Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Even as Peter was saying these things [to Cornelius and the others with him about salvation in Jesus], the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Luke made sure we understand the implications that the baptism of Cornelius and his many friends and relatives had for Christian fellowship. Full fellowship of Jewish Christians with Cornelius and all these new brothers and sisters had begun with their baptism. Cornelius asked Peter, a Jew, to stay with him, a Roman and a Gentile, and Peter did. Boom! The wall* that divided people as Jew and Gentile fell, and a new family of God, made up of all peoples who call on the name of the Lord, could be saved and enjoy full fellowship with one another. While Christians have worked on the implications of this moment for a long time, Cornelius and his many friends and family who came to Christ demonstrated God's desire for full Christian fellowship with no dividing walls!
* See Ephesians 2:11-22, which is also in our Related Scripture Readings below.
O, God, praise your name. You are God of all. I shout, "Hallelujah!" with the angels in heaven at the dawning of a new age of salvation with Cornelius' conversion. May we, your children today, bring to full fruition your desire to have "every nation and tribe and people and language"** join in your chorus of praise for Jesus, your Son, our Savior, and the Lamb who was slain to give us life. To his glory, we pray and praise his name. Amen.
** See Revelation 7:9-17, which is also in our Related Scripture Readings below.
![Illustration of Acts 10:44-48 NLT — Even as Peter was saying these things [to Cornelius and the others with him about salvation in Jesus], the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/24746.jpg "Illustration of Acts 10:44-48 NLT — Even as Peter was saying these things [to Cornelius and the others with him about salvation in Jesus], the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, \"Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?\" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.")
Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.
Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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