Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
The events of Acts chapter 10 were earth-shattering to the early Christians. Peter and some other Christians, all from among "the circumcised," were brought to the household of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. They were in a setting which few devout Jews would enter. Not only was it bad form for Jews to enter into a Gentile household, but it would create ceremonial uncleanness. Gentiles could come to the Jews but it didn't work the other way around.
While Peter was telling Cornelius and his household about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on them. They began speaking in tongues, declaring God's praise (v. 46). The other Jewish Christians who were there were amazed as well. They really didn't know that the Holy Spirit would or could come to Gentiles, especially if they had not previously converted to Judaism.
The great discovery of this day was that God saves Jew and Gentile alike by his grace through faith in Jesus. He doesn't make any cultural requirement. You don't have to become Jewish in your outlook or behavior. People of every nation can be rescued from sin by trusting on Jesus. Even those of a pagan background, even those from a nation which has persecuted the Jews.
We can take hope in every age, then, that Jesus is just the same sort of savior. He has not neglected his people. He rescues them as they believe he is the savior. He turns all nations from their sin and toward his righteousness. And he welcomes them to the washing of baptism and the regeneration found in a life which looks toward Jesus' resurrection as our eternal hope.
Jesus comes to the household of Cornelius. He can come to your household, your workplace, your community. He is that great.
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