Act 10:43 | KingComments | STEP | Peter begins his gospel speech which is the key that opens the door of the gospel to the nations. This is a very different speech than in Acts 2. He knows that this is a different audience and takes this into account in his speech. In his first words, he acknowledges the sovereignty of God in removing any distinction between people. It is not about whether someone is a member of the right people by birth, but whether someone fears God and shows that by doing what is pleasing to Him. These are strange words from the mouth of a Jewish man, but they are the thoughts of God. Peter begins to learn the lesson. Cornelius is such a man who fears God and works righteousness. Peter acknowledges that he is pleasing to God. In his preaching Peter speaks about the great facts of salvation in connection with the Lord Jesus. He speaks about His life, His death, His resurrection and His glorification. When God sent the word to the sons of Israel, He did so by proclaiming Jesus Christ as a word of peace. But the coming of Jesus Christ is not only important for Israel. Peter immediately makes that clear by speaking of Him as “Lord of all”. He is not only Lord of the Israelites ( ), but the Lord of all nations. Then Peter connects to their knowledge about the actions of John the baptist. From that moment on he takes his hearers to Jesus Christ as John the baptist pointed out to Him. It is important to always bring forward the great truths about the life and work of the Lord Jesus. Peter speaks about Him as “Jesus of Nazareth”. He is so because of His birth and the years He spent in Nazareth, from the moment He went to live there until His performance among the people. It is the Name that evokes contempt in people ( ). To God He is the chosen, beloved Son. He has anointed Him. The anointing expresses God’s pleasure, His election. God was with Him because He always did what was pleasing to Him. His anointing also took place in view of His service. The Holy Spirit gave Him the power for His service. It is to be clothed with power that has come upon Him, just as it happened later with the disciples ( ). We are also anointed ( ), because we also need this anointing for our service. The service of the Lord Jesus implied that He did good, healed and broke the power of the devil. In everything He did, God was with Him, for everything He did was a joy to God’s heart. Peter, together with the apostles, can call himself a witness to all of this. He has seen what the Lord Jesus did in the land of the Jews, Judea, and in Jerusalem, thus in the heart of the Jewish religion. That is where He was most opposed in His service and that is where they finally killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. That is where the foundation was laid for all doing good, healing and the breaking of the devil and his works. There God gave His Son to nullify sin for all who believe in Him. But His death was not His end. How could that be! People may reject Him as despicable and think they have got rid of Him, but for God it is different. It is precisely in His rejection that God has found the greatest reason for His pleasure. Precisely in His rejection the Lord Jesus has fulfilled everything that God has asked of Him. That is why God has shown His convincing pleasure in Him and His work by raising Him up on the third day. In this way He gave Him the opportunity to reveal Himself to various persons after His resurrection. He did not appear to the unbelieving people, but to believers. He appeared to many to give the undeniable testimony of His resurrection ( ). In the resurrection there can only be fellowship with those who have Him as their life, who share His resurrection life. We live in the age of faith, without seeing ( ), but the resurrection has been recorded as a fact observed by many. Peter and the other apostles have been commissioned to bear witness to a resurrected Christ on earth ( ). Paul will become the witness of the glorified Lord in heaven Whom he saw on his way to Damascus. Peter has not yet indicated in his speech that salvation is also for the Gentiles. So far it is only a Christ for Israel. The command to preach about Him has been given in view of God’s earthly people. That is why Peter, at the end of his speech, presents Him as Judge of the living and the dead appointed by God. This is the final piece of Christ’s coming for His people. Then Peter says that the testimony is not limited to Israel, but that there is forgiveness of sins through His Name for everyone who believes in Christ. All of the above is necessary to come to this point. It is all about faith in Him. This has been pointed out by all prophets. The prophets have also pointed out that there is forgiveness for everyone who believes in Him. At this point the breakthrough takes place.

‏ Acts 10:43

The Preaching of Peter

Peter begins his gospel speech which is the key that opens the door of the gospel to the nations. This is a very different speech than in Acts 2. He knows that this is a different audience and takes this into account in his speech.

In his first words, he acknowledges the sovereignty of God in removing any distinction between people. It is not about whether someone is a member of the right people by birth, but whether someone fears God and shows that by doing what is pleasing to Him. These are strange words from the mouth of a Jewish man, but they are the thoughts of God. Peter begins to learn the lesson. Cornelius is such a man who fears God and works righteousness. Peter acknowledges that he is pleasing to God.

In his preaching Peter speaks about the great facts of salvation in connection with the Lord Jesus. He speaks about His life, His death, His resurrection and His glorification. When God sent the word to the sons of Israel, He did so by proclaiming Jesus Christ as a word of peace. But the coming of Jesus Christ is not only important for Israel. Peter immediately makes that clear by speaking of Him as “Lord of all”. He is not only Lord of the Israelites (Acts 2:36), but the Lord of all nations.

Then Peter connects to their knowledge about the actions of John the baptist. From that moment on he takes his hearers to Jesus Christ as John the baptist pointed out to Him. It is important to always bring forward the great truths about the life and work of the Lord Jesus.

Peter speaks about Him as “Jesus of Nazareth”. He is so because of His birth and the years He spent in Nazareth, from the moment He went to live there until His performance among the people. It is the Name that evokes contempt in people (Jn 1:46). To God He is the chosen, beloved Son. He has anointed Him. The anointing expresses God’s pleasure, His election. God was with Him because He always did what was pleasing to Him.

His anointing also took place in view of His service. The Holy Spirit gave Him the power for His service. It is to be clothed with power that has come upon Him, just as it happened later with the disciples (Lk 24:49). We are also anointed (2Cor 1:21), because we also need this anointing for our service. The service of the Lord Jesus implied that He did good, healed and broke the power of the devil. In everything He did, God was with Him, for everything He did was a joy to God’s heart.

Peter, together with the apostles, can call himself a witness to all of this. He has seen what the Lord Jesus did in the land of the Jews, Judea, and in Jerusalem, thus in the heart of the Jewish religion. That is where He was most opposed in His service and that is where they finally killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. That is where the foundation was laid for all doing good, healing and the breaking of the devil and his works. There God gave His Son to nullify sin for all who believe in Him.

But His death was not His end. How could that be! People may reject Him as despicable and think they have got rid of Him, but for God it is different. It is precisely in His rejection that God has found the greatest reason for His pleasure. Precisely in His rejection the Lord Jesus has fulfilled everything that God has asked of Him. That is why God has shown His convincing pleasure in Him and His work by raising Him up on the third day. In this way He gave Him the opportunity to reveal Himself to various persons after His resurrection.

He did not appear to the unbelieving people, but to believers. He appeared to many to give the undeniable testimony of His resurrection (1Cor 15:4-8). In the resurrection there can only be fellowship with those who have Him as their life, who share His resurrection life. We live in the age of faith, without seeing (2Cor 5:7), but the resurrection has been recorded as a fact observed by many. Peter and the other apostles have been commissioned to bear witness to a resurrected Christ on earth (Acts 1:22). Paul will become the witness of the glorified Lord in heaven Whom he saw on his way to Damascus.

Peter has not yet indicated in his speech that salvation is also for the Gentiles. So far it is only a Christ for Israel. The command to preach about Him has been given in view of God’s earthly people. That is why Peter, at the end of his speech, presents Him as Judge of the living and the dead appointed by God. This is the final piece of Christ’s coming for His people.

Then Peter says that the testimony is not limited to Israel, but that there is forgiveness of sins through His Name for everyone who believes in Christ. All of the above is necessary to come to this point. It is all about faith in Him. This has been pointed out by all prophets. The prophets have also pointed out that there is forgiveness for everyone who believes in Him. At this point the breakthrough takes place.