Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Wednesday, 8 January 2014 – Acts 10

Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Wednesday, 8 January 2014 – Acts 10: Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly 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 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.”

These verses are the heart of the story of the conversion of both Cornelius and Peter told in the 10th chapter of Acts. Much to his surprise, Peter, a faithful Jew and disciple of Jesus, stands in the house of Cornelius, a Roman soldier and Gentile. When he arrived, Peter admitted that it was unlawful for him to associate with Cornelius; yet God had directed him to come. "Now may I ask why you sent for me?" (v. 29) Cornelius and his household want to hear the Word. And as Peter hears their request, we can almost see first confusion, then amazement, and, finally, understanding wash over his face. I suspect that he knew a moment of panic and cleared his throat. "I...Uh, I...," he stammered. Then the words came tumbling out: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." No partiality! Anyone acceptable to God!

A door has swung open that will never be closed. God has said "Yes," where we would say "No." God has said "all" where we would say "some."

We are grateful, O God, that your desire to save is more expansive than we can imagine. Expand our hearts to embrace those excluded again and again from the community of faith. Amen.

Rachel Thorson Mithelman

Pastor, St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa

Master of Divinity , 1983

Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly 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 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."

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