In Acts 14: 8 and following, Paul and Barnabas encountered a lame man.  He had been crippled since birth, having never walked.  We are told Paul perceived that the man had faith to be healed.  We will have to assume that God revealed this to Paul, since Paul had a very close relationship with God.  We may never be able to perceive that someone has the faith to be healed, but can be certain that if we maintain that close, personal relationship with God, if we need to know, He will reveal it to us.  This was more than Paul saying he had a word for someone.  He told the man in a loud voice to stand upon his feet, and the man leaped and walked.  This required the faith of Paul and the man and the healing power of God.  In verse eleven, the people proclaimed that the gods had come down from heaven.  Notice that they said gods and not that the God had sent down His power.  They recognized that something miraculous had happened, but they didn't understand what.  People today will attempt to credit the work of God to false gods or to no god at all.  Even creation itself will be credited to chance or some divine entity, but not to the God who spoke it all into existence.  The people called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, since he was the chief speaker.  Then, they brought gifts.  If we ever begin to think that anyone needs to pay us because of what God has done through us, we are in danger of finding out how God feels about this.  We may even benefit from it for a lifetime, but ultimately we will have to answer.  Paul and Barnabas were quick to point out that they were but men.  They could have profited greatly from God's work, but they were not there for self glory.  They were there to preach the gospel.

In Acts 14: 1, Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue of the Jews in Iconium.  The synagogue was where God's people gathered to worship Him and learn more about Him, so it was a logical place to tell people about Jesus.  Today, travelling evangelists would most likely go to a church.  Paul and Barnabas were met by a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks.  For an evangelist today, that would be like saying they were met by a great multitude of Christians and non believers.  That should be what we want, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up trouble with the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.  An unbelieving Jew would be the same as an unbelieving Christian, some who professes to believe in God and His will, but only if it agrees with what they want.  Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium a long time, preaching the gospel.  God gave testimony to their good work in that many signs and wonders were done by their hands.  We need to be able to have the world see God working through us today.  Our task is not to just point out the evil of the world, but is first and foremost to proclaim the gospel.  The preaching of Paul and Barnabas divided into city, and so should our proclaiming the gospel today.  If everyone is satisfied when we proclaim the gospel and it has no impact on those we are speaking to, then something is wrong.  Those who didn't believe, both Gentiles and Jews with their leaders, wanted to stone Paul and Barnabas.  When unbelievers and those who profess to be God's people unite to stop His word from being preached, they both lose.  Paul and Barnabas became aware of their plan and moved on to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia and the region thereabout.  There, they preached the gospel and God's word continued to spread to a larger and larger area.

Before we move forward in Acts, I think I will review a little about how this applies to being a follower of Christ in today's world.  First, we need to reclaim the power of prayer.  Praying is never the least we can do.  We have seen that in New Testament times, prayer could heal the sick, open prison doors, and even raise the dead, when prayed for the will of God to be done.  Prayer is one of the greatest powers that Christians have, when we are honestly seeking God's will and not our desires.  We must also accept the fact that God may answer no.  God has not stopped hearing and answering prayers.  Not every person is healed, not every captive is set free, and not all dead are restored to life in this world, but that doesn't mean prayer is of little use.  Adding in Jesus' name does not mean that it is God's will.  Second, those who proclaim themselves to be God's people often aren't, and when this is the case, it can really hinder the gospel.  We, as His followers, are to live by a different standard than the rest of the world.  We are to love the unloveable, feed the poor, and clothe the naked.  The world may look down on them and despise them, but followers of Christ never can.  Third, we must never divide the world into them and us.  When we begin to apply labels to others we begin to be ineffective as witnesses for Christ.  We need never say things like I saw one of them or that is just the way they are.  God loves everyone, and salvation is for everyone.  Christ loved them enough to die for them, and to be like Christ, so should we.  Last, we will encounter opposition, from the world and at times from religious leaders.  When Paul and Barnabas encountered opposition, they used it as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel.  We must do no less.  Our cross awaits us daily, but will we pick it up or look for an easy way around it?

