Acts 10: 34-43
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached–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.
“We are witnesses of everything that he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 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. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed 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.”
A Thought
God had given Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment, a vision of an angel of God who came and spoke to him with a message to send for Peter to come to his house. At the time the men that had been sent to Peter approached the city, Peter fell in a trance. Peter saw heaven open wide with the appearance of a large sheet with all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles of the earth and birds of the air and was told three times to kill and eat. Peter refused to eat because these were considered impure or unclean. The voice spoke before the sheet was removed and told Peter not to call anything impure that God had made clean. Then the Spirit told Peter the three men were looking for him and that he was to go with them. After arriving at the house of Cornelius, Peter gave witness to the killing of Jesus and that God had rose Jesus from the dead. He then spoke what was revealed to him through the vision that everyone who believes in Jesus will receive the forgiveness of sins, whether Jew or Gentile without favoritism.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for the many witnesses that still proclaim the truth of our forgiveness of sin made possible to all who will believe Jesus and to do what is right. What we have received from you, we desire to give witness to others that we in faith may bear fruit for your kingdom. We desire to bring glory and honor to your name. We ask for your Spirit to direct our path in Jesus’ name, amen.
