Acts 10:23-48 Repentance of the Gentiles
10:23-34 Peter and Cornelius meet each other
10:35-43 Peter Preaches the Gospel
10:36-48 Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit
Acts 10:23-34 Peter and Cornelius meet each other
It is the beginning of the expansion of the Church and the Kingdom of God. God has elected nations have been confirmed by this passage. Peter left for Caesarea with few men of Joppa. The following day they arrived. The first meeting between Peter and Cornelius was emotional. Luke recorded the event for all of us as an example. It teaches us how to treat each other and react to one another as disciples of Christ (Acts 10:25-26). Peter explains the meaning of the clean and unclean animals. All are pure before God either they are Jew or Gentiles. Peoples are divided based on caste, class, and clan. They have built up a pseudo hierarchy or rank based on food habits, profession, and grading system. All these have come into effect and affect us from our birth to death. But one thing is sure that he is the God of all and God of all creations (Acts 10:29). Peter and Cornelius discussed the purpose of their meeting. As per the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Cornelius prepared people to receive the gospel.
Acts 10:35-43 Peter Preaches the Gospel
Peter understood that God shows no favoritism. On two conditions, God accepts men from every nation, first the fear of God, and second, he does what is right. Jesus is the Lord and of All and Peace to All. Jesus was doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him (Acts 10:34-38). He was crucified and died, raised by God on the Third Day. He was not seen by All but by the Chosen of God. Jesus is the Judge of all, whether alive or dead. Forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ for everyone who believes in Him (Acts 10:39-43). We are all called by God to preach and present the gospel. Our presentation is on the pure and penetrating words of God. Forgiveness of Sins is available only through Christ. Every believer is a preacher and has given this task as LIFE TASK besides whatever may be their livelihood. We called to witness verbally and non-verbally.
Acts 10:36-48 Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit
Luke narrates that Peter preached the Words, the Holy Spirit came upon the gentiles who had gathered at the house of Cornelius. God breaks the traditional understanding and procedures when he wants to bring revival and changes in society and any system. The circumcised believers were astonished by the outpouring of the Spirit of God. They heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. The Church thought and had an order of doing things. First believing, then baptism, and then tarrying for the Holy Spirit, but here the Lord had altered and changed their system by anointing the hearers of the Words of Peter. Because he had preached the words of Christ and about Christ.
Discussions:
1. How to respect, and how not to treat each other?
2. How to explain the personhood of Christ rightly about birth, growth, death, and resurrection?
3. How to deal with the tradition and the works of the Holy Spirit?
(For further studies on the Acts of the Apostles, kindly refer to the series on this site)
