From Pastor's Desk
The Holy Ghost (Spirit) in Action - Scene 24: Acts 11: 1-18 - Peter Explains His Actions
The scriptures tell us that when the Apostles and brothers heard that the Gentiles also received the Word of God, Peter went up to Jerusalem to explain this phenomenal move of God by the Spirit of God in action.
The Saints in Jerusalem that were converted on the day of Pentecost, were all of Jewish origin, and they incorrectly believed that this move of God was restricted to a single set of people and could not believe nor accept the fact that the Apostle Peter was used by the Spirit of God in action, to go a Gentile household, and preach the Gospel, with the resulting conversion of Cornelius and his household.
Thus, the Apostle Peter was asked to explain in detail why he went to this Gentile house in Caesarea, and why also did he went in and eat with them. Dr. Luke says that the Apostle Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning unto them, how he got a vision and how the men from Cornelius’ house in Caesarea came to his house in Joppa. He stated how reluctant he was to go with these Gentile men that visited, but the Spirit of God in action spoke to him and told him he should go with them without any doubts, for I have sent them unto you.
Furthermore, Peter told them, that when he got to Cornelius’ house, this Roman soldier in charge of 100 men, showed him and his other Jewish brethren that went with him, how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, “send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and thy household shall be saved. And as I began to speak to them, the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the Word, as on us at beginning on the day of Pentecost.
Apostle Peter then made one of the most profound declarations that still reverberate through the ages concerning God’s plan of Salvation in verse 17: “Forasmuch then as God gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?”
The Spirit of God is the agent that God works through to fulfill his purpose of delivering men from sin, and to get them ready for eternity. This efficacious power of God is still working and will work in the lives of mankind everywhere who believes in Jesus Christ.
The scripture says that when the Jewish brethren heard the report of Peter, they held their peace, and glorified God saying, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
For those of you who are reading this blog, know that you can also receive everlasting life with the baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God in action give you utterance.
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