Jan 18 Friday focus

The text in Acts this week is believed to be part of a sermon that Peter offered about the beginning of Jesus's ministry. It's also believed to be the last message he offered during his ministry. And while that's worth knowing (after all, if you were given a chance to say some last words, you'd probably want them to important), it's just as important to understand who he

was preaching to and where.

The preceding parts of this chapter in Acts tells the story of Simon Peter traveling to Caesarea, which has been established as the Roman capital in Palestine. So symbolically, if not literally, Peter has travelled to the heart of the empire to make this speech. Also, he has been in the house of Cornelius who is a soldier in the Roman the army. Granted, he previously described Cornelius as someone who seemed who was pretty sympathetic toward Jews and who seemed to have a heart for the God of the Israelites, but this whole journey is a big risk.

This makes the introductory verses in this passage especially poignant; Peter is claiming that his God has come for them, his enemies, in spite of the fact that they actively persecuted and killed his own people. In fact, by this point there is no mystery surrounding Peter's fate, given his status among the disciples and the establishment of the new religious movement. He was preaching about life, radical grace, and forgiveness for all wrongs while staring death in the eye.

Within this handful of verses, Peter covers all the essentials those listening need to know to affirm that Jesus was who he said he was. He represents a God for all people and all pasts on earth; he embodies life, death, and rebirth all in one; and he forgives without reservation all who seek it. All they have to do is have the will to summon the humility to ask.