All Swim | Acts 10:24-48

Takeaway Verse: Acts 10:36

This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

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Transcription:

Welcome to The Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica Parkerson. This is the place where we meet up to read half a chapter of God’s word together and remember how loved we are. Jesus extends an amazing invitation to us in the Bible. He says, “Come to me and I WILL give you rest.” This is us RSVPing: Yes!! to that invitation. So take a deep breath, and let’s get started.

Today’s episode is called, “All Swim”. And before we dive into more of Acts, chapter 10, join me in a word of prayer. Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus. And I remember when I would swim as a child, I would wear those water wings that would keep me afloat. Lord, your word keeps me afloat and it keeps my friend afloat, who’s listening. Right now, Lord, we need you. I pray that you would just increase our faith today. Remind us that you are right there, you are closer than our next breath. You’re with us through everything. We praise your holy name right now, and we ask you to open our eyes and ears to what you want us to see and understand from your word. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

All right, we’re gonna dive right into Acts chapter 10. We’re picking it up in verse 24. Yesterday, Peter met some new friends. Cornelius had met an angel. He was an Italian who had an encounter with an angel who said, go find this guy, Simon Peter. He’s got something you need to know. God prepped Simon Peter, knowing that Cornelius was coming, that God’s message was for all people. It’s such a great story. So now we’re gonna pick up the second half, verse 24 of Acts chapter 10. 

“They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them.” The Italian and had called together his relatives and close friends. This is what Italians do. I know I’m Italian. I bet you, there was big Ziti. “As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him up and said, ‘Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!’ So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. Peter told them, ‘You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this, or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.’ Cornelius replied, ‘Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!'” Wouldn’t that be amazing to hear that from the mouth of an angel? “‘Now send messengers to Joppa and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.'” Again, note that at once, at once he sent for Peter. I just, this story of Cornelius reminds me of the importance of just obeying God, just at once immediately. And it’s beautiful to me, especially knowing what happens because he did. 

“Then Peter replied, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.'” This is our takeaway verse, verse 36. “‘This is the message of good news for the people of Israel, that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is'” catch this, “‘Lord of all.'” He’s Lord of all. ‘”You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all'” again that word, ‘”all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.'” I love it so much. “‘And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge of all the living and the dead. He is the one, all the prophets testified about saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.'” Every. All. Man. “Even as Peter was saying, these things, the holy spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles too.” Gentile simply means non-Jews. Okay. “For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, ‘Can anyone object to their being baptized now that they have received the holy spirit just as we did?’ So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.”

What a wonderful gathering that must have been. You know, when my kids were little, we would swim at the YMCA. And there was the adult swim, where the adults got to go into the pool and do the laps without the kids cannon balling around them. But then there was the all swim. The lifeguard would blow the whistle, and everybody was allowed in the pool. So you had kids with their water wings, and kids cannon balling, and people doing laps. And oh, if you were like me, I used to do the, the underwater tea parties. Oh, with my friends. I loved that growing up. It was the all swim. Everybody was welcome in the pool. And this is the message of the story you and I just finished. Everybody is invited into God’s pool, Jews, Gentile. We’re all welcome. It is his love and what he did for every human, all humans on the cross that unites us. Everybody is welcome. There is an invitation engraved in beautiful gold letters that says, come be part of God’s family. Till next time remember, you are really, really loved. 

Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.