Oh' Now I Get It...
November 1, 2011
Today’s reading: Acts 10 NASB
SCRIPTURE
“Opening his
mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to
show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is
right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel,
preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— you yourselves know
the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after
the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God
anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing
good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We
are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in
Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him
up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people,
but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and
drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the
people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by
God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness
that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of
sins.” - Acts 10:34-43 NASB
OBSERVATION
The chronological order of Acts 9 - 11
is somewhat debated by noted historians such as, Robert Grant, that
claimsduring the reign of Herod Agrippa,
41-44, no Roman troops were stationed in his territory. Historian Wedderburn likewise finds the
narrative "historically suspect", and in view of the lack of
inscriptional and literary evidence corroborating Acts. Noting that the 'Italian regiment' is
generally identified as cohors II Italica
civium Romanorum, a unit whose presence in Judea
is attested no earlier than 69 CE, historian E Mary Smallwood observes that the
events described from Acts 9:32 to chapter 11 may not be in chronological order
with the rest of the chapter but actually take place after Agrippa's death in
chapter 12, and that the "Italian regiment" may have been introduced
to Caesarea as early as 44 CE. Wedderburn notes this suggestion of
chronological re-arrangement, along with the suggestion that Cornelius lived in
Caesarea away from his unit. However, Historians such as Bond, Speidel, and
Saddington, see no difficulty in the record of Acts.
As I opened my bible and re-read Acts
10; alongside, various historians notes - I began to think, ‘how much like Peter are we when reading the
text today?‘ Here Peter questions
and appears not to understand what God’s attempting to communicate. Really?
Yep! Let’s go verses 12-16, “....and there were in it all kinds of
four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. A
voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means,
Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came
to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” This
happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.”
Why would God even show a vision like
this to Peter? Why would God ask such a thing from Peter?
I can totally put myself in Peters
shoes - experiencing a similar frustration, confusion, and desire for
clarification!
Peter’s willingness to venture to
Cornelius house, his obedience in the midst of not understanding, and his
persistence to seek out clarification are unreal! It’s as Peter follows God’s direction in the
midst of uncertainty that I can hear my grandfather saying, “time will tell....time will tell....”
Let’s jump to verse 34 in chapter 10
(most likely days later) as Peter states, “I
most certainly understand now.....”
How many times have I done that? A few.... no, it’s been countless times! Yes - countless times, I’ve found myself
questioning the text only to state, “oh’
now I get it....” It’s in the midst
of this statement I see Peter’s understanding bring him back onto mission,
alining his priority, once again narrowing his focus, and re-centering on that
which is most important.
APPLICATION
1) God is not one to show partiality.
2) Peter audience at Cornelius house were most likely eyewitness (or they most likely knew someone personally who had seen Jesus first hand.)
“You
know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with
power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by
the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both
in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging
Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become
visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by
God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is
the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of
Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes
in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” - Acts 10:38-41
I. What’s this factual account; so that, I
can apply this?
(I) God anointed Jesus.
(II) Jesus
went about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the devil. How? God was with Him.
(III) Those
in the room somehow witnessed firsthand what Jesus did.
(IV) It
was also known through-out the region via ABC news or a local blog that Jesus
was killed vby hanging on a cross and that somehow He was raised on the third
day.
(V) Jesus
become visible after his death.
(VI) Jesus
asks us to tell, to share, to talk story with others - sharing / testifying
first hand that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge, Savior,
Redeemer, and a Good Just God of all people - living and dead.
(VII) History, historians, and prophets back
up Jesus as being factual witness.
Bottom line: It’s through Jesus that I
can start to understand and be honest about my short comings, how forgiveness
plays out, and that restoration is truly possible!
How? Listening, trusting, and obeying -
aka: following Peter’s example in Acts 10.
PRAYER
Help me stay close and connected to You
today as once again I read your word and feel enlighten -aka- “now I
understand”- lol. God, I think You ask me to following You somewhat blindly; so
that, I’ll holdfast to Your Word and You. If I followed You completely out of
my logic.... .... well.... that would cancel out the aspect of faith. It’s as I wrap things up this morning God I’m
reminded that You’ve asked me to live within reality as I continue to cultivate
a genuine growing relationship with You.... - Trevor
What would be your life application to this text?