Spreading The Good News
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” (Acts 10:1-6)
Up until chapter 8 of the book of Acts, the message of the Church remained within Jewish circles, only among those who claimed ethnic and/or religious affinity with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But between chapters 8 to 11, a shift happens, and God seeks to do some things differently so that the good news of the Gospel can spread beyond the confines of Judea.
This was all to fulfill the command Jesus spoke after His ascension in chapter 1, that the Spirit would fall upon the followers of Jesus, and they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Jesus’ point is that God’s will for the Church is for it to break out of the cloistered confines of our cathedrals and sanctuaries, in order to take the good news to those who need it. This encounter between Peter and Cornelius is a part of that shift, to let the world know then and now that our methods of doing ministry should not obscure the power of our message; that the message of hope, and healing, and redemption is not an exclusive message. It is not a message just for a certain class, a certain group, or a certain category of people. Jesus said, “whosoever will let them come.” We are all welcome to be in the presence of God.
Up until chapter 8 of the book of Acts, the message of the Church remained within Jewish circles, only among those who claimed ethnic and/or religious affinity with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But between chapters 8 to 11, a shift happens, and God seeks to do some things differently so that the good news of the Gospel can spread beyond the confines of Judea.
This was all to fulfill the command Jesus spoke after His ascension in chapter 1, that the Spirit would fall upon the followers of Jesus, and they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Jesus’ point is that God’s will for the Church is for it to break out of the cloistered confines of our cathedrals and sanctuaries, in order to take the good news to those who need it. This encounter between Peter and Cornelius is a part of that shift, to let the world know then and now that our methods of doing ministry should not obscure the power of our message; that the message of hope, and healing, and redemption is not an exclusive message. It is not a message just for a certain class, a certain group, or a certain category of people. Jesus said, “whosoever will let them come.” We are all welcome to be in the presence of God.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When God Feels Silent but is Still at WorkHow to Rebound After a Crushing LetdownWhen Your World Falls Apart After You Did Everything RightGod Is Still Building Roads in the DesertThe Chapter That Comes After TraumaWhen Hope Feels GoneWhen Your Words Start Working Against YouGod’s Resume Is Bigger Than Your SituationWaiting on God is Not Doing NothingBefore Circumstances ChangeGetting In Your Bag When Life Feels UnfairWinning With a Bad HandOverlooked, Insulted, and Still ChosenPrepared in the Field Before the Giant AppearsYou Were Trained for This MomentTaking Off Armor That Does Not FitFormed in the Field, Not on the StageWhen the Battle Is Not Actually YoursWhen You Feel the Urge to Go Through God’s PhoneFaith After Disappointment Still CountsKeep Showing Up Even When You Are ConfusedLocked Doors Do Not Stop JesusWhen You Need an Encounter for YourselfDoubt as a DoorwaySaying What Hurts When God Is in the RoomWhere Faith and Fear CollideShutdown Does Not Mean FinishedWhen Opposition Shows Up Mid-ProgressBuilding Without Responding to the Mockery
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
No Comments