Breaking Boundaries

Today, we are reading the conclusion of the story of Peter and Cornelius which appears in the previous chapter. It’s a story that could be taken as encapsulating the grand theme of the Acts of the Apostles. In 11:15 the apostles are surprised that “the Holy Spirit fell on them [the Gentiles], just as the Spirit fell on us in the beginning.” Here’s a story of the gospel going forth to “all nations” (10:47), a mission that’s confirmed as coming from God by the gift of the Spirit. Can it be that God’s salvation, promised to Israel, has been extended even to the Gentiles? That is the astounding wonder at the heart of Acts. That boundary-breaking, door-opening Holy Spirit is the engine that drives all these events.