Acts 10:1-35

Peter said: "I now really understand that God has no favorites, but that in every nation God loves those who revere him and act justly."

The story of Cornelius is related by the author of Acts to explain how Gentiles came to be included in the church. Cornelius is a God-fearing, Roman centurion. In a vision an angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter, who the following day has a vision telling him that all foods are clean. Peter is told by the Spirit to go to see Cornelius, so he travels to Caesarea and there violates Jewish law by entering the house of a Gentile. Peter preaches to the Gentiles gathered there and sees the Holy Spirit come upon them, so he baptizes them in the name of Jesus Christ.

We need to remember that Jesus, a Jew, called twelve other Jews to be his disciples and, according to the gospel of Matthew, sent these disciples only to teach and heal among Jews. (Mt. 10:5-6) In the account of Acts the church begins with Jews and only becomes Gentile after the Holy Spirit comes upon Gentiles and Paul's ministry to the Gentiles proves successful.

The church's proclamation that God loves all men and women, who are faithful and act justly, was self-serving, because it enabled Jews and Gentiles to worship together in a new community of faith. But this witness has also undermined exclusive ideologies based on race, ethnic or national identity, even though the church has often failed to live up to its own vision of a loving and a forgiving God. Clearly, the challenge remains today, both for the church and for the world.

Grace and peace...Bob