How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. Acts 10:38
This verse is part of an entire story (Acts Chapter 10) involving three men:
1. Cornelius, a Roman (gentile) centurion, who, according to tradition, should worship the emperor and the patron gods of his military unit, but whose entire family worshiped and served God through benevolence.
2. Simon, a tanner, (gentile) who by trade, came into daily contact with dead animals, making himself totally unclean in the Jewish tradition and strongly looked down on by the ‘keepers of the law.’
3. Peter, the apostle, The Rock upon which Christ built His church, the Body of Christ.
Cornelius had a vision to send for Peter who was staying at the home of Simon the tanner in Joppa. The next afternoon Peter had an encounter with God and realized that Jewish law was no longer necessary for honoring God.
Peter met Cornelius, Cornelius and his whole family were filled the Holy Spirit, a second Pentecost, one for the gentiles. The end result was that Peter realized the Gospel was given universally to all, not just the descendants of Abraham.
We live in a world that seeks balance. Equality is extremely valuable, but in seeking our own brand we often deprive others of theirs. Peter, who loved Christ more than life itself, was making this mistake, but love allowed his heart to see truth and change the face of the Christianity.
An open heart is a product of faith and an invaluable tool to the Kingdom of God.
Love,
Gretchen