Acts 10:1-48, Now at Caesarea there was a centurion, named Cornelius in the Italian Regiment. He and his family were very devout and gave generously to the needy.

While he was at prayer one morning God sent an angel to him and told him to send to Joppa for Peter. So he told some men to go and ask Peter to come to him.

Peter was in Joppa staying with a man called Simon the tanner. Peter awoke and went to the roof to pray . God sent a large sheet filled with all kinds of animals and creepy-crawlers and told Peter to kill and eat. Peter said no, that he had never eaten anything unclean, this happened 3 times and God told Peter," not to call anything impure that God had made clean."

While Peter was thinking about this, the Holy Spirit came and told him that 3 men were looking for him and Peter was to go with them.

The next day Peter and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting him and had called together family and friends to be there to hear the word of God.

When Peter entered the house Cornelius welcomed him with open arms. When Peter saw all the people gathered he said," you know it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me I should not call any man impure or unclean." So I came when called, "may I ask why you sent for me?"

Cornelius told him about the angel coming to him. And told Peter that they were all hear to here the message that God had sent Peter to tell them. So Peter told them about Jesus Christ and all accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit came upon them. The men that came with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had come to Gentiles, and knew it was so because they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter asked, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

This was a tremendous change for the Christen Jews because they had never expected to witness to Gentiles.

God in his great mercy has given us the most precious gift of SALVATION. Jesus said he came to fulfill Jewish law and not for Gentiles, but God was and is a loving God, so he had pity on us and when Jesus was rejected by the Jewish people He gathered all men to Him.

Of course God knew this would happen but we didn't . It was all a part of His great plan. And looking back we can see it all unfolding. Just as was foretold in the old testament.

I PRAISE THE GREAT I AM FOR ALL HE HAS GIVEN ME AND MINE . AND I GLORY IN HIS WORD.

Your sister in Christ Sharon Rose

Because we have so many new members I want to tell you again that all I write are my thoughts on what I read in the Bible and if you want to comment on them please do so, or if there is something I have misquoted let me know.

Yours in Christ Sharon Rose