Acts 10

The Explanation

In a big house in a city by the sea lived a soldier. His name was Cornelius. He had a shiny helmet and strong arms. But Cornelius did something else too. Every day he folded his hands and prayed. He talked to God. And he gave money to people who were poor and hungry.

One afternoon Cornelius was praying. Suddenly the room was bright. An angel stood there. Cornelius stared. His heart went bump, bump, bump. He was scared.

"Cornelius!" said the angel.

"What is it, Lord?" Cornelius whispered.

"God has heard you," said the angel. "God has seen everything you gave. Now send some men far away, to a house by the sea. There is a man there named Peter. Go and get Peter."

So Cornelius called three men. "Go!" he said. And off they walked, down the long dusty road.

What Does This Mean?

Far away, Peter was on his roof. It was the middle of the day. The sun was warm on his head. Peter was praying too. And Peter was hungry. Very hungry. Downstairs, food was cooking.

Then Peter saw something strange. Something like a big sheet came down out of the sky. And on the sheet were animals. All kinds of animals! Creepy ones, hairy ones, birds with flapping wings.

A voice said, "Get up, Peter. Eat!"

"No, Lord!" said Peter. "I never eat animals like that."

The voice said it again. And again. Three times. "What God has made clean, you must not call dirty."

Then the sheet went back up into the sky. And Peter sat there, thinking. What did that mean?

Knock, knock, knock. Somebody was at the gate.

The Common Thread

There stood the three men from Cornelius. "Please come with us," they said.

Peter went. He walked a long, long way. And when he came into the big house, it was full of people. All of them waiting. All of them quiet. Cornelius knelt down at Peter's feet.

"Stand up," said Peter kindly. "I am just a man, like you."

Then Peter looked around at all those faces. And he understood. God had shown him something wonderful. God does not have favourites. God loves people from every country in the whole world.

So Peter told them about Jesus. How Jesus went everywhere doing good. How Jesus made sick people well. How bad men hung Jesus on a cross, and He died. And how God made Jesus alive again, on the third day!

And while Peter was still talking, God's Holy Spirit came. Right into that room. All those people began to sing and thank God out loud. They were so glad.

For You

Cornelius prayed, and God heard him. Peter prayed, and God spoke to him. God hears you too. In your bed, in the car, at the table.

And God loves every kind of person. The boy next door. The girl who talks funny. The man far, far away. Jesus is for all of them.

Who could you be kind to today?

Talk About It

Cornelius was scared when he saw the angel. When are you a little bit scared?

Peter walked a long way to tell people about Jesus. Who can you tell about Jesus?

Praying Together

Thank You, God, that You hear me. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You that You love everybody. Amen.