Read Acts
10:44-48
44 While Peter was
still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the
gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard
them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one
can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the
Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
I quite like random world records! For example the record for human mattress dominoes, recently set in New Orleans, when 850 participants were
pushed backwards on their mattresses, each person knocking the next person down
in usual domino fashion. This beat the previous record of 550, set in 2011 in
Belgium. What, however, was slightly disappointing about this record was that
it was just one line. There wasn’t the complexity of some domino layouts where
you get a line of dominoes that trundles along for a bit before hitting one key
domino, which then hits two, which then hit four, which then hit eight… and a
mass multiplication of domino falling occurs (if that makes sense!).
The reason I’ve run the risk of looking like somewhat of a domino
geek is that what we have in Acts 1-10 is a bit like the one straight line of
dominos… so…
There
is Jesus’ mandate then ascension in 1:8-9 leading to the pouring out of his
Spirit in chapter 2 and the witness to Christ that occurs in many languages.
This
leads to a confused crowd and so Peter’s explanatory speech, including Joel’s
prophecy: “and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” – the
significance of which, as we’ll see, even Peter didn’t totally get at the time!
This
leads to many within the Jewish nation turning to Christ which, in turn, leads
to a bigger community, which leads to practical problems and the need to
appoint some organizers including, notably, Stephen.
The
strength of Stephen’s ministry leads to opposition and thus to his brilliant
speech, within which he – through highlighting God’s actions outside of the key
establishments of the Jewish faith – lays the foundation for what is to come.
His
faith and grace-filled death is then witnessed by a man called Saul! (Who later
meets Jesus – who sets Saul apart for ministry amongst the Gentiles.)
Stephen’s
stoning then leads to the persecution, and so scattering, of the believers and
thus to Philip’s preaching amongst the Samaritans and the conversion of an
Ethiopian.
Peter,
who has already seen God’s work amongst the Samaritans (i.e. the
not-quite-Jews!) is now in place for the final domino to fall… an encounter
with a Gentile called Cornelius.
Or
in picture form!
However, what happens after Acts 10 is the exponential effect of one
domino hitting two, which then hit four, which then hit eight…
…for in Acts 10, the Church has gone into Jerusalem…
…it has gone into Judea…
…it has gone into Samaria and is
now poised for…
…the
ends of the earth!!!
If you have a bit longer
:-)
The
reference to “human” dominoes is particularly apt in this regard as throughout
Acts, as in the rest of the Bible, we see God constantly weaving his incredible
plans through the lives of free and fallen individuals.
- Think through the Bible as a whole. What key things within it does God do without working through the lives of particular individuals?
- Plot a domino diagram for your life. What are the main dominoes within it? Does seeing God’s work in and through your life lain out in this way build your faith for the future? If so, in what way?
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