As I continue to journey through Acts, God continues to reveal things to me that I could never have seen on my own - not only through my studying, but through walking alongside Him in life as well.
Acts 11 - Peter has to describe what just happened to his friends. Think about how that went down.
Think about it like the super bowl. This year, the Giants and the Patriots will be gearing up for the game of the year. The Jews and the Gentiles where (in a way) like these two teams, only not just the "I'm only a fan because they're in the super bowl and I have to pick a side" kind of way, but the "I've been a fan of this team since I was in diapers" kind of way. We all know how crazy those fans can get on super bowl Sunday. The Jews were part of the chosen people, the Gentiles were not. Therefore the Jews didn't associate with the other team.
For Peter to have witnessed and taken part in the salvation of Gentiles was unheard of. Up until this point, there were no Gentile believers. Think about how his friends felt when he told them he had been in the other team's locker room and had in fact shown them their plays? They would have felt betrayed and confused.
Then Peter explains how God orchestrated the whole thing. He tells them about his vision and how the Roman guards had come to find him, but instead of being scared the Spirit calmed him and he went with them. He then goes on to explain Cornelius' side of the story, and the evidence of God's hand in the whole situation. After He explains it, they stop talking. They fall silent, then reevaluate their stance. They finally consent that God also gives forgiveness and grace to Gentiles.
God has a heart for the nations. God does not show favoritism (Romans 2). Mmm. Cool.
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