Bible
Text: Acts 10
Key
Verse: Acts 10:34-35
Acts 10:1-2 centurion...devout man who feared God: a centurion was a Roman military officer in charge of about one-hundred men. Cornelius is also identified as a "God-fearer," a gentile who was associated with a Jewish synagogue. "God-fearers respected Jewish teachings sic as Sabbath observance and may have followed Jewish food laws.
Acts 10:3 about three o'clock: this note of the time indicates that Cornelius follows Jewish customs, as this would have been a traditional hour of prayer.
Acts 10:9 roof to pray: many houses were built with a flat roof and an outside staircase to reach them. The rooftops were used as places of relaxation and prayer.
Acts 10:12 all kinds of...creatures: these included animals considered ritually clean and ritually unclean. Peter later realizes that these visions indicate the divisions between Jew and gentile are being overcome.
Acts 10:23 invited them and gave them lodging: Jewish customs prohibited Jews from table fellowship with Gentiles who were not sensitive to Jewish food laws and community events that may have included worship of idols. Peter, however, invites Cornelius in and later visits Cornelius in his home. This shows Peter's willingness to accept and reach out to Gentiles.
Acts 10:34 God does not show favoritism: God does not favor an individual because of his station in life, his nationality or his material processions. God does, however, respect his character and judge his work. This is evident because God "accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right".
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Monday: Devotional Reading – Time for prayer &
adoration:
Read
through the scripture several times, just listening to the words.
Tuesday: Literary Reading – Listen for literary
content:
Focus
on the text, itself.
Wednesday: Lutheran Theological Reading – Read from
a Lutheran perspective:
Reflect
on the convictions, insights and expectations that rise particularly from our
Lutheran Heritage.
Thursday: Historical Reading – Read with an ear for
History:
Reflect
on the historical situation.
Friday: Catch up on missed reading
time
Saturday & Sunday: Day of
Rest
For
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