OUR IMPARTIAL GOD
Opening Prayer
Thank You, Father God, that Jesus died for all, and that You love us equally.
Read Acts 10:34–48
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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[a] 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.
Footnotes
- Acts 10:46 Or other languages
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If you were asked to list the most important events in Christian history, what would you say?Jesus’ life, death and resurrection would probably be the first things to spring to many people’s mind on the list of important events, but what about the events of today’s passage? These were monumental. If they had not occurred, then Christians would have remained simply a little group within Judaism and the Gospel would not have been preached around the world.
Everything Peter had experienced over the past few days now came together to help him finally understand that the Gospel was not just for Jews but for all nationalities. He realizes that these non-Jewish converts did not need to be circumcised and follow Jewish religious laws to be acceptable to God. Indeed, God made this crystal clear by sending His Spirit upon Cornelius and his household (44–46).
The message that God has no favorites is still very relevant and important today (34, 35). We are called as Christians to show that God loves equally people of every age, sex, race, class, and background. How well are we and our churches accomplishing this?
Apply
Are there some groups within our churches and wider society who are not receiving the message that God loves them equally? How can you educate yourself about these groups to help you reach them?
Closing prayer
Lord, give me a heart like Yours for other people. Increase my wisdom in how to love people to the best of my ability.
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