NOVEMBER 5 ACTS 10-12

November 5, 2014

Acts 10-12

Yesterday we read of the conversion of a Samaritan Magician, an Ethiopian Eunuch, and a persecutor of Christians. But each of these was Jewish or, in the case of Simon, partly so. Both Saul and the Eunuch were Jews of the dispersion, meaning Jews from places in the Roman Empire other than Judah. 

I can still remember the pride I felt, as an American of Italian descent, when I realized that the first true Gentile converted to faith in Jesus Christ was an Italian! At least we can assume he was, for Acts 10:1 says that Cornelius was a centurion of “the Italian Regiment.”

When you read of Cornelius’ conversion, notice all the participants God gathered together for the work: Simon the Tanner, Peter, messengers from Cornelius, and finally Cornelius and his household. Then take note of all the supernatural events: Cornelius vision of an angel, Peter’s vision of the sheet and the gift of the Holy Spirit at the end. Then, at the last, notice this: Without the obedience of Cornelius to his vision in sending messengers to Peter, without the obedience of Peter to his vision and to the call of Jesus to preach to gospel, Cornelius would never have had the opportunity to be the first Gentile Convert to Christianity! Even with miracles abounding, God relies on someone to share the good news. By the end of Acts 11, we hear how Antioch became the hub for reaching Gentiles with the good news.

In Acts 12, the bell tolls for second recognizable martyr of the early church. In Acts 7, it was Stephen, one of the first six Deacons of the church. Here, it’s James, the brother of John, one of the 12 disciples. Herod had him killed, and then arrested Peter, too. Read the account of Peter’s miraculous escape, but read, too, of the guards Herod put to death because of it! By the end of Acts 12, Luke describes Herod’s come-uppance. It is always a dangerous thing to lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed!

Tomorrow, we begin our travels with the Apostle Paul!

Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary