Pastor John,
I LOVE this!! I definitely think it should be added to the conversation! (It makes me start thinking about other conversations that could be acted out, like Jesus and Nicodemus, for example). Somehow, seeing and hearing these scenes being played out, really brings the story to life! I can just imagine that Peter’s companions would have felt exactly the way you wrote them.
I don’t know what it is about this Acts reading that has been so special, but it has opened my eyes to truths that I thought I already knew. I now have a clearer understanding of the two gospels, and I feel I know and appreciate Paul so much better.
One of the biggest take-aways from the Acts reading was listening to those brothers in the conversation who made very compelling arguments for their side. They believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that what they were saying was right! It became so clear, as I watched those men debating the truth, that unless God touched their hearts, they could never understand what Paul was saying.
Then, it makes you think about the miracle God has worked in our hearts to believe the truth! To believe (and understand) what Paul was teaching all those years ago is so big! As I sat there listening to the Acts reading last Sunday, I began to get a glimpse of what Jesus has done in my own heart! He touched my heart and let me believe and understand the truth! When I start to really take in how much love is in that, it feels overwhelming! I just sat there with tears welling up thinking about it!
I love what Lou has always said because it’s so true, “I can’t believe I believe this, y’all!” Any of those brothers sitting at the table who understood and believed Paul could have said the same thing! (Hey! Maybe you should add Lou’s line to the conversation:).
Lee Ann
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From Pastor John:
I am thinking about adding this to the Acts conversation, if I can find a good place for it. How does it sound?
Peter’s Companion #1:
I met Peter in Joppa when He came and healed Dorcas, and I was one who went with him to Cornelius’ house. To go there with him was not easy to decide to do, and we would not have gone at all, but for Peter’s vision.
Peter’s Companion #2: None of us could understand why God would send anyone to Gentiles. The last thing we expected was for Messiah to baptize them with the Spirit just because they believed Peter when he told them that through Jesus, God would wash away their sins!
Peter’s Companion #1:
Truthfully, we can’t even say that it was “the last thing we expected” because we did not expect it at all.
PC#2: Yes! God receiving Gentiles? It was unthinkable, impossible.
PC#1: We were all dumbfounded.
PC#2: I don’t think I slept for two days. I would lie in bed and ask, over and over, “What was that? What had we just witnessed?”
PC#1: “What had God done?”
PC#2: Yes. That was it. We knew it was the work of God, but what did it mean?
PC#1: The only thing I was sure of was that Solomon was proved wrong. For he said, “There is no new thing under the sun.” But for God to grant Gentiles – Gentiles! – remission of sins was a new thing!
All: Amen!, etc.
Saul: Men and brothers, you know that God promised in Isaiah, “Behold, I do a new thing.” Now, as you yourselves can see, He has done it. However, this new thing is not fully explained by Peter’s Gospel, but by mine.