Listen to the audio of today’s Reflection:
https://soundcloud.com/hapearce/reflection-for-july-14-2023
Acts 10:27b-48
Peter at Cornelius’ House
Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts from every nation people who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how 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.
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He 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. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Yesterday we read and thought about the first part of this story. A virtuous and devout Roman centurion named Cornelius is visited by an angelic messenger with instructions to send for Simon Peter. The next day, Simon Peter is sent a corresponding vision – one that tells him God is removing the prohibition against eating gentile foods formerly considered “unclean.” Simon Peter is also told to accept Cornelius’ invitation to come to his home and tell him and his family the story of Jesus.
Our reading for today is the account of that visit. Cornelius has gathered his family and friends to listen to Peter. And what Peter says seems at least as important as the fact that the disciples are now allowed to eat with gentiles. In fact, it’s probably an outline of what we’re meant to be telling those outside the faith when we have the chance to tell them what we believe.
Simon Peter starts by relating the message he’s received in his vision – that the followers of Jesus are free to associate with all people – Jews and gentiles alike. Cornelius, in turn, tells Simon how an angel had directed him to send for Peter.
Then Peter speaks, and starts by saying that the events unfolding around them make it plain that “God does not show favoritism, but accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”
Then Peter briefly tells Cornelius and his household the story of Jesus. He says that in Jesus, God was speaking into the world, proclaiming ‘good news of peace.’ Then Peter goes on to say that the life and ministry of Jesus demonstrated the power of God through the Holy Spirit to perform acts of healing and to free those who were under the power of evil. Peter says that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that he and the other disciples were witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection.
The whole story is told as an account of God’s action. Peter says it was God who sent and anointed Jesus as messenger of his peace and Lord of all. It was God who raised Jesus from the dead and “caused him to be seen.” It was God who chose the disciples as witnesses – people who had known Jesus well, and who had eaten and drunk with him after the resurrection. And in doing all these things, God was fulfilling prophesies spoken into the world through the prophets centuries before.
Peter also says that the apostles had been commissioned to preach to the world that the risen Jesus is the key to forgiveness of sins for those who believe in him.
By the time Peter finishes his brief account of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, the text says that the Holy Spirit has come over Cornelius and his household. They begin to manifest the kind of signs of its presence that appeared on Pentecost – like the ability to speak other languages. Recognizing the signs of the presence of the Spirit, Peter called for them to be baptized in Jesus’ name.
Like several other stories in the Acts of the Apostles, this reading tells us about God’s intentions for the church as a mission organization. Its central task is to make known the good news about what God has done in Jesus. And our reading also gives us a striking model of how to tell the good news briefly but powerfully, trusting that when people hear that good news, the Holy Spirit will open up their hearts and minds to receive it and to embrace it. Then they too can become conduits of that news in the world at large.
Let’s pray. Lord, empower us by your Spirit to become effective witnesses to your good news. Help us to befriend others as Jesus did, and to use the relationships we establish as opportunities to make your love known all around us. Amen.
Have a great weekend, and worship God joyfully on Sunday!
Henry
(The other listed readings for today are Psalms 79 and 80; I Samuel 17 17-30; and Mark 1:1-13. Our readings come from the NIV Bible, as posted on Biblica.com, the website of the International Bible Society.)
Recent Comments