Slices
Prepare
Thank God for the work of his Spirit in your life. Pray that he will continue to lead you into truth (John 16:13).
Bible passage
34 Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism 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 baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ 48 So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Explore
For many years I have spoken on Christian holidays. In our evening meetings a testimony by a cook, a caretaker or a ski instructor can have just as much impact as my Bible talk. A testimony speaks from personal experience. It tells a story of something that has been lived. Jesus told his followers that they would be witnesses (Acts 1:8), telling the story of all that they had seen, heard and experienced of Jesus, his life, his death and resurrection. Just as Peter does here.
Our experience of Jesus will be very different from Peter’s. We have not walked the dusty roads of Galilee with him. But we have known his love, have felt his closeness, have seen him answer prayer. Our story will feature some of the elements of Peter’s story. Look back to see what he says about Jesus. At its heart is Jesus’ death and resurrection. That will be the focus of our story too.
It is not down to us to make people followers of Jesus. We share our experience of Jesus; the rest is down to God and the work of his Spirit – just as happens here (vs 44–48). Trust him to be at work.
Respond
Think about the key elements of your own story. Rehearse it in your mind so that when someone asks, you can tell it simply and clearly.
Deeper Bible study
Lord, help us to learn from Peter’s example and always be open to new knowledge of God.
The third act in our drama (Acts 10:23b–48) has the title Peter’s Second Conversion. This is a most wonderful text, a key turning point in Luke’s story. Before much longer, Paul will take centre stage, but first Peter has a crucial role in breaking new ground and will experience dramatic change within himself.
Consider the two main players in this drama. First, Cornelius, who becomes an evangelist before he has heard Peter’s message, assembling a ‘large gathering of people’ (v 27) all eager ‘to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us’ (v 33). However, before that message can be delivered the Roman centurion is rather curtly told not to regard his guest preacher with any special honour (vs 25,26). The background here is the pagan world in which gods were believed to appear on earth in human form: Peter’s words were designed to avoid any misunderstanding.1 Christian missionaries, especially from technologically advanced societies, have often needed to tell their hearers (and to remind themselves), ‘I am only human myself’.
Second, Peter is the evangelist, but also a humble learner who is discovering previously undreamt of dimensions of God’s grace. Repeatedly in this story, the apostle confesses his previous ignorance, culminating in the admission: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism’ (v 34, italics added). Cross-cultural mission always demands such humility and openness to fresh discoveries of the richness of divine grace. Notice, finally, that the Spirit fell upon the audience before Peter had finished his message (v 44), perhaps to demonstrate that nothing was required other than faith from the Gentile converts who now flooded into the kingdom.
How might you end the sentence: ‘I now realise how true it is that God…’?
1 See Acts 14:11–15
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 24,25; Ephesians 5
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the Development Hub team as they plan for the next 12 months of work producing content for Scripture Union. Ask God to give them wisdom, skill and direction.