Many Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, encouraging them to continue in the grace of God.  That is all we can ever do.  We are saved by His grace and sustained by His grace.  Our independent streak or self pride often rebels at the thought of being dependant on God's mercy, but that is where we will always be as His followers.  As we saw in Acts 13: 42, the Gentiles had asked to hear the words preached to them the next Sabboth.  That Sabboth, nearly the whole city came together to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say.  People were hungry to hear the gospel.  Except for many of the Jews, who had grown up on God's word.  They were jealous that the Word of God was going to the whole world and not just them, so they stirred up trouble.  When people start being drawn to Christ, someone is going to try and stop them.  Hopefully, it won't be those who call themselves His people.  Being accused of blasphemy, the charge the religious leaders brought against Jesus, Paul and Barnabas waxed bold.  That means they boldly proclaimed the gospel, telling the Jews in verse 46, that since they deemed themselves unworthy of everlasting life, then Paul and Barnabas were turning to the Gentiles.  The gospel had first been preached to the Jews and they rejected it, and as a group have ever since. Paul and Barnabas, in Acts 13: said, "For so hath the Lord commanded us saying, I have set thee to be a light unto the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the earth." (KJV)  We are part of the ends of the earth.  Many Gentiles believed and the word of the Lord was published throughout the region.  Again, the Jews, God's chosen people, stirred up trouble.  May we, as God's people, never be guilty of stirring up trouble against God.  Paul and Barnabas were expelled from their coasts by the Jews.  Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust of their feet against them and continued to Iconium.  "And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Ghost."  Acts 13: 52 (KJV)  The Jews thought they had defeated Paul and Barnabas, but they had simply sent them on their way to do what God had called them to do.  As long as we are obedient to the will of God, the world can never defeat us.

Jesus was placed in the grave after He was crucified, and the religious leaders were just as responsible for His death as were the secular leaders.  When those who are supposed to be representing God work against Him and in harmony with the world, then they need a word as Paul delivered to the synagogue leaders that day.  Paul knew what the religious leaders believed about Jesus, because he had believed the same thing until his personal encounter with God on the road to Damascus.  People will never change their belief about Christ until they encounter Him personally.  Jesus did not stay in the grave, as God raised Him form the dead, as He had promised to their forefathers.  Neither did He see corruption.  Jesus is the only One Who fulfilled that promise.  David died, and like all other people, his body corrupted. Being a descendant of David was a point of pride for the Jewish people, but it did not bring salvation.  David could not save them.  Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is the only One Who can save. We must never forget the uniqueness of Jesus.  We can never be what He is, the only begotten Son of God.  The Bible tells us if we believe we will become sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Jesus.  We become so by adoption, and Jesus by birth.  Also, Paul pointed out that the Law of Moses could not save, but the good news was that Jesus could and would if they believed.  Paul declared Jesus superior to the prophets, to David, and to the Law.  He is the only way to salvation, and He stands ready to deliver all.  This is found in Acts 13: 32-41.

The Israelites chose Saul as their king.  Saul ruled for forty years, but became more concerned with Saul than he was with God, so God chose David as the new king while Saul was still alive.  God called David a man after His own heart who would obey His will.  They needed a leader who was willing to follow God.  We need the same thing today.  From David's descendants God raised up a savior as He had promised.  Now, Paul moved from what the Jewish leaders knew to what they had not acknowledged, that the Savior wasn't just coming, He had already come.  The Savior was Jesus.  John had preached repentance to the people of Israel, and he had quite a following, but he was quick to point out that he was not Messiah they looked for.  The people might have accepted John more easily than Jesus, but John was true to his call.  Our actions should always point people to God and not to us.  As Christians, we cannot separate the world into what we do for God and what we do for self.  Any action we take must be for God's glory, not our own.  In Acts 13: 26, Paul made the message personal for those who were listening.  To the children of Abraham, and those that fear the Lord, salvation was sent.  We must ultimately let everyone we witness to know that Christ died to bring salvation to them.  It has to become personal and not just an abstract idea.  Then, Paul told them that since they didn't even recognize what was read to them each Sabbath, they demanded the death of Jesus, even though they found no fault with Him.  Attending religious services does not bring salvation, only Christ does.  Neither does attending religious services and hearing God's word bring salvation.  A lot of sinners are hiding out in the church every week.  Only the belief in Christ as ones personal Savior can bring salvation.

When Paul and Barnabas were asked if they had a word of exhortation, Paul was ready.  Since he was speaking to Jews, he started at a point that he knew they would understand.  He began in Acts 13: 17 to review the history of God's relationship with Is real, from the time he delivered them from Egypt.  I don't know why Paul chose to start at that point, but he was about to tell them of the ultimate delivery of all people of all time by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Paul reminded them that their lack of faith led to forty years in the wilderness.  Paul did not berate them for the actions of their forefathers, but simply stated a truth they could not deny.  In spite of their disobedience in the wilderness, God gave them the land that He promised them.  God does not forget His promises, and Paul was moving them ahead to the fulfillment of the promise of the coming Messiah.  Israel was under judges for four hundred fifty years, until the coming of the prophet Samuel.  By now, we might have been bored with the word of exhortation that Paul was sharing.  He was speaking in the synagogue after all, and he was seemingly giving them a history lesson.  We sometimes look for a fiery preacher to excite us, when often what we need is a knowledgeable preacher to exhort us.  We seldom extol a preacher that we find boring, no matter how accurately he proclaims God's word.  Paul then reminded them of their ancestors desire for a king.  Why did they want one?  Basically, it was because the other nations had one and Israel didn't.  They were once again forgetting that God was to be their leader, and the fact that He was set them apart from the rest of the world.  When we as Christians start wanting to be like the rest of the world, we have forgotten who we are.  We are God's people set apart from the world for His purpose.  We are to allow God to work through us to redeem the world, not to be conformed to the world.  When the things of this world begin to matter more than the morality of God to us, then we are useless servants of God.

After Paul and Barnabas departed Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia.  They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.  They didn't go in demanding to be heard.  Sometimes it is better to listen to others a while before we begin to share the gospel.  If we attempt to beat them over the head with the gospel when we first encounter them, they may become defensive and never listen.  The leaders of the synagogue read the law and prophets.  They knew God's Word pointing to the Messiah, but that was now old news.  After reading, they asked Paul and Barnabas if they had a word of exhortation.  I'm not sure what they expected, but I don't think it was what they got.  Then Paul stood up and asked the religious leaders, who he called men of Israel and those that fear God, to give listen to him.  He did not start by telling them they were lost and doomed to hell.  He started by addressing them with respect.  I don't think we will ever be really effective in presenting the gospel if we look down on those we are trying to reach.  I am not saying standing on the street corner preaching the gospel is wrong.  Yet, if we do this, we need to do it out of compassion and without an air of superiority.  Paul met them where they were spiritually and then preached to them Jesus.  We have to start where people are spiritually and lead them with respect to understand Who Jesus is.  Paul, who had been ready to drag Christians bound to Jerusalem to be punished now reached out to the leaders of the synagogue with compassion.  Then, as we will see, he let them know that he indeed had a word of exhortation.

In Acts 13:13, we are told Paul and his company departed Paphos.  Notice until this point it had been Barnabas and Saul (Paul).  Now, it was Paul and his company.  We aren't given any explanation as to why this change occurred, but it would seem that Barnabas was now in a secondary position to Paul.  What kind of problems could occur in the church today if someone who had been the leader suddenly found themself in a secondary role?  Since usually the pastor moves to another church when replaced, it would likely be a deacon, Sunday school teacher or some other position in the church.  There is no evidence that Barnabas was jealous or upset, but for some reason John departed from them when they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and he returned to Jerusalem.  We aren't told why, but there was a split.  What we must realize is that serving God is not about position, but about obedience.  We know Paul had a miraculous call, but he also was left dependent on others for a period of time, so it may be that at this point he had finally grown in faith enough to be a leader of others.  We should never take on a position of service to God unless we have been called to that position, and even when called, we must grow in faith to fulfill that call.  Yes, if God calls me He will equip me, but it still requires me to grow in the faith of that call.  As we serve God in any position, we should, through faith in God and what He wants us to do, continue to be more effective.  I believe that Saul, until he grew in faith to be Paul, was not ready to lead others, but now he was fully doing what God called him to do, and Barnabas continued to go with him.  I don't believe Paul suddenly said he would be the leader.  I think God led the group to that position.  There may have been no thought given to the change, other than John leaving, but the fact remains that often there is.  The only position we need to think about is our position of service to God.

False prophets are nothing new.  There were many encounters between the prophets of God and false prophets in the Old Testament, so it should not come as a surprise that those in the early church soon encountered one.  When Barnabas, Saul, and John had gone through Paphos, they found a sorcerer, a false prophet, and a Jew named Barjesus.  We might have to ask how one person could be all three.  Yet, today we have Christians who follow their horoscope as religiously as they do their Bible, if not more so.  You really cannot believe both.  If you follow Christ as your Lord and Master, then you cannot follow His creation, the stars, as the determining factor in your life.  Barjesus was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, who was said to be a prudent man.  Sergius Paulus called for Barnabas and Saul, because he wanted to hear a word from God.  This must have made Barjesus (Elymas by interpretation) mad.  He withstood Barnabas and Saul, trying to turn the deputy from the faith.  He would have lost a lot of influence if the deputy believed.  If false prophets feel threatened, they will be even more determined to keep people from the truth.  Saul, also called Paul, full of the Holy Spirit, told Elymas what he really was, a man full of all subtility and deceit, a child of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness.  Now, one man can easily be all those things.  Then Paul told him that the hand of the Lord was upon him and he would be blind for a season.  It happened immediately.  God judgment was not deferred.  The deputy believed and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

In Acts 13: 1-5, we learn more about the growth of the early church.  We are told that in the church at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers.  In the Old Testament, prophets were those who foretold the future, as it affected God's people and the coming Messiah.  The prophets and teachers in the church pointed to the accomplished fact of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His impact on the world then and in the future.  I don't believe they saw themselves as a small church, but as the beginning of a world changing movement.  Any church that God is at work in is never small.  Those mentioned at the church in Antioch were Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Luscius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  They were believers from diverse places and backgrounds, but they were united in the church.  God calls all people from everywhere, but when they become His followers, He calls them to unity in the church.  As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost spoke to them.  Maybe we don't have the Holy Ghost speak as much to us today because instead of ministering we are mumbling and instead of fasting we are feasting.  They were to seperate Barnabas and Saul for the work God had for them to do.  They obeyed, again fasting and praying and laying hands on them and sending them on their way.  The members of the church did what God directed them to do, and now it was time for Barnabas and Saul to be obedient.  The Holy Ghost sent them forth, and they departed for Seleucia, and then for Cyprus.  At Salinas, they preached the gospel in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had John as their minister.  They were still being somewhat exclusive with the gospel, but even if we act in an exclusive manner, the gospel will not be contained to an exclusive group.

The next morning there was much discussion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter.  He was their responsibility, and he was gone, but they didn't understand how.  While the followers of Christ were rejoicing, Herod was angry.  When the plans of those who plot against God fail, and they ultimately all do, then they get angry.  He examined the keepers and had them put to death.  We could question why they should die since God was the One Who set Peter free, but we need to understand that God was not responsible for their death.  I say that because I believe in the free will of people.  Those who believe every action is dictated by God will have more difficulty accepting what happened to the guards.  God did not cause their death.  Herod, angry over his plans being foiled, was totally responsible.  We must never hold God responsible for the evil in the world.  When unfair things happen, the rebellion of man is to blame.  His plans foiled, Herod left Judea for Caesarea, where he abode.  Herod was angry with those at Tyre and Sidon.  The people there had to have known that if Herod was angry it would not be good for them.  They had made friends with Blastus, his chamberlain, and came to him with one accord desiring peace.  Sometimes, the world can unite with someone who stands against God, but they will never find peace.  When Herod spoke to the people, they said, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man."  Acts 12:22 (KJV)  When people begin to treat a man as if he is a god, then the One true God is going to notice.  In Herod's case, he died immediately and was eaten by worms.  There have been many to come since, and are even a few today who proclaim themselves to be a god, and they haven't immediately fallen dead, but they will.  Evil will sometimes appear to triumph, but God has proclaimed the final victory.

I'm sure we've all heard the story of the people gathering at the church to pray for rain, but only one little girl brought an umbrella.  This could apply to those who were believers who were gathered to pray for Peter.  In Acts 12: 11-18, Peter, when he realized that he was really free, decided to go to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark.  Having just been miraculously freed from prison, we might run as far and as fast as we could.  Peter went to a house filled with believers.  He wasn't running in fear, but looking for fellowship.  The believers were gathered to pray for Peter, and he knocked on their door.  When a damsal named Rhoda, went to the door and recognized Peter's voice, she didn't open the gate in gladness, but ran and told the others Peter was standing before the gate.  I wonder how many times we leave the answer to prayers outside the gate, simply because we do not truly believe God is going to answer our prayers.  As they gathered to pray for Peter's release, they told Rhoda she was mad, but she continued to affirm he was there.  When God reveals the truth to us, no matter how many people tell us we are wrong, even if they are believers, we must affirm the truth.  If it is something that God has revealed to us, it will always be consistent with what His word has always taught.  An answer to prayer is one of those things God has always taught, but they thought she was mad, or had seen his angel.  Peter continued to knock, and they finally let him in, astonished.  He told them to hold their peace, and shared with them how God had delivered him.  After he instructed them to tell James and the brethren what had happened, he departed for another place.  How often do we pray not believing?  If we gather to pray for rain, shouldn't we have an umbrella with us? Those gathered praying for Peter were not ready for their prayers to be answered. When we pray today, are we ready for an immediate answer to our prayers.  If not, we may not be ready to open the gate or the umbrella.

When Herod saw that the killing of James pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter with the intention of killing him also.  God's chosen people, the Jews, not for the first time, failed to understand God's plan.  Herod saw only what made him popular.  When the lost of the world and those who call themselves God's people begin working for the same purpose, the real followers of Christ suffer.  Peter was arrested and placed in prison under a heavy guard.  Herod intended to bring him to the people after Easter. While Herod made his plans, the believers didn't storm the jail.  They prayed.  I don't think they were thinking all we can do is pray.  I think they believed that prayer would actually change things.  When did they pray?  Without ceasing.  The night before Herod would have brought Peter forth, prayers were answered.  I am not sure how many days Peter was in prison, but I am sure Herod intended to keep him there until he was ready to let him out.  Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two guards, with a guard at the door.  If we had been in Peter's position, would we have been sleeping?  I sometimes hear people, even Christians, say they couldn't sleep because things were just so bad.  Our faith should give us peace beyond our circumstances.  Peter could have spent the night pacing, plotting, and questioning or blaming God.  I believe he slept because he had truly given his life to God.  The answer to prayers was an angel who came to free Peter.  Light shined in the prison, but the angel had to wake Peter.  Peter was told to rise and the chains fell off.  He was told to get dressed and follow the angel.  Peter thought he was having a vision, but he still obeyed.  They passed the first and second ward and went out the iron gate, which opened of its own accord.  Herod had done everything he could to ensure that Peter was imprisoned, but he failed.  No matter how bleak things look to us, God will always provide a way for us to do what he asks us to do.  After he was outside the prison and the angel had departed, Peter realized it wasn't a vision.  He was free.  Prayers were answered, and Peter was free without anyone storming the prison.  We today need to truly understand the power of prayer.  When everything in the world looks bleak, we need to rest in the peace of God, not despair at the insanity of the world.  Above all else, we need to pray believing.

In Acts 11:27 through 12:2, conditions begin to go badly for the new church.  I think it is safe to say that anytime the church starts to flourish the world is going to take notice.  When that happens, those who oppose Christ and His people are going to do everything they can to stop the growth of the church.  We are told prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, revealed to them, through the Holy Spirit, that there was to be a great dearth throughout all the world.  Though we in America really have never suffered a great lack as a nation as a whole, much of the world today is not as fortunate.  Even here, many, many people suffer from a lack of the necessities of life.  During the reign of Claudius Caesar, this great dearth came to pass for the early church.  When they heard about the need, the disciples collected an offering, with each giving according to his ability, to send to the brethren which dwelt in Judea.  When we hear of Christians anywhere who are in great need, we need to give freely and joyously according to our ability to help them.  The donation was sent by Barnabas and Saul to the elders of the churches.  If we collect an offering to help others, we need to place it in the hands of the leaders of the churches.  The lack of material needs was just the beginning of the persecution to come.  Herod decided to vex certain of the church, and killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.  Physical needs were not being met, religious leaders were opposing them, and now the government was killing the followers of Christ, His church.  So, we think things are bad today?  I hear people say, "I'd like to preach like Peter and write like Paul," but I never hear, "I'd like to die like Stephen or James."  Maybe if we gave all as Peter and Paul did, God could accomplish as much through us.

In Acts 11: 18 through 27, we see a positive result of the persecution of the followers of Christ.  They were scattered abroad, going Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch.  What the Jewish leaders had hoped to accomplish with the stoning of Stephen had the opposite effect.  Those scattered preached the gospel wherever they went.  Still, as yet, not all understood what had been revealed to Peter, as they preached to the Jews only.  They were doing what Jesus had instructed them to do, spread the gospel into all the world, but without the understanding that all the world meant everyone in the world, Jew and Gentile alike.  When we reach out to a select group of people, the gospel can still be effective within that group, but it will be limited by our prejudices. Though doing what they understood God to have directed them to do, they were not doing all that God instructed them to do.  We need to insure that our understanding of God never takes the place of Who God is.  When I started this blog, I had not thought of one of the benefits of doing it.  At least twice a day, it causes me to dig into God's Word.  I pray that others will benefit from something said here,and that they will share the blog with others, but even on those days when so few read it, it keeps me grounded and disciplined.  We see that the early disciples, when they didn't have an easy way to communicate, still felt the need to spread the gospel, so Barnabas was sent as far as Antioch.  When he preached, people believed.  Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus and foundund Saul and brought him back with him.  Barnabas could have basked in his success, but I think he knew it was God's success and not his.  Even if we are being successful in reaching people for God, we must never think that we are the one bringing about the results.  We must never feel that we are alone in doing God's work. When Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, they spent a whole year assembled with the church and taught many people.  We must reach the lost, but we must also ground the church in the teachings of God.  We are told that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.  I have heard some people say today that they don't call themselves a Christian, but simply a follower of Christ or a disciple of Christ, but since the early church accepted the name, even when it was used in derision by the world, I think we are safe in identifying ourselves by the name Christian.

In Acts 11: 1-18, Peter defends his actions to the apostles and the brethren that were at Judea.  Since the gospel was being spread and the number of believers was growling daily, we might think that was what the apostles and brethren at Judea were discussing, but their concern was who was being added to the church.  They had heard that Peter was meeting and eating with uncircumcised people.  Now, these were not just Jewish men, but Jewish men who were followers of Christ.  They still wanted to keep God for themselves and from other nations.  We must be careful that we don't become the same way.  We must never view Christ as the Christ of any nation.  If God has seemingly blessed one nation more than another, that simply means that nation will ultimately have to answer for how they used those blessings.  If it were simply to enrich themselves, with little concern for the rest of the world, then I don't think God will be pleased and call us good and faithful servants.  I see signs occasionally that say let's bring God back to America, but He has never been deported.  We hear of making American great again, and it nearly always refers to material matters.  God is still in America, as He is in the rest of the world.  He is simply waiting for those who call themselves His people to put the spreading of the gospel first.  Peter recounted all that had occurred with Cornelius and him, and those that had questioned Peter's actions accepted that it was God's will and praised Him.  We need to praise God when people are reached with the gospel and accept Christ as their Savior, not question who they are.  We cannot rest on the past or wait idly by for the future.  When we understand that God is no respecter of persons, then we must understand that this applies not only to reaching the lost, but to the value of one Christian over another based on nationality.

