The Open Door To The World

“And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 40:45

During the period of time that Jesus was accomplishing His ministry, the concept that the Jews had of the other nations of the world, the Gentiles, was one which isolated them, in particular, by limiting their vision of the will of God with respect to the rest of the world. When Jesus met the Samarian woman in John’s gospel, chapter four, even the Samaritan woman declared: “…the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (v.9) After the crucifixion of Christ, His resurrection and ascension into heaven, when a great many Jews came to Christ to be saved, Peter visited a Gentile home, one that belonged to a Roman Centurion, who had been instructed by God to ask Peter to come to his house in Caesarea and hear his words. Peter would then say unto Cornelius, and to all that were assembled in his home, “Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28) That which Peter was declaring was the truth, as many of the Jews of that day, believed that they were the sole recipients of salvation from God, that they were the only chosen ones, since they had been visited by God in the past, having received the ten commandments, and to whom the writings of the prophets had been given. In essence, in believing this, the Jews had chosen to enclose themselves behind the closed doors of false concepts, especially in their interpretation of the Scriptures. In doing this, they were denying the possibility of the salvation of all men, of all nations. Why is this fact so very important to see, in light of Peter’s visit to the home of Cornelius?

Previous to Peter’s visit, on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God was poured out upon the disciples in Jerusalem, soon after the crucifixion of Christ, there was the revelation to the Jews that God had visited His people again, but this time, as a result of Christ’s coming, death and resurrection. Salvation had come to the Jews, and there was great rejoicing, as the church of God, Christ’s body of believers, was brought into existence. Though Jesus, before His death, had spoken to a Samaritan who was not a Jew, and this concerning “the gift of God,” everlasting life, and Christ being the soul’s “living water” by the Spirit, the concept of the gospel, and the outpouring of the Spirit, had not spread throughout the Jewish nation. However, in a single house, much like the simple setting where the disciples were assembled at Pentecost, God would work wonderfully, simply, but powerfully to declare to the world that salvation had come to not only the Jew, but to all nations. Peter testified to those gathered before him that day concerning the resurrection of Christ, and the fact that Christ had revealed Himself after the resurrection to certain chosen witnesses by God. He went on to say that the Lord had commanded the apostles to preach unto the people, and to testify that Christ had been ordained of God, to be the Judge of the living and the dead. (10:42) However, when Peter mentioned that all of the prophets, according to their writings, gave witness to Christ, and that, “…through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission (or forgiveness) of sins,” the Holy Spirit fell upon all which heard the word.” That day, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Gentiles as He was on the Jews the day of Pentecost. God had opened the door to the rest of the world, that they should know Him by the forgiveness of sins, according to their faith.

Salvation had come to the world, revealed wonderfully in the simple home of Cornelius.

Dear Father, Visit us all today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.