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Wednesday
January 27, 2010
Embodying Hope and Celebrating our Unity in Christ Jesus
Introduction
Acts 10:1-33: Peter experiences a vision telling him that God doesn't think
anyone is unclean or unfit. Meanwhile, Cornelius, a Gentile, has a vision
in which an angel invites him to send men to see Peter. The two ultimately
meet and share their stories.
Today's Scripture: Acts 10:1-33The voice spoke to him again, "Do not consider anything unclean
that God has declared clean."
How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today? Today's Reading
1There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who
was a captain in the Roman army regiment called
“The Italian Regiment.”
2He was a religious man; he and his whole family
worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was
constantly praying to God.
3It was about three o'clock one afternoon when he
had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of God come in and say to
him,
“Cornelius!”
4He stared at the angel in fear and said,
“What is it, sir?”
The angel answered,
God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is
ready to answer you.
5And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man
whose full name is Simon Peter.
6He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather
named Simon, who lives by the sea.
7Then the angel went away, and Cornelius called two
of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his
personal attendants.
8He told them what had happened and sent them off
to Joppa.
9The next day, as they were on their
way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about
noon in order to pray.
10He became hungry and wanted something to eat;
while the food was being prepared, he had a vision.
11He saw heaven opened and something coming down
that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the
earth.
12In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and
wild birds.
13A voice said to him,
“Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”
14But Peter said,
“Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually
unclean or defiled.”
15The voice spoke to him again,
“Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared
clean.”
16This happened three times, and then the thing
was taken back up into heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of
this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house
was, and they were now standing in front of the gate.
18They called out and asked,
“Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?”
19Peter was still trying to understand what the
vision meant, when the Spirit said,
Listen! Three
men are here looking for you.
20So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to
go with them, for I have sent them.
21So Peter went down and said to the men,
“I am the man you are looking for. Why have you
come?”
22“Captain Cornelius sent
us,” they answered.
“He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected
by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his
house, so that he could hear what you have to say.”
23Peter invited the men in and had them spend the
night there.
The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the
believers from Joppa went along with him.
24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where
Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends
that he had invited.
25As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him,
fell at his feet, and bowed down before him.
26But Peter made him rise.
“Stand up,” he said,
“I myself am only a man.”
27Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went
into the house, where he found many people gathered.
28He said to them,
You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his
religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I
must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled.
29And so when you sent for me, I came without any
objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?
30Cornelius said,
It was about this time three days ago that I was praying
in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man
dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me
31and said:
Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of
your works of charity.
32Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name
is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather,
who lives by the sea.
33And so I sent for you at once, and you have been
good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to
hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say.
Reflect
What happens in Cornelius' vision? What happens in Peter's vision? What
might have been strange or surprising about these visions for these men?
What happens when the two meet? What is it like for you to make a
connection with someone with a different background and perspective from
yours?
Pray
Loving God, open my heart and mind to your Word, that I may open my heart
and mind to those with whom you call me into relationship. Create
opportunities for conversations of faith that I may learn from others.
Amen.
Prayer Concern
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