As we summarize and bring to an end the encounter between Peter and Cornelius, we will conclude Acts 10.  We know God spoke to Peter in a vision while Peter was in prayer.  We know Peter stood on his own righteousness at first, telling God he had never eaten anything unclean, so the vision appeared three times before Peter began to question what God was telling him.  Sometimes, God has to get past our self-righteousness to get us to see the truth.  We know that Cornelius, a non Jew, who was known for his dedication to God, evidenced by the way he lived, had a vision from God.  He was to send for Peter, and he obeyed.  Cornelius was quicker to obey God than Peter was, but God was at work in both lives.  I believe God is at work today preparing the heart of people all around to receive His word.  When Peter and Cornelius got together, there was God in the midst of them.  If we get together with a person God sends us to today, He will be in the midst of us.  Cornelius was a good man, but he needed Christ as his Savior.  Peter was a follower of Christ, but he needed to learn the full implication of the gospel- that it was for every one, not just a select group.  When they both understood what God was telling them, the Holy Ghost fell on the group of Gentiles who believed.  The Jews were astounded.  Then, Peter asked in verse 47, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we." (KJV)  They were baptized and became a part of God's family, just as much as any Jew who had accepted Christ.  We are all equal in the eyes of God and we should live accordingly.  Peter didn't just baptize them and then leave their company immediately.  He tarried with them certain days.  Peter had come to understand the inclusive nature of the sacrifice of Christ.  We today need that understanding even more.  The world is calling more and more for division and hatred, and unfortunately many Christians seem to be doing the same.  We can never afford to forget that God is no respecter of persons.

I realize I have spent a lot of time discussing Peter and Cornelius, and we aren't through yet, but I believe this is an important topic that needs to be reaffirmed today. Somehow, I think we have allowed an almost hatred of non Christians to become a part of our belief.  This is something that I believe God wants His people to examine honestly as they encounter people of different race, nationality, religious belief, or anything else  that would cause us to look at anyone else with anything less than the love that God has for them.  We can never justify hatred of others because of what they do or might do to us.  We are called to be like Christ, and as Peter pointed out to Cornelius, Christ forgave even those who physically hung Him on the cross.  God is not our personal avenger to destroy those who harm or may harm us.  He is our personal Savior, as He is theirs, whether we or they ever accept His salvation or not. As Christians, we have accepted His gracious gift, but that doesn't mean we are more loved than anyone else.  God does not mete out His love to one person or group of people more than others.  When anyone strikes out against Christians, God still loves them and is heart broken if they die without coming to know Him as Savior.  We need compassion even for those who hate us.  Otherwise, Christianity becomes a self serving belief.  Just as Christ did not come to kill sinners but to redeem them, if we are to be like Him, we must look to their salvation also.  There is no room for hating anyone in Christianity.  Even if you choose not to agree with me, dig into what God's word says in prayer.  Peter thought he knew how God wanted him to relate to other people until he was in prayer on a rooftop and God showed him that God is no respecter of persons.

Peter had been given a new understanding of God.  When Jesus Christ came into the world the understanding of Who God really is was complete.  Who God was, is and always will be did not change.  People often speak of the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament as if it were different Gods.  There is,always was and will only ever be one God. Divisions between the people of the earth came about because of the sin of man, their thinking themselves to be more than what they were. When Christ came, He came to unify the world once more, but to unify them under His will.  Peter had come to understand this, and he was there to share this good news with Cornelius.  We today, all these years after the coming of Christ, need to affirm that same truth.  When God brings the mission field to us, we don't need to turn up our nose and say that there is one of them and hope they will go away.  We need to reach out to them in love and compassion. Not only will we often not go into all the world, we don't want all the world coming to us.  Peter did not go to Cornelius feeling superior but with a new understanding that God saw all people the same, sinners in need of grace or sinners who had accepted His grace and were called for a purpose.  Peter had said he was just a man.  We may look back on the apostles and early Christians as though they somehow greater than anyone who has come since.  Yet, as Peter said, so would they all have said,  we are just men.  What made them different was their relationship with Jesus, not as an earthly man that they walked with, but as an eternal Savior that they followed.  When we begin to horde the gospel, then we begin to see the world as us and them.  We want to make the gospel exclusive instead of inclusive.  We begin to want certain people destroyed instead of saved, and the gospel ceases to go into all the world.  We need to come to the understanding that Peter had that God is no respecter of persons.  Christ died for all, even those who crucified Him.

