Unhindered
This week’s reading (Acts 10:1-18, see below) begins with Peter’s response to the “believers” who “criticized” him for associating with those whose lifestyle choices are clearly identified as “unclean” according to the “Word of God” given to and through Moses. We are then given Peter’s “step by step” explanation and summary of the events leading to nothing short of a conversion experience (recorded in Acts 10:9-48). Next, he informs his good faith interrogators that “The Spirit told him . . . not to make a distinction between them and us” (vs. 12). Finally, without knowing whether or not his new trajectory in life would be embraced or rejected by his community of faith, Peter declared “who was I to hinder God.”
Wow! I simply cannot imagine a more timely and relevant message for serious followers of Jesus today. And I cannot imagine a more inspired and challenging message for a community of faith committed to being “a Church the world needs today”! I hope you will make every effort to participate in this week’s Bible study either in person in rooms 113 and 114 or via Zoom (information at the bottom of the this page)
This Week’s Reading:
Acts 11:1-5, 10-18
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ 4Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. . . .
10This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.
11At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were.
12The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.”
15And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
17If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ 18When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’
This Week’s Zoom Info:
Link for Men’s Bible Study at 7:30 a.m. Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85610681954?pwd=lbwwfzdUbAtlK7OVMswSP8uDvRsyA2.1
Meeting ID: 856 1068 1954 Passcode: 200461
Link for Women’s Bible Study at 10:30 a.m. Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83582289022?pwd=F0kOsaeGRTTnaoaL12rx7rIzjy89nJ.1
Meeting ID: 835 8228 9022 Passcode: 130287