Acts 10:34-43

Gentiles Hear the Good News

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ 

The earlier part of chapter 10 has set the scene for today’s passage. Cornelius, a Roman military officer, is “devout man who feared God”, that is a Gentile who is attracted to the Jewish faith but has not undergone circumcision as a convert. He is also noted for his good works. In a vision he is instructed to send for Peter. Meanwhile, Peter has a vision in which he is told not to regard as unclean anything God has declared clean. He therefore overcomes his prejudice against ‘unclean’ Gentiles and goes to Cornelius’ house, where he finds a company gathered to hear what he has to say.

Peter’s speech is essentially a summary of the story of Jesus as told in Luke’s Gospel. It is the first sermon in Acts addressed to a Gentile audience. It marks also, in a sense, the conversion of Peter himself as he comes to realize that God does not judge people by their religious labels but by their reverence for God and their behavior towards others.

Blessings as we remember that Jesus is “Lord of All”, not only Christians!  Be safe!  Be sell!  He is Risen Indeed!

 To Ponder:

• Is there a contradiction between verse 35 and verse 43? If so, how would you resolve it?
• What does it mean to affirm that “Jesus is Lord of all” (v. 36)?
• How do we act as witnesses to Jesus today (v. 41)?