Friday 18 July 2025

Psalm 8

Background
Today’s short reading represents a major turning point for Peter and those who had accompanied him to the home of the Roman centurion Cornelius, which we have been reading about this week. (You can read the full account in Acts 10)

Cornelius was a ‘God fearer’, who had great respect for the Jewish faith and lived at Caesarea, a fort city on the Mediterranean coast.  Peter had been visiting the disciples in Lydda and Joppa to the south. In Joppa he received a message asking him to go to Cornelius, something he would have hesitated to do had God not already prepared him through a vision. Despite hints within Jesus’ words and actions that his message was for all people whatever their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, taking the gospel to Gentiles (non-Jews) was a challenge for the early disciples.

Peter presented the good news of Jesus to Cornelius and his household, but was interrupted by a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The whole household began to speak in tongues, praising God. The disciples were shocked. Firstly, they didn't expect anyone to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit before being baptised and therefore, by implication, before making any statement of faith. Secondly, perhaps the greater shock was that the Holy Spirit had come to non-Jews. However, Peter recognised that this was the work of God and so had no choice but to state that they were eligible for baptism. He then accepted their invitation to stay with them, another major step in his journey to accept Gentiles. Presumably, he then preached and spoke about God in Jesus.

This week we have had other examples of God going ahead of a disciple, who then fell in with God’s plan. Philip heard the Ethiopian reading from Isaiah and offered to help him understand it (Acts 8:26-40). And Ananias, despite his fear of Saul, followed God’s guidance, finding the persecutor Saul had been transformed into a deeply convinced believer (Acts 9:1-20).

To Ponder:

• Are we involved enough in the world around us to notice what God is doing and see where we might join in the action?
• Have you seen evidence of the Holy Spirit’s gifts in someone of another faith or none?

Prayer
We pray today for any recently baptised and those who feel God’s Holy Spirit has come upon them after much searching. We pray too that we may be ready to welcome those who may not fit our ideas of a fellow traveller in the faith. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Pamela Cram
Pam worked in several circuits and ecumenical posts in Wales before retiring in the Swansea Valley, where she is involved in a non-denominational community project; a church partnership with a Welsh independent church; and action for Fairtrade.