Luke the physician 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”, and in chapter ten and verse forty of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter spoke of Jesus saying, “Him God raised up the third day” where we read:
Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;
The verse begins, “Him God raised up the third day, ...” Luke began with the words, “Him God raised up” which means “Him, Jesus, God the Heavenly Father aroused from the sleep of death, recalled to life and resurrected” “the third day” or “on the third day following His crucifixion”. Luke shared how “God the Heavenly Father” resurrected Jesus from the dead three days after He died on the cross.
The verse goes on to say, “... and showed him openly;” Luke continued the words, “and showed him” which means “and manifested, displayed and exhibited Jesus” “openly” or “in an apparent and unmistakable way”. Luke shared how God the Heavenly Father “manifestly displayed” Jesus after He was raised from the dead.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” referred to the “resurrection” of Jesus by the Heavenly Father after three days of being dead. The grave was unable to hold Jesus because He came to die for the sins of the world and defeat the power of death. Though people thought to rid themselves of Jesus, He demonstrated the power of God the Heavenly Father to redeem mankind and bring them into relationship with Him. God loves people, and this “good news” or “gospel” of Jesus Christ is available to everyone who will yield their life to Him. God wants to forgive sins and grant eternal life to every person, and they receive His forgiveness and everlasting life when they surrender their lives to His Son Jesus who defeated “sin and death”.
Next time Luke shares how Peter says, “Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God”, 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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