Good News for Everyone

“I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.” — Acts 10:34–35

When Peter arrived at Cornelius’s house in Caesarea, Cornelius was waiting for him. He had invited all his relatives and close friends.

As Peter came in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet to worship him. But Peter pulled him up. “Stand up,” he said. “I’m only a man myself.”

Peter went in and found a large crowd of people waiting. And he said to them, “You know that it’s against our law for a Jew to visit someone who isn’t Jewish, or go into their house. But God has shown me that I shouldn’t call anyone unclean. So when you sent for me, I came without arguing. Now, may I ask why you sent for me?”

Cornelius told Peter about the angel. “So now we are all here in the presence of God,” he said, “to listen to everything the Lord has told you to say to us.”

Then Peter began to speak. “I now truly understand that God doesn’t have favourites. He welcomes people from every nation who honour Him and do what is right.”

And Peter told them all about Jesus. How Jesus went around doing good and healing people. How He was put to death on a cross. How God raised Him from the dead on the third day. How Peter and the others had seen Him and even eaten with Him after He rose. “All the prophets speak about Him,” said Peter, “and say that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.”

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on everyone who was listening!

The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished. The Holy Spirit had been poured out even on people who weren’t Jews! They heard them speaking in other languages and praising God, just like on the day of Pentecost.

“Can anyone stop these people from being baptised with water?” said Peter. “They have received the Holy Spirit just as we did!”

So Cornelius and his family and friends were baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. And they asked Peter to stay with them for a few more days.

When Peter went back to Jerusalem, some of the believers there criticised him. “You went into the house of people who aren’t Jews, and ate with them!” they said. So Peter told them the whole story, from the beginning.

When they heard it, they had nothing more to say. They praised God. “So God has given even people who aren’t Jews the chance to turn to Him and have life!”

Do you remember God’s very first promise to Abraham? “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Now it was really happening. The door was wide open, for everyone.

The promise kept: Peter told Cornelius, “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43). And God’s first promise to Abraham, that all nations would be blessed through his family, was opening up to the whole world.

Read it in your Bible: Acts 10:24–48; 11:1–18

Dear God, thank you that you don’t have favourites, and that the good news about Jesus is for every nation. Thank you that the door is open for me too. Amen.