Continued from yesterday. Then they told [Peter] about Cornelius . . . and how an angel had instructed him to send for Peter to come and tell him what God wanted him to do . . .

   They arrived in Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for him, and had called together his relatives and close friends to meet Peter. As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship. But Peter said, "Stand up! I'm not a god!" Peter told them, "You know it is against the Jewish laws for me to come into a Gentile home like this. But God has shown me in a vision that I should never think of anyone as inferior. So I came as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me what you want."

   [Cornelius then told Peter about the angel and the message he'd been given to send for him.] ". . . so I sent for you at once, and you have done well to come so soon. Now here we are, waiting before the Lord, anxious to hear what He has told you to tell us!"

   Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that the Jews are not God's only favorites! In every nation He has those who worship Him and do good deeds and are acceptable to Him. I'm sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel - that there is peace with God through Jesus, the Messiah, Who is Lord of all creation. This message has spread all through Judea, beginning with John the Baptist in Galilee. And you no doubt know that Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were possessed by demons, for God was with Him.

   "And we apostles are witnesses of all He did throughout Israel and in Jerusalem, when He was murdered on a cross. But God brought Him back to life again three days later and showed Him to certain witnesses God had selected beforehand - not to the general public, but to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He sent us to preach the Good News everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the Judge of all - living and dead. And all the prophets have written about Him, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name." To be continued.

Taken from Acts 10, The Living Bible. For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575,
Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.