DAY SEVENTY-FIVE: 

Good News for All 

Acts 10:1-11:18 

Yesterday we saw Philip meet an Ethiopian official on his way back home from Jerusalem. Philip shared the Gospel message and the man believed and asked if he could be baptized. Philip did just that and the first Gentile convert embarked on a life of faith! Today we read of another example of God winning the nations of the earth to Himself.

"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God." A centurion was an army officer who led a "century," a unit of 100 men. A cohort was ten centuries, or 1,000 men. As the leader closest to the troops, centurions were the backbone of the army. Cornelius, like the Ethiopian Eunuch, was a "God-fearer," a Gentile who believed in God but who wouldn't or couldn't become a full convert to Judaism (Jews were banned from serving in Rome's army, so conversion would have ended Cornelius' career). He attempted to live out his faith through worship and prayer, and he helped to sustain the local synagogue. One day Cornelius' prayers were interrupted by an angel who told him to send men to Joppa to bring a man named Simon Peter back with them. Cornelius obeyed immediately The 72-mile round trip would require one day there and another day back. But why would Peter just take off and go with complete strangers, and Gentiles to boot? God had it covered!

Peter was staying at the home of Simon the Tanner. Peter was hungry but it was going to be a while before lunch was ready. So Peter went up to the roof for a time of prayer. He fell into a "trance" (the Greek word has a sense of leaving the present reality and entering another reality). He saw a vision of a giant sheet being lowered down from heaven by its four corners. In the sheet were all kinds of animals, including reptiles. Then a voice said, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." Peter replied, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."The Law of Moses specified what to eat and how to prepare it. The general rules were:

• Any animal with a split hoof that chews the cud was OK- cattle, sheep, goats, etc; any animal that has just one, or none, of those characteristics was unclean- pigs, camels, rabbits, etc;
• Any bird, with the exception of raptors (eagles, hawks, etc) were OK to eat;
• Anything from the water that has both fins and scales may be eaten, but shellfish, eels, etc, are unclean;
• Insects, snakes, lizards and the like are out, with the exception of locusts, grasshoppers and crickets; and
• Whatever you eat must have its blood drained out.

The Lord replied, "What God has made clean, do not call common." This repeated three times, then the sheet went back up into heaven and Peter came to. He was mulling over what the vision might mean when Cornelius' emissaries showed up at Simon's front door. The Spirit told Peter, "Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." They explained that Cornelius had sent them in response to the command of an angel who had appeared to him. The men stayed the night and the next morning Peter set out with them for Caesarea.

When Peter arrived Cornelius greeted him by falling at his feet and worshipping him. Peter told him to get up, that he was just a man. Cornelius related his vision and the angel's command to fetch Peter. Peter then spoke to Cornelius and the many people gathered in his house. "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." He then proclaimed the Gospel message. Before he finished, however, the Holy Spirit came as He did on Pentecost. The people there began to speak in tongues, just as Peter did. Peter then said, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" So he baptized them and stayed a few days to disciple these new believers.

When he arrived back in Jerusalem Peter told everyone what had happened. He had broken the Law of Moses and the social conventions of the day by associating and eating with Gentiles. But when Peter explained further everyone went quiet and then said, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life." It was a glorious day for the church! But as we'll see next week not everyone agreed with what Peter did. We'll see how this difference of opinion was worked out on Day 78.

The Good News is spreading beyond Israel! In John's Gospel we read about how a delegation of Greeks sought out Jesus' disciples and said, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." (John 12:21) Up to this point in John Jesus said repeatedly "My hour has not yet come." But after these Gentiles came to Him Jesus said, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."  He went on to say, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:32) This happened on the first Palm Sunday, and we've seen what happened to Jesus not long after.

The Gospel is good news, not just for a select few, but for everyone. Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Jesus was a Jew and so were His first followers, and they were the first to hear the Gospel. But this incredible message is for everyone, and the apostles found a deep hunger for God everywhere they went. 

I'm on vacation starting today, so I'll be taking a break from working on these studies. I'll be preaching on this week's readings when I return to the pulpit on May 4. You can use this time to catch up or to review.

I never cease to be amazed at the incredible creativity of Christian musicians and artists! I found this video with highlights of a musical about the story of Cornelius. I'd love to see the whole performance some time. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irkYWt7Nm5E