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JULY 2
And guided them by the skillfulness
of his hands.
Proverbs 20:6–7
10:34 God shows no partiality. Taught in
6 Most men will proclaim each his own both the Old Testament (Deut. 10:17; 2 Chr.
goodness, 19:7; Job 34:19) and the New Testament (Rom.
But who can find a faithful man? 2:11; 3:29,30; James 2:1). The reality of this
truth was taking on new dimensions for Peter.
7 The righteous man walks in his
integrity;
His children are blessed after him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of
Acts 10:24–48 Israel, preaching peace through Jesus
Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you
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24 And the following day they entered
Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for know, which was proclaimed throughout all
Judea, and began from Galilee after the bap-
them, and had called together his relatives tism which John preached: how God anoint-
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and close friends. As Peter was coming in, ed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet with power, who went about doing good and
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and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 39
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and for God was with Him. And we are witnesses
found many who had come together. Then of all things which He did both in the land of
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he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed
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for a Jewish man to keep company with or go by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on
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to one of another nation. But God has shown the third day, and showed Him openly, not to
me that I should not call any man common or all the people, but to witnesses chosen before
unclean. Therefore I came without objection by God, even to us who ate and drank with
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as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what Him after He arose from the dead. And He
reason have you sent for me?” commanded us to preach to the people, and to
testify that it is He who was ordained by God
to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him
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all the prophets witness that, through His
name, whoever believes in Him will receive re-
10:28 unlawful. Literally, “breaking a taboo.” mission of sins.”
Peter followed the Jewish standards and tradi-
tions his whole life. His comments reveal his
acceptance of a new standard in which Jews
no longer were to consider Gentiles profane.
10:36 preaching peace. Christ, by paying the
price of sin through His sacrificial death,estab-
lished peace between man and God (Rom.
So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was 5:1–11).
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fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I
prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood
before me in bright clothing, and said,
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‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and 44 While Peter was still speaking these
your alms are remembered in the sight of words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who
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God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon heard the word. And those of the circumci-
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here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in sion who believed were astonished, as many as
the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy
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When he comes, he will speak to you.’ So I Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles
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sent to you immediately, and you have done also. For they heard them speak with
well to come. Now therefore, we are all pres- tongues and magnify God.
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ent before God, to hear all the things com- Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid
manded you by God.” water, that these should not be baptized who
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in
But in every nation whoever fears Him and the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to
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works righteousness is accepted by Him. stay a few days.
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