Peter was staying in the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion in Caesarea and was speaking to a group of Cornelius’s friends and relatives who were interested in hearing about the Jewish God and the rumours they’d no doubt been hearing.

Peter was there in the home of a Gentile as a result of a dream he’d had in which God challenged him to broaden his thinking as to what and who were acceptable to God  (Acts 10: 9-16) and of an invitation from Cornelius.

V 35.
But that in every nations the man who is godfearing and does what is right and does what is right is acceptable to him.
NLT.  In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

Here is an echo of what Peter had learned from Jesus himself.  Jesus had said, ‘Love the  Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22: 37 NIV.) and in Mark  7: 14 - 23  Jesus talked about the fact that it isn’t what we eat that makes us unacceptable to God, but what comes out of us in our actions and what is in our hearts. And Peter had seen Jesus talk with and show love and concern for people from non-Jewish backgrounds and from all walks of life.   He had seen that Jesus did not discriminate against anyone.  But in recent times, Peter had taken the easy way out of conforming with Jewish law because of opposition from Jewish authorities and within the ranks of the church in Jerusalem. Now Peter was back on track.

It’s easy to get bogged down in what other people are going to think about us, especially people from our own churches and give in to popular opinion which may not be the way God wants things to be done. People become critical of how another dresses or about the music being used in our worship services which may suit one generation but not another. It’s important that we not miss something God is asking of us, just because we’re worried about what someone in the congregation is going to think about it.

V 36.
He sent his word to the Israelites and gave the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
NIV.  You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
NLT.  I’m sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel – that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Peter is here telling his listeners what they already have heard – a good educational method: moving from the known to the unknown!  They’ve heard of this person Jesus who came and spent time among the Jews, healing and teaching.  They’ve probably herd many of the stories Jesus told.  They want to hear more from Peter, who walked and talked with Jesus.  But it probably hasn’t occurred to them that Jesus’ message  might include them just as much, who were not Jews.

V 37.
I need not tell you what happened lately all over the land of the Jews, starting from Galilee after the baptism proclaimed by John.

Peter knew that they already had heard the stories of Jesus.  He was affirming this and wasn’t going to be patronising and treat them as if they were totally ignorant.

When we speak with people about our faith, it’s important that we find out what they already know and understand – not by quizzing them as if we’re giving them an exam, but by becoming a friend and getting to know them.  They’ll soon turn off if we bore them with things they’ve heard fifty times already and have maybe rejected.

V 38.
You know about Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.  He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Just in case, Peter gives a quick summary of what Jesus did and makes sure they know he was specially anointed by God and had a special relationship with God.  He made sure that they understood that Jesus’ ministry was a spiritual ministry, not just a life of doing good and helping people.

V 39.
As we can bear witness to all that he did in the Jewish country-side and in Jerusalem.  He was put to death by hanging on a gibbet;
NIV.  We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.  They killed him by hanging him on a tree,
NLT.  And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Israel and in Jerusalem.  They put him to death by crucifying him,

Peter now makes sure they understand that everything he tells them is from his own personal experience.  He’s not passing on heresay evidence.  When we witness for Christ, we must witness from our own personal experience of him.

V 40, 41
but God raised him to life on the third day, and allowed him to appear, not to the whole people, but to witnesses whom God had chosen in advance - to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose  from the dead.
NLT.  But God raised him to life three days later.  Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen beforehand to be his witnesses.  We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Just in case they had any doubts about the resurrection of Jesus, Peter was able to tell them he’d not only seen the risen Lord, but had actually shared meals with him.  So they knew from Peter’s testimony that stories they might have heard about Jesus rising from the dead were really true. Jesus had not made just mass appearances which might have been seen as some kind of crowd illusion trickery, but he had appeared in the flesh to individuals who could then testify that they’d seen him, talked with him on a personal level and even touched him.

V 42.
He commanded us to proclaim him to the people, an affirm that he is the one who has been designated by God as judge of the living and the dead.
NLT.  And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained by God to be the judge of all –the living and the dead.

Peter is there talking to them at the command of Jesus, not because of some whim of his own to travel around and become famous!  Peter and the other apostles have a special job to do for the risen Jesus and in obedience to his command.

Everything we do as Christians should be in obedience to Christ, and not to please our selves or to promote our own egos.  For some of us, that is not easy!  But, praise God that he has organised things so that very often when we’re doing things for him first and foremost, we’re also doing things we enjoy.

Our main aim as Christians, in response to this command of Jesus, must be to proclaim Jesus in whatever way is right for us and using the gifts that he has given us for that purpose. What are we to proclaim?  If we follow Peter’s example, we will proclaim that Jesus is God and ordained by God the Father to be the judge of all humanity. This is not just a good man who went about being kind ton people and teaching us that we should love everyone (though he did that too), not was he simply a great teacher and philosopher;  he is God himself with all the authority and power that entails.  He has every right to expect our obedience to his command.

V 43.
It is to him that all the prophets testify, declaring that everyone who trusts in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
NLT.  He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.

Here is the bit that was new, and which may have taken them a while to grasp, but which must have surprised and delighted them; that Jesus was not here just for the Jews, but for them too.  I can imagine the nodding as Peter talked, then a pause and silence while they took this in.  Then someone tentatively asking, ‘Does that mean us too?’ And the excitement when Peter, with a huge grin, confirmed it.

The pity is that so many people just don’t get it.