Scripture: While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Acts 10:44-48 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Peter tells Cornelius, family, and friends that God is impartial and welcomes any, regardless of ethnicity, who fear him, as evidenced by their godly living. Then, turning their attention to the means of their reconciliation with God, Peter recounts the history of Jesus’ ministry and testifies on behalf of his six cohorts that they witnessed Jesus’ miraculous ministry, culminating with his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. Indeed, they ate and drank with him after his resurrection. That said, Peter gets to the point: Jesus commanded his disciples to proclaim he is God’s appointed judge of the living and the dead. Thus, backed by the witness of all Israel’s prophets, Jesus declared that all who believe in him receive forgiveness of sins through his name.
Today’s devotion concludes the story of the inauguration of Gentiles into the family of God with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Cornelius and his guests, who spoke in tongues and praised God. Reminiscent of the Holy Spirit’s infilling of all gathered in the upper room at Pentecost, Peter’s six friends marvel at the evidence. With no further need to question the implications, Peter contends to his mates that there is no reason to deny Cornelius and his family and friends initiation into the church with water baptism. So they baptized these first Gentiles in the name of Jesus Christ. In response, Cornelius and his guests ask Peter to extend his stay with them.
Takeaway: Theologian Richard Longenecker surmises that Luke’s reference to Peter “still saying these things” likely refers to the end of verse 33: “…everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” As such, the promise of “believing and receiving forgiveness” strikes this crowd of eager God-fearers like a thunderbolt to their hearts. As the Holy Spirit completes the regeneration process with their hearing of the Gospel, Cornelius and his family and friends swell with joy and hope. Thus, Peter’s Jewish friends marvel over the signs that point to a second Pentecost for the Gentiles: “speaking in tongues and extolling God” (v.46). The details of this monumental event are critical to the church’s unity and survival, as will be addressed at its Jerusalem Council (Chapter 15).
Now that the evidence supports Peter’s earlier vision of God admonishing Peter not to call what is clean unclean and common, Peter reassumes his role as the vanguard of the church and reasons with his six Jewish friends that these spirit-filled Gentiles should receive water baptism. As mentioned in prior Daily Focus devotions, water baptism is not formulaic to salvation but essential regarding the building up of the church. It provides an outward sign of an inward reality: Christ shed his blood as a substitutionary sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins and reconcile us to God—becoming uncommon to a world dead in its sins. It also marks the church’s commitment to help new members grow in their faith. Indeed, this young Gentile church will have much to learn and put into practice. And to a certain extent, they know this. Thus, Cornelius and his guests plead with Peter to stay with them for a while, which he does.
Our takeaway? As maturing Christians like Peter, we must invest our time to help new believers remain on track and grow in their faith. Our right relationship with the Father and Son is unique. It demands us to live an uncommon life that stands out among the world’s commonplace. Consequently, some unbelievers who know and love us will feel threatened by the changes they see and seek to draw us back to the way of life that leaves Christ out of the picture. But in the words of an older, wiser Peter, we have nothing to fear, for our Father has caused us “to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3b-5 ESV). Empowered by God, resurrected in Christ, and baptized by the Holy Spirit, we are undefiled and uncommon!
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who led an extraordinarily sinless life always in obedience to your will, even sacrificing his life to reconcile us to you. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who has completed the transaction of convicting us of our sins and gifting us with the faith to believe your Son’s substitutionary death is sufficient to forgive all our sins—past, present, and future. Still, with the world’s pull to live the ordinary life of me-centeredness, we desperately need fellow Christians’ support, encouragement, and accountability to keep us on track to living the uncommon life as a follower of your Son. So would you please help us stay connected to your Son, Spirit, and each other to grow in our faith as one body in Christ? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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