Acts 10:34-48 

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us 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 whom God appointed 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.”

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Sun

Consider the sun, its components and effects; it is really amazing and incredible.

One can see it, but cannot touch, cannot smell, cannot taste, and cannot hear the sun. One can feel the heat of the sun; its light is really helpful in many wonderful ways. We acknowledge that living things [humans, animals, plants] benefit from it.

We cannot touch the sun but we can feel its heat. We can glance briefly at the sun but it is foolishness to intently gaze or stare at the sun.

We believe God created everything, including the sun, but no human has ever seen God. God has revealed Himself in three persons for us to know and understand more about Him.

There are some unqualified similarity in features between God and the sun. No one can go near or stand under the sun and stays the same; there’s transformation. There’s sure transformation when believers grow nearer to God by faith.

The existence of the sun becomes more realistic through its light and its heat. The existence of God becomes more realistic through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Our church doctrine states, “We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.”

Indirectly, Peter told Cornelius and his household about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

1.  The Father

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

God searches the heart and judges our attitude; He knows if we are sincere without malice. Only God can determine those who truly fear Him and those do the right thing.

God is very patient; He wants everyone to realize one’s need of Him. 2 Peter 3:9 it says,⁹ He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Pride makes a person not wanting to repent; contrite heart is what God wants from us. God knows that the proud human has no initiative to come nearer to God. This is why even when we are still in our sins, even when we were yet to be born or have not committed any sin yet, God sent His Son to pay for our sins.

³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Peter emphasized that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God; God is with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Doing good and miracle healing were attributed to God’s work that Jesus did while on earth. Those who were baptized by John the Baptist believed that Jesus is the Anointed One. The baptism of John the Baptist was a baptism of repentance.

Those who truly repented and baptized by John were prepared to believe in Christ.

In John 1:35-37 it teaches us… ³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 

One of them was Andrew the brother of Peter and the other disciple was John the beloved. Those two former disciples of John the Baptist became two of the Apostles of Christ.

Repentant heart prepares a person to see the need of a Savior. God allows problem and struggle common to man for us to seek, find peace from God.

Eat Pray Love

There was a movie about a woman who travelled around the world just to find peace.

After a devastating divorce, she went to Italy and enjoyed eating, then she proceeded to India and tried praying and meditation, and then she travelled to Bali, Indonesia where she eventually met another man of her life.

The movie portrays a reality in this life; humans are still trying to find peace elsewhere.

There is always problem or difficulty when the peace of God is not in control of our life. Peter told Cornelius, “God sent Jesus Christ to announce the good news of peace. ”³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 

If we allow Christ to lord over us, God’s peace will overwhelm the most difficult problem. If Jesus is reigning in our heart, the peace of God is experienced in the midst of struggles.

When overwhelmed with problems, desire and pray for Christ to reign and take over your life.

2.  The Son

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us 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 whom God appointed 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.”

Peter presented the gospel of Christ as simple as he had experienced and witnessed. The Jews hanged Jesus on a cross but God raised Him on the third day. Peter told Cornelius that they were witnesses to what happened to Christ.

Christ did not present Himself to all people after He was raised from the dead. Only to those whom God has already chosen; He ate, drank, and instructed them. Christ instructed those who were with Him to preach and testify that God appointed Him to decide on the eternal destination of the living and the dead.

Why did Christ not present Himself to those who persecuted Him or who doubted Him?

In John 19:30 Christ said, ³⁰ “It is finished.” 

Jesus Christ, God in a human form, has completed His assignment in God’s design. He had also trained enough disciples to continue preaching about the good news. Christ went back to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to continue God’s work.

In John 16:7 the Lord Jesus said, ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

The work of the Holy Spirit was very evidential even in the life of Cornelius and his family.

3.  The Holy Spirit

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ is the same as the Spirit of the Holy God. While Jesus Christ, God in human form, cannot be in two places at a time, God the Holy Spirit can simultaneously exist at the same time in many different places. Christ did not multiply Himself but God continued to reveal Himself to us that indeed, He has various ways of revealing Himself.

The experience of Peter in the life of Cornelius and his household was one of the many wonderful ways of how the Holy Spirit works in and through Christ’s disciples. Cornelius has different upbringing to that of Peter’s but God granted peace between them.

Have you experienced when the Holy Spirit was obviously working in and through you?

Chinese Church

In 2008, after 30 months of mission experience, we were back in Baguio City. We were not very sure as to which church God wanted us to be involved with. Eventually, we were involved in a Chinese church and we felt the peace of God. With God’s peace, we had a pleasant time among people with diverse upbringing.

We cannot explain all the possible factors why our involvement was very smooth and pleasant. You will know that the Holy Spirit is at work when there is peace and joy from God. You will know that you are in the right place or in the centre of God’s will, not because of the absence of problem but there’s joy and peace from God in the midst of problems.

We observe Christians come and go; they visit us, stay for a while, and never come back. Should we try to stop them? Are we supposed to blame ourselves?

We are complacent; we can only do much of what God has designed for us to do. The Lord Jesus Himself exemplified it that we should allow the Holy Spirit to complete the work God has initiated. Like Peter, our mandate is to tell, testify about our experience as Christ’s disciples.

Believers will believe, doubters will doubt, but the Holy Spirit regenerates those whom God has already chosen to trust in Christ Jesus as their Savior.

Again, what particular experience with the Lord would you like to tell others?

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