Sunday’s first reading from Acts contains one of the many sermons Luke composed for his account of the first years of the Church. In this passage Peter speaks to the Roman centurion Cornelius and his household in whom he has just witnessed the Spirit poured out.
Peter proclaims the same basic story and message the gospels include. Jesus’ ministry begins with the preaching and baptism of John. Jesus does good, heals people, and casts out demons. He is put to death but raised to new life. Peter is a witness of all these events. At the end of his sermon Peter adds to his witness the testimony of the Hebrew scriptures.
God raised up Jesus.
Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has been told all over Judea about Jesus of Nazareth, beginning in Galilee with the baptism John preached — how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all under the power of the devil because God was with him.
“We are witnesses to all that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him finally, ‘hanging him on a tree.’ God raised him up on the third day and established that he be seen, not by all, but by witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
“He commissioned us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one whom God has sent as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets testify, saying that everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10.34,37-43
- What witness in your own life can you give to the truth of the gospel?
- If you could quiz Peter as a witness of all Jesus said and did, what would you ask him?