Page 271 - Demo

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 
Peter’s Speech.* 34Then Peter proceeded to speak
and said,* “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.j
35Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts
uprightly is acceptable to him. 36* You know the word
[that] he sent to the Israelites* as he proclaimed peace
through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,k 37what has
happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after
the baptism that John preached,l 38how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth* with the holy Spirit and power. He
went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.m 39We are witnesses* of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and [in] Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 40This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, 41not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.n 42He commissioned uso to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.* 43To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness
of sins through his name.”
The Baptism of Cornelius. 44p While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.* 45The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, 46for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”q 48He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 49Then they invited him to stay for a few days.
10:34-43
In a few powerful words, Peter preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and his household. He emphasizes the divine power at work in Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection, and invites all to a participation in this life through faith.
* [10:34–43] Peter’s speech to the household of Cornelius typi es early Christian preaching to Gentiles.
* [10:34–35] The revelation of God’s choice of Israel to be the people of God did not mean he withheld the divine favor from other people.
* [10:36–43] These words are more directed to Luke’s Christian readers than to the household of Cornelius, as indicated by the opening words, “You know.” They trace the continuity between the preaching and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and the proclamation of Jesus by the early community. The emphasis on this divinely ordained continuity (Acts 10:41) is meant to assure Luke’s readers of the delity of Christian tradition to the words and deeds of Jesus.
* [10:36] To the Israelites: Luke, in the words of Peter, speaks of the prominent position occupied by Israel in the history of salvation.
* [10:38] Jesus of Nazareth: God’s revelation of his plan for the destiny of humanity through Israel culminated in Jesus of Nazareth. Consequently, the ministry of Jesus is an integral
part of God’s revelation. This viewpoint explains why the early Christian communities were interested in conserving the historical substance of the ministry of Jesus, a tradition leading to the production of the four gospels.
* [10:39] We are witnesses: the apostolic testimony was not restricted to the resurrection of Jesus but also included his historical ministry. This witness, however, was theological in character; the Twelve, divinely mandated as prophets, were empowered to interpret his sayings and deeds in the light of his redemptive death and resurrection. The meaning of these words and deeds was to be made clear to the developing Christian community as the bearer of the word of salvation (cf. Acts 1:21–26). Hanging him on a tree: see note on Acts 5:30.
* [10:42] As judge of the living and the dead: the apostolic preaching to the Jews appealed to their messianic hope, while the preaching to Gentiles stressed the coming divine judgment; cf. 1 Thes 1:10.
* [10:44] Just as the Jewish Christians received the gift of the Spirit, so too do the Gentiles.
Peter in the home of Cornelius by Gustave Doré (1866)
j. [10:34] Dt 10:17; 2 Chr 19:7; Jb 34:19; Wis 6:7; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; 1 Pt 1:17.
k. [10:36] Is 52:7; Na 2:1.
l. [10:37] Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14; Lk 4:14.
m. [10:38] Is 61:1; Lk 4:18. p. [10:44] 11:15; 15:8. n. [10:41] Lk 24:41–43. q. [10:47] 8:36.
o. [10:42] 1:8; 3:15; 17:31; Lk 24:48; Rom 14:9;
2 Tm 4:1.
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