Acts 10:34-48
November 1, 2020
Acts 10:34-48
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that
God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. 1
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 10:34–48). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 1
I remember being back in elementary school and longing for the best part of the day – recess. When the time was right, all the students in our grade would line up and be led down the hall to the playground for recess. Some would line up for four-square (it was a big deal in the late 1970s in Ohio,) others would run to get on the swingset (limited number of swings,) there were the now unsafe metal slides, the merry-go-rounds that did not have speed dampeners on them, and all sorts of metal and wood structures to climb upon and play on.
And, there was the kickball field. It was there where the pecking order was revealed, as captains were decided upon and the rest of us just lined up waiting for someone to pick us for their team.
Once the teams were picked, there were always some left over – not selected, relegated to go join a four-square game or just walk around the playground until the bell rang.
It wasn’t nice. It felt terrible for those not picked. I’m sure there was a better way and perhaps this is what led to the next generation creating participation trophies for everyone, I don’t know. Nevertheless, it was a reality.
In the church, it happened as well. Most often in youth groups. Parents would call the youth pastor “concerned” about the growth of cliques in the youth group and certain students (namely, their children) being left out.
Oh, it happened and it too was hurtful, wrong, and created a sense of the “belonging” for some and the “well...not so much a part” for others.
So youth pastors for years worked to try to break the cycle, only to notice that teenagers weren’t the only ones sliding into cliques. It’s pretty much a learned behavior and the default setting for all human beings.
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We could review sociological studies that reveal the clumping of like- minded, similar people into groupings that has happened since Noah’s day, but it won’t really change anything.
We have addressed how in extreme measures, this clumping and cliquing has infiltrated the church where division has been justified based on skin tone, heart language, economic status, and external differences.
The unified brothers and sisters in Christ that make up God’s church have fought this very natural and normal segmentation for centuries.
Yet, God has made it clear that through the cross, we are saved by the blood that Jesus shed, thus making us brothers and sisters in him...and of ONE BLOOD.
For this we can celebrate knowing that as divided as people are, the Holy Spirit leads to unity through Jesus Christ...if we would but follow his lead.
But, let’s look at this story. We’ve walked with Cornelius and Peter for a few weeks now. We know the cultural and almost insurmountable division between this faithful Jew who is now a follower of Christ and this moral Gentile who is seeking to do right.
I love how this story ends (remember, I told you a few weeks back that this ends really well.) It ends with an incredible new beginning.
Peter is in Cornelius’s house. The Gentile centurion Cornelius has invited his entire family to come hear this message from the man of God.
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Peter begins to preach to these Gentiles. This sermon preached by Peter is familiar to us. It would be familiar to him – in that he had preached a similar one prior. The huge difference this time is the context. Rather than preaching to men and women who had grown up under the law of Judaism, thereby knowing the stories of the prophets and the coming Messiah, he is now preaching to a room full of Gentiles who may be God-fearing and learned in the teachings of the Jewish God, but did not grow up in the culture of Old Testament law. In fact, they were also learned in the ways of the Greeks and Romans and the plethora of man- made gods and goddesses created over the years.
But note this...
1. THE GOSPEL IS THE SAME FOR ALL
Peter preaches Jesus. He does not water down the message. He does not make Jesus into a Roman or a Greek or another racial designator to be more acceptable. He does not change the story of Christ crucified to be more palatable. He preaches Christ.
36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
2. THE GOSPEL OPENS A DOOR FOR ALL
As for Israel...also for Gentiles.
Remember when Jesus was speaking to his disciples about going away?
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John 14
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “
me.2
The way – the open door – to the Father is JESUS CHRIST. This is true for the Jew, the Gentile, the European, the Asian, the African, the American, the white, brown, tan, black, red, yellow, bald, tall, short, skinny, heavy, rich, poor, popular, unpopular, kickball star picked first on the playground, or the one never picked sitting alone on the bench.
Jesus is the way. He is the open door. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved other than JESUS CHRIST!
3. THE GOSPEL GIVES ALL A NEW OUTLOOK
The biblical worldview is a lens not purchased at the optometrist. It’s not provided by being a good person. It’s not even given to you when you join a church.
It is a lens that comes with the transformed heart, through the message of good news in Christ.
This is not about seeing the best in others, but about seeing Christ’s desire to save others, in spite of themselves.
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 14:1–6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 5
I am the way, and the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
The Gospel drives us, equips us, enables us, and reveals how God desires we see him, and others.
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
CONCLUSION
And...you’ll like this (I love this.) The gospel interrupts our stories to ensure that Jesus is the story.
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
Did you see that? In the middle of Peter’s sermon, God interrupts him. “While Peter was still saying these things...” God!
It’s not Peter that these people need to be saved. It is Jesus. While Peter needed his prejudices removed, in the midst of preaching the gospel, the Holy Spirit comes upon those whom he was already calling, already preparing, already softening the hearts of for an amazing Gentile Pentecost.
That’s what this is – a Gentile Pentecost with the same preacher and the same result – lost people receiving the Spirit of God through their repentance and acceptance of Christ, being made new creations in Christ.
All the man-made divisions melted. The sermon was over and now being lived out in front of Peter and his Jewish believing friends. A meeting of diverse individuals became a family reunion no one expected.
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And that is what we pray for today and each day we gather as church.
While some of the Jewish brothers would struggle with welcoming Jewish converts, God welcomed them. God confirmed their belonging. Signs and wonders occurred, and baptism followed. The church gets its first Gentile members and as I said, the end of the Cornelius/Peter story becomes a grand beginning for the New Testament church.
Lord – do it again!
Footnotes
