Friday, January 23rd

To listen to the audio version, click here.

Friday, January 23

Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 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. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Sometimes I like to read the headlines in the tabloid newspapers that line the check-out aisle in the local grocery store.

I get a chuckle out of headlines like, “Man Gives Birth!” or “Aliens Build Hotel in Manhattan!” or “Elvis is Alive!”

Imagine the headlines in the local tabloid of Caesarea the day after this story takes place.

“Romans Receive the Holy Spirit!”

“Romans are Baptized!”

I think we can scarcely imagine the shocking and even revolutionary nature of this story!

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 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.

I love that last line, “the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”

I’m a Gentile and you are too, unless, of course, you were born into a Jewish family. Luke is saying that there was a time when we Gentiles were considered extremely unlikely  to respond to the gospel.

“...the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”

That makes me smile! We, who tend to consider ourselves as insiders, were once considered to be such outsiders that it was seen as a miracle when one of us came to faith!

I think there are several things we can take away from this story.

First of all, gratitude. We know the joy of salvation and the grace of Christ because of Peter and Cornelius. Cornelius is regarded traditionally as the first Gentile convert to Christ.

We are his descendants.

Second, as followers of Jesus, we are now commissioned to play the role of Peter. We are be the one who is willing to reach across boundaries, to break the social and religious rules of the day, in order to share the good news with those who are hungry for truth.

Who do we regard as unclean?

Who do we regard as unlikely to respond?

What prejudices or attitudes do we carry that effectively keep people as outsiders?

Peter listened to God. Peter put aside his own prejudices and assumptions. Peter went to the home of Cornelius. Peter shared the gospel and the Holy Spirit took over from there.

What a great story!

May it be our story!

Pastor Brian Coffey