The physician Luke wrote how two servants and a soldier of Cornelius went to Joppa to find Peter. After arriving at Simon's house where Peter was staying, they met Peter and convinced him to go see their master Cornelius. After entering Cornelius house, Peter found many people gathered there, and Cornelius told Peter, “we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly”, and in chapter ten and verse forty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter spoke of Jesus saying, “Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God” where we read:
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us,
who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
The verse begins, “Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, ...” Luke began with the words, “Not to all the people” which means “no and neither to each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings both male and female”, “but unto witnesses” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover toward recorders and testifiers” “chosen before of God” which means “elected and designated beforehand in the presence of God the Heavenly Father”, “even to us” or “indeed and also toward us, Peter and the other disciples”. Luke shared how “Peter” told “Cornelius” and the people in his home that God did not reveal “Jesus” to everyone, but to “elected and specially designated” people which included himself and the other disciples of Jesus.
The verse continues, “...who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.” Luke added the words, “who did eat and drink with him” which means “who, Peter and the other disciples, consumed and devoured food and drink with Jesus” “after he rose from the dead” or “behind and post Jesus being raised or resurrected from the non-living, inanimate and non-breathing”. Luke shared how “Peter” told “Cornelius” and the people in his home that he and the other disciples “ate and drank” with Jesus after He was resurrected from the “dead”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there existed “selected and specially designated” people to whom Jesus was to be revealed by the Heavenly Father. God “chose” “Peter” and the other disciples to openly display His Son Jesus, and they were commissioned to carry on His message of the “gospel” when He went back to Heaven. God continues to “choose” people today, and those who yield themselves to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Jesus is alive, and a personal relationship with Him is available for everyone who believes in, trusts in and relies upon Him. Those who are wise will be one of the “elect” of God and discover they are “chosen” when they submit to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Peter tells Cornelius, “he commanded us to preach unto the people”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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