Bible Study - Acts 10: 23b-48

Read Acts chapter 10 verses 23b-48

Peter must have been very anxious about his visit to Caesarea. He was not used to dealing with people who were not Jews like himself. Cornelius might have a reputation for being sympathetic to Jewish people and their religion but he was a foreigner and he was an officer in the Roman army of occupation of Peter's country. Despite his vision, Peter was uneasy and so he took some other disciples with him - other Jewish disciples. He might need them when he was dealing with Cornelius; if he accepted Cornelius into the fellowship of the disciples he would certainly need their support when he got back to Jerusalem.

What Peter saw and heard when he arrived convinced him that he had to preach the gospel to non-Jews as well as to his own people. The response of Cornelius and the rest of the audience was such that Peter and his fellow disciples could see that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on these gentiles just as it had been on the Jewish hearers at Pentecost.

It's quite natural for us to be cautious and a bit worried when we're dealing with people who are not from the same background as ourselves. We're worried, as Peter was, that we might compromise our own position with our family and friends, that we might even be exposing ourselves to danger.

Peter realised that he had no alternative; the Holy Spirit wasn't going to be bound by barriers set up by his prejudices or those of the other disciples. His example is very important for us.

For thought

Do I sometimes shy away from dealing with or talking to someone I meet by chance because I feel instinctively that this person is not my type? Might I be avoiding or missing an opportunity God is giving me for advancing his kingdom in some way? Might I learn something from the person in question that could be to my benefit?

When put on the spot, Peter made a very simple, straightforward and direct statement of his faith that was very compelling to his listeners. Can I articulate a similarly straightforward statement of my faith that would be relevant to people I meet today? Do I need to think and pray a bit more about that?

Prayer

Thank you Lord that the Holy Spirit knows and accepts no boundaries. Help me to discern how to be true to my faith but at the same time to make it clear and meaningful to others.

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