Acts 10:34

Acts 10:34 says, Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  Having been told why Cornelius sent for him, Peter began to speak, stating that he now understood that God is no respecter of people.  We must truly accept this fact today if we are going to effectively reach people with the gospel.  Verse thirty-five adds, But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.   Peter said people of any nation who believed in God, which meant that they accepted Jesus as the Messiah, and worked righteousness is accepted to God.  I don’t believe that he meant we must work to be righteous, but that our righteousness trough faith in Jesus Christ will lead us to good works for God.   Verse thirty-six continues, The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  Peter spoke of the word that was sent by God to the children of Israel preaching the peace of Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all.  The only way to peace with God and even with other people is through faith in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-seven states, That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  Peter said this word was preached throughout Judea beginning in Galilee with the baptism which John preached.  John’s baptism was by faith in the coming Messiah, Jesus.  Verse thirty-eight adds, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  Peter then told Cornelius of the good works that Jesus did, because He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power.  If we want to do good works today, we need to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  Peter said that they, the disciples, were witnesses to all that Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, including His crucifixion.  Though we did not personally crucify Jesus then, we are still guilty because He died for our sins.  Verse forty declares, Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;   Jesus arose from the grave and was seen openly.  This was the good news then and it still is today.   Verse forty-one adds, Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  Peter said that Jesus wasn’t seen by everyone after His resurrection, but by witnesses that were chosen.  This included the disciples, who not only saw Him, but ate and drank with Him.  Verse forty-two continues, And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead  We may not have physically seen Jesus as He lived, died; and rose again, but once we are called to and accept salvation through Him, we are a part of those who are commissioned to proclaim Him to the world.  We also must acknowledge that He will one day judge everyone.  Verse forty-three states, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  Peter said that all the prophets pointed to Jesus, the One Who will forgive the sins of all who put their faith in Him.  Through Jesus Christ alone can we find remission for our sins.  Verse forty-four adds, While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  While Peter was speaking, the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard the word.  I believe this means all who accepted the truth of the gospel and put their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord and not just everyone who heard the word.  Once we accept Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit immediately indwells us.  Verse forty-five continues, And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Jews were astounded because the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles as well, even though this was what Peter had just been explaining.  We should not be amazed when what is proclaimed by God’s word comes to pass.  Verse forty-six says, For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, They knew that the Gentiles were filled with the Holy Spirit because they began to speak in tongues, or I believe other languages, and magnify God.  They weren’t just calling attention to themselves but were witnessing of and glorifying God.  Verse forty-seven adds, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  They asked if anyone could forbid these Gentiles from being baptized, since they had received the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish believers had.  We should never believe that certain people cannot be saved.  Verse forty-nine concludes, And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.  Peter commanded that these new believers be baptized, and they asked him to stay with them for a while.  Of course, they should have known that what Peter did next would be up to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  I will summarize and bring to an end the encounter between Peter and Cornelius.  We know God spoke to Peter in a vision while Peter was in prayer.  We know Peter stood on his own righteousness at first, telling God he had never eaten anything unclean, so the vision appeared three times before Peter began to question what God was telling him. Sometimes, God has to get past our self-righteousness to get us to see the truth.  We know that Cornelius, a non-Jew, who was known for his dedication to God, evidenced by the way he lived, had a vision from God.  He was to send for Peter, and he obeyed.  Cornelius was quicker to obey God than Peter was, but God was at work in both lives.  I believe God is at work today preparing the heart of people all around to receive His word.  When Peter and Cornelius got together, there was God in the midst of them.  If we get together with a person God sends us to today, He will be in the midst of us.  Cornelius was a good man, but he needed Christ as his Savior.  Peter was a follower of Christ, but he needed to learn the full implication of the gospel- that it was for everyone, not just a select group.  When they both understood what God was telling them, the Holy Ghost fell on the group of Gentiles who believed.  The Jews were astounded.  Then, Peter asked in verse 47, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we." (KJV)  They were baptized and became a part of God's family, just as much as any Jew who had accepted Christ.  We are all equal in the eyes of God and we should live accordingly.  Peter didn't just baptize them and then leave their company immediately.  He tarried with them certain days.  Peter had come to understand the inclusive nature of the sacrifice of Christ.  We today need that understanding even more.  The world is calling more and more for division and hatred, and unfortunately many Christians seem to be doing the same.  We can never afford to forget that God is no respecter of persons.