It’s Personal, An Encounter with the Apostle Peter

When reading Acts 10, I learned a very simple yet very important truth about sharing our faith and the forgiveness found in God’s grace.

It’s a simple story about a man named Cornelius from Caesarea and his family who were a devout and God-fearing people. Cornelius gave generously to those in need and prayed regularly to God. During one of his times of prayer he saw a vision of an angel who told him to send for Simon who was called Peter one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus.  

When Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius he asked why he was sent for. Cornelius told Peter of the angel and the instructions to get Peter, so he and his family could hear what the Lord has commanded Peter to tell them.

What I find so compelling is what Peter was commanded to tell Cornelius and his family.  Peter the great preacher, the rock did not look upon this as another speaking engagement, another chance to state the facts of past events. He starts out by assuring them what they heard regarding the ministry of Jesus was true (Acts 10:36-38)

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

You know, You know. Peter’s remarks make it obvious they have heard all about Jesus. It is also obvious to Peter he was not sent there to preach but to share. To share not what Jesus did for all rather what Jesus did for him. He was sent to share his heart, to show Cornelius and his family how Jesus impacted his life, how Jesus personally changed his life. Not to tell of how Jesus can forgive them of their sins rather of how Jesus forgave him of his sins. Peter continues to speak, to share his personal witness (Acts 10:39-44):

"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen-- by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message."

Essentially what Peter seems to be saying here is this isn’t a fantasy, it really happened and I was there to see it. As I read this I began to think of all that Peter might have said to them. He must have really shared from his heart because this message made such an impact that "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." 

Peter said, "everyone who believes in him [Jesus] receives forgiveness." While it may be embellishing, I wonder if Peter drove that message home by sharing his personal experiences. Maybe Peter shared how he was in the presence of the Son of God for three years. How he watched him heal and performed many miracles. How Jesus told him of wonders to come as well as his fate on the cross. And then he probably told them of how he watched as Jesus was beaten and spit on and of how three times he turned his back on the Son of God and denied him. Peter may have told of the burden he endured for three days as he dealt with the pain and the guilt he felt as a result of his sin. Then he probably told them of how he was fishing on the third day and before him stood Jesus, resurrected and in his full glory. Of how he had to look the Son of God in the eyes expecting the worst for his sin of denial and of how he experienced the grace of God and the forgiveness of his sins. Peter probably spoke of how he saw the scars, how he ate with Jesus and of the joy that overwhelmed him when he truly gave his life to Jesus. 

What a magnificent and personal experience Peter had to share. A sharing that would have come straight from Peter’s heart and was received straight into the hearts of all who heard. For Cornelius up until then it was all stories of what it might or should be like to experience Jesus. For those who heard Peter that day, it was now a sharing of what it is like to be forgiven and restored and to live your life for the creator of life himself.

Sharing our faith is nothing more than sharing from our heart how the love and grace of Jesus has set us free and a sharing of the abundant life we now enjoy.

Living for the Lord … there is nothing sweeter.