What does the Bible Say About Man

Here is today's Reading

Acts Chapter 10

Background:  Saul put aside his persecution of followers of Christ because he became a believer in Jesus.  God changed his name to Paul.  Paul was a Jew by race but his mission was not to spread the gospel to the Jews but specifically to the Gentiles.  (People who are not Jews, therefore...every other type of race)  The problem was that Jews thought that all other people were NOT God's chosen people.  This make sense because all throughout the Old Testament, Isreal was called God's chosen people.  Not only that, but God asked them not to associate with pagan nations so that they would not fall into their idol worship.  (note:  there were gentiles in the Old Testament that put aside their nation's ways and followed God.  For example:  Ruth and Rahab.  God was fine with this and welcomed them into His chosen people)  Anyway, to a Jew, a gentile was unclean.  JEsus' death and ressurection changed all that.  The gospel was always meant to be for everyone and God is revealing that mystery to Peter in this chapter.  Note what it says in verse 28 and 34.  Write this down because God is changing how He is doing things.  The church is how He is choosing to show himself instead of Isreal.  Jews could become believers of course, but they are apart of the church.  God is making sure Peter, the disciple called to share the gospel with the Jews, know that God is doing this.  The Jews and gentiles had to be in church together so they had to change their perspective.

Finally, Look at verses 44-48.

Does is sound familiar to Acts Chapter 2?  How?  Why do you think its important that people in that day (and in ours) see that the Holy Spirit filled the gentiles in the same way as it filled the Jews?

Have fun!