The Power of Jesus
Acts 10:38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Peter is telling the household of Cornelius that God shows no favoritism when it comes to His grace. It is for Jews and Gentiles and Peter shares with this household of Cornelius that salvation is offered to them and Jesus is the one who has made it possible for them to receive this great salvation. Remember, this is post-Jesus walking on the earth. Jesus has gone to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit down to those followers and the power of God is evident as the gospel is proclaimed to all who will hear. Peter is a walking witness to what God has done through Jesus and he is sharing the good news to the family of Cornelius.
This message Peter was sharing was after God had given Peter a vision while sitting on a flat roof after eating. Here is the scripture that tells of this vision in Acts 10: 9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” 14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
Don't think for one minute that this vision did not confuse Peter just a little, or a lot. But Peter received it with a willing heart and apparently remembered that he had received this gift that he was also commissioned to give away and that the power of the Holy Spirit would take care of the rest. Regardless of his Jewish belief Peter received the vision and the men sent by Cornelius were at his door and Peter knew then what was going on. The men didn't even have to say they were looking for a man. Peter goes downstairs and says "I'm your man!" Then the men tell Peter of the vision Cornelius saw and why they were at his house. Peter knew what was going on much better now that he had moved downstairs from the roof and his commitment was to follow through with what the vision had taught him. The Holy Spirit had told Peter about the men who were at his door and when he went down the steps it was his steps of commitment to do what God had called him to do.
A prayer from a Roman Centurian, a Gentile, was heard by our loving Lord and God responded and set up a divine appointment that changed the household of Cornelius and the world forever. Salvation was made available to ALL who would come for it and we must make it available to everyone as well. The power of Jesus did not die when He went to heaven, but it continues through the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us and God is still working today as He did then. The scripture again says this in Acts 10:38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.
When we receive Jesus we receive the Holy Spirit and the power of the gospel for salvation is still fresh and real and happening today. God still wants to save individuals and households, but we must share the message of salvation so they can realize what God is offering to them. When we lay down personal prejudices God will work great works in others who we might not believe it can happen. Here is the result of Peter taking the message of Jesus to this household of Gentiles. Acts 10: 44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Live in the saving power of Jesus. Share the saving power of Jesus. Trust in the Holy Spirit showing you who to share that message with and SHARE IT!! Be the church!! Then you will see The Power of Jesus to save that which was lost.
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren