Audio available from May 12 - Acts 10:1-33 "Double Vision: Preparing the Way for the Gentiles"

The story of Peter & Cornelius is the single longest story in the whole narrative of Acts.  We discern therefore that Luke considers this to be a highly significant event.  In fact we see in this story that a foundation is being built to allow the Good News of Jesus to be released from the Old Testament ceremonial laws and from circumcision, the sign of the old covenant, so that the Gentiles may freely become followers of Jesus without adopting all of the practices of the Jewish faith.  This is monumental and indeed very difficult for these early Jewish followers of Jesus to accept!  God speaks unmistakably clearly in a vision to Peter and prepares his heart to respond positively to the invitation to go to Cornelius' house where he shares the Good News of Jesus.  God also speaks in a vision to the Roman soldier, Cornelius, in an equally unmistakable fashion so that his heart is prepared to hear and respond to the Good News!  We who are Gentiles from all over the world respond with celebration as we observe this incident and realize that this was the first significant step in the expansion of the kingdom of God to 'all the nations of the world', including our own!  It has always been a part of God's plan that people from all nations would ultimately be gathered around Him in worship.  The incident in Acts 10 is truly a turning point in history in this regard!