the Holy Spirit “falling on” non-Jewish people. The Spirit that God unleashed on the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2) is now working again here in the house of Cornelius, a Gentile.
This message is excerpted from the Bible study “Faithfulness” by Denise Rector in the March/April/May 2025 Gather magazine. Today is the Third Sunday after Pentecost. Today we commemorate Peter and Paul, Apostles.
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