Thursday of Whitsun Week
Posted on June 9, 2022 by under
Scripture: Acts 10:34-48 (NKJV)
10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He 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. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Devotion
The mercy of God astonishes the Jews who had come up with Peter to the house of Cornelius: the Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost with the same miraculous signs as were seen in Jerusalem on Pentecost. By this, the Holy Spirit ratified the message St. Peter had preached, so that all would know that the Gentiles would be full partakers of God’s gift of salvation. Those who would receive Jesus as the One in whom they would receive the judgment of acquittal would be in a relationship of filial fear with God. They could consider Him as their dear Father who would accept them when they ran to Him confessing their sins. They would be as dear children who don’t want to disappoint, instead of running away like terrified disobedient slaves. Their simplest works, done in connection with faith in Jesus’ bringing of peace, would thus be transformed by Him, and considered precious and righteous by Him, as the art of His own beloved children.
Jesus Christ is Lord of all, Peter says. He is Yahweh (Jehovah), the Creator and Judge of heaven and earth, of the living and the dead. In Him the favor of the one true God, which had rested on Israel until He should come in the flesh, is now upon all people, in every nation who would receive Him as the only Savior from sin, death, and hell. “God shows no partiality,” but “whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Prayer: O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
