Acts 10:34-43
34 Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
34 Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality…
Peter’s simple declaration at the beginning of today’s lesson is a profound statement of the power of God’s love made known to us in Christ Jesus. Peter, who has always been a righteous Jew, has now witnessed the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Peter has served as the leader of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. The idea that anyone could become a Christian without first being a righteous Jew was, as yet, unheard of.
…and then Peter met Cornelius and his household. They had never been Jewish and knew nothing about Judaism and yet, they had come to believe in Jesus. When Cornelius asked Peter to baptize his household, it threw Peter into a crisis of faith. How could these people, who knew nothing about the One True God suddenly accept Jesus? Wouldn’t this make everyone unclean?
Well, Jesus stepped in and made it crystal clear to Peter that everyone is equal in the eyes of God. This revelation opened Peter’s eyes and changed the course of Christianity forever.
This story seems so clear to us. Why would anyone put such a large stumbling block in front of those who are trying to accept Jesus? Why indeed? I wonder what stumbling blocks I’ve been helping to put in the way of new believers today. Do I really believe that God shows no partiality? What would I do differently if I did?
Prayer: Lord Jesus: Show me where the stumbling blocks are and guide me in kicking them out of the way. AMEN