Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 10:34-48.

Led by the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaims the good news to Cornelius and his household. Peter preaches the good news that people are not made acceptable to God by their nationality, but only on account of Christ Jesus, who is Lord of all, Jews and Gentiles alike. God made this plain in Jesus’ ministry that Peter and the apostles witnessed, beginning with Jesus’ Baptism through His crucifixion and resurrection. Peter and the apostles are therefore proclaiming the good news that Jesus gave them, namely, that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness in His name. The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and those who heard the word Peter preached. This repetition of what happened at Pentecost showed that God Himself had welcomed these Gentiles into His Church, and so Peter was quick to give them God’s gift in Holy Baptism.

“To the End of the Earth” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Acts. In his second volume, St. Luke records all the things that Jesus continued to do through the ministry of His Church. By the end of the book, the proclamation of the Lord’s Word that began in Jerusalem grows all the way to Rome. By God’s grace, even now, that same Word is proclaimed to us.