The Book of Acts

The Gentiles Hear the Good News

Acts 10:34-43 _NLT

“Then Peter replied, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.’”- Acts 10:34-35

            As you will recall, Peter had visited Caesarea to meet Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. Cornelius and his friends and relatives were anxiously awaiting the word from God that Peter would share with them all. Peter didn’t disappoint as he launched into a brief synopsis of Jesus life and ministry. The apostle made of point of saying that God never shows any favoritism towards one racial group over another. He was setting the stage for the truth that Gentiles were to receive God’s salvation message just the same as the Jews. This was initially difficult for Peter to accept, but since God was telling him this he fully accepted it and began preaching to Gentiles as well as Jews. 

            Peter stressed the fact that not all were privy to the fact that Jesus had been raised from the dead, only the hand chosen apostles. These chosen men were commissioned to spread the gospel message that Jesus saves throughout the world as they knew it. The message was a simple one, all who believed in Jesus Christ will have their sins forgiven through his name. 

            There is a general misunderstanding of this statement based on the entirety of scripture, which tells us there is something more to becoming a follower of Christ than simply “believing”. “Then Jesus called the crowd and his followers to him. He said, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me. Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me and for the Good News will save it. It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost.” (Mark 8:34-36 ERV) That is more than just believing. Many have been caught up in the deception that simply believing in God and/or Jesus earns you entrance into heaven. Not so. There needs to be a 180 degree turn away from your former life. “Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:14b-15, 17 NLT) Once saved we are a new person in Christ. Our lives are no longer our own. We are called to no longer conform to worldly standards, but to the standards God has laid out in his Word. This is message Peter is sharing with the crowd in Caesarea. This is God’s message to us as well. Shed your old skin and live life anew. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament.

Note: ERV = Easy to Read Version