Acts 10-12
The Sermon Series is called “Doing Life Together” and is based upon the Book of Acts. This week’s texts include chapters 10-12 of Acts. One of the most interesting events within those three chapters is in Chapter 10 with the interaction between Cornelius, a Roman centurion who also worshipped the God of Israel, and Peter, the apostle.
Even though Cornelius worshipped God, he was still a Gentile. And to even enter the home of a Gentile made a Jew unclean.
A similar sentiment was held by Gentiles concerning Jews. They despised Jews as weird traditionalists and believed that they were evil plotters who worshipped pigs (because if you will not eat pork, you must be worshipping the pigs.)
But as a result of a series of supernatural experiences by both Cornelius and Peter, you find Peter entering the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Peter did not hesitate. Why? Because Peter had a series of visions before he came to Cornelius’ house, and the Spirit had shown him that “nothing that God deems clean” can be considered impure or unclean, including other peoples…including Gentiles. Peter pondered that in his heart and came to a new understanding. That new understanding is reflected in a sermon that he delivers in Cornelius’ home.
God had given Peter an enlarged understanding that the significance of God’s resurrection does not consist in merely knowing or reciting the details about the empty tomb. The resurrection provides evidence of God’s commitment to all humanity.
One author writes, “The whole sermon proceeds from what is a new confession by Peter: “God shows no partiality.” Peter, now, talked about Jesus from the perspective of one who has only just recently come to realize God’s embrace of all peoples—even Roman soldiers—in a tangible way. He realized God was the agent behind all aspects of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. God was active through Jesus’ ministry, and the Jesus story attests God as welcoming of all and refusing to make distinctions between peoples. Borrowing from Luke 2:29-32: God, through Jesus Christ, has prepared salvation “in the presence of all peoples.”
Before this, a Gentile could certainly trust in Jesus as Messiah and receive the forgiveness of sins. But in doing so, that person would still have to become a Jew, observe Jewish ritual law, wear certain clothing, eat only kosher foods, and observe the ceremonial laws. Peter’s sermon dispatched with that thorny, theological issue.
Peter’s sermon concludes with him saying, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their (Gentiles) being baptized with water.” It was an important moment in the life of the early Church. For the Jewish Jesus-followers, it revealed that God wants to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
From a historical perspective, this seismic shift concerning the scope of the Gospel’s reach will open the way for Paul’s world-changing ministry which takes up most of the rest of the book of Acts. It is what Jesus prophesized in Acts, Chapter one, when he predicted that the gospel message would be preached to the ends of the earth. Thanks be to God.
Bob Merriman
Commissioned Lay Pastor
Lord, we thank you the gift of Scripture that tells the greatest story ever told. In that story you offer the promise of salvation to whoever believes in Jesus and makes Him the Lord of our lives. Whoever believes! Jew or Gentile; slave or free; white or black or brown; rich or poor—whoever believes. You love us all and desire to be in relationship with us all. Help us to never take for granted or withhold from sharing about the Grace and Mercy that you offer to us all…even those who do not look like us, sound like us, or think like us.
In Your Name we pray, Amen!
