Acts 10:44-48 (NRSV)
Read Acts 10:44-48 on biblegateway.com
Verse 44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. Verse 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, Verse 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, Verse 47"Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" Verse 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
Devotion
The readings for this sixth week of Easter will invite our confident reflection on the presence and power of the Risen Jesus for the promise of new life. Today’s reading from Acts—the story of Peter’s sermon on Jesus’ Resurrection, preached at Caesarea to the gathered family and friends of a Roman Centurion, easily one of the longest stories in the New Testament—is a case in point.
Surprise! Surprise! In a reprise of Pentecost, we are told that even before Peter can finish his sermon, the Spirit falls on the people who are listening. We can almost sense Peter’s fumbling for an adequate response as he says, “Who can stand in the way of the Spirit; bring water to baptize these people!” And so in this strange order of events, the gathered people are baptized in confirmation of the presence and power of the Spirit already there in the preaching of the Risen Jesus—just as the Spirit is regularly present to bring new life in our hearing today.
Prayer
O Risen Lord, by your Spirit open our hearts and minds to know your presence in the preaching of the good news of your Resurrection this and each day of our lives. Amen.
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