clean and unclean, part 3

Good morning everyone,
This morning's reading shows how Peter explained the good news to Cornelius and his friends and family. His presentation is very simple beginning with John's baptism and including Jesus' healing, death and resurrection. He also says, "All the prophets testify about him, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness in his name." What stood out most for me in Peter's words is the focus on witness: disciples are called to witness to what Jesus did and to his resurrection.

In the early church when believers were baptized they received the Holy Spirit. Here, God leads the way again by giving the new gentile believers the Holy Spirit before they were baptized. God wants it to be very clear that gentiles as well as Jews are welcomed into the new thing God is doing through Jesus. God leads us to reach out to everyone because God truly shows no partiality.

Blessings,
Sam


Acts 10:34-48

34Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how 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. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.
They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not 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. 42He 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. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.