BibleProject | Upside-Down Kingdom / Part 2 - ActsSample

In this section, Luke introduces a Roman centurion, named Cornelius, who represents everything the Jewish people hated about the Roman occupation. An angel appears to Cornelius and tells him to call for a man named Peter, who is staying at Simon’s house in Joppa. When Cornelius sends messengers to do just that, Peter is right where the angel said he’d be, participating in the Jewish hour of prayer, when suddenly he has a strange vision. In the vision, God brings him a collection of animals that the Jewish people were forbidden to eat and tells Peter, “eat these.” Peter replies, “I’ve never eaten anything impure.” But God responds, “don’t call impure what I have made pure.” This vision repeats three times and leaves Peter perplexed. 

As Peter’s still thinking about the vision, the messengers arrive with an invitation for Peter to travel back with them to visit Cornelius’ home. At this, Peter starts to understand the vision he saw. Peter knows that going to a non-Jewish house would risk ritual impurity, so he’d usually turn down the invitation. But through the vision, God was helping Peter see that he shouldn’t call anyone impure; God holds the power to purify all people who rely on Jesus. So without objection, Peter goes to Cornelius’ house and shares the good news about Jesus––his death, resurrection, and forgiveness for all who trust in him. While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit fills Cornelius and all his family members, just like he did for the Jewish followers of Jesus on the day of Pentecost! The movement is breaking out to reach all people, just as Jesus said it would.

Read, Reflect, and Respond:

• Before you read today’s passages, pray for God to give you understanding. What do you observe as you reflect on what you read?
• What people groups or subcultures do some people consider to be beyond God’s reach? Why do you think they hold that viewpoint? How do you think today’s reading could impact their viewpoint?  
• Let your reading and reflection prompt a prayer. Thank God for pursuing non-Jewish people to be a part of his family. Ask him to help you join him in all the ways his love reaches out to teach and forgive all kinds of people.