Peter returns to Jerusalem.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 11:1-18
Cornelius asked Peter to stay at Caesarea for a few days. Then Peter made his way back to Jerusalem. By the time he gets there, the word had already spread that Gentiles had come to faith in Christ.
Notice what the initial concern is with Peter. Some were wound up that Peter had gone to the house of a Gentile and ate with them. They confronted Peter with his unacceptable behavior.
Peter explained all that God had orchestrated and revealed. God had specifically shown Peter a vision explaining that Peter should not consider things to be unclean that God had declared clean. Then the Holy Spirit guided Peter to go with the men. When he got to Caesarea and heard what Cornelius had seen, he realized that the message from God was way more than just saying that it was OK to visit a Gentile. God wanted Gentiles to come into His family.
Peter’s big finish is that the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles just like He had come upon the apostles at Pentecost. The opposition was silenced. You can argue with somebody’s idea or even their dream, but you can’t argue with the event of Pentecost.
Then they glorified God saying, “So God has granted repentance resulting in life to even the Gentiles.” What do you do when God reveals His plan? You praise God for His plan.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I pray for this kind of flexibility - when confronted with God's plan being different than my own plan - I change MY plan to God's and praise Him for it. Way, way too often we keep "listening" for God to reveal His plan when we are just "waiting" for Him to change His plan to fit OUR plan.
Post a Comment