I read Acts 10 this morning because Mrs. Block had mentioned it to me the other day at school. She read a little piece of it to me in the teacher’s room and it sounded interesting so I figured I would read the whole chapter. I had intentions of reading it that day when I got home, but I never did. I finally read it this morning and found myself thanking God for His son and Holy Spirit.
Basically what happens is this. This guy Cornelius, which makes me think of the Abdominal Snowman, has this vision from God. God tells Cornelius that his alms and prayers have ‘ascended as a memorial before God’ and that Cornelius should send for a man once named Simon, but is now called Peter. Cornelius obeys God and sends servants to Joppa for Simon/Peter.
Before Cornelius’ servants get there, Peter has a vision of this blanket ascending from heaven. In it are animals unclean and clean. God tells Peter to eat these animals, but Peter refuses because he remembers the Old Testament law about eating unclean animals. God tells Peter, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
Peter does not understand the vision at first. At that point, Cornelius’ servants arrive and Peter goes to meet them. The servants ask Peter to come with them to Cornelius’s house, so Peter goes. Cornelius gathers his relatives and close friends and meets with Peter. Peter tells Cornelius and family that it is unlawful for a Jew to meet with another nation, but that God showed him that he shouldn’t call any person common or unclean. At this point, Peter begins to share the good news.
Peter says, “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” – Acts 10: 34-35
As Peter was talking, the Holy Spirit came up Cornelius and his family, Gentiles. They began speaking in tongues and extolling God. Peter then baptized them and stayed with them a few days.
After reading this, I found myself thanking God for sending His son and for His Holy Spirit. God is awesome!
P.S. Cornelius was Italian
