Easter Sunday - First Reading - Acts 10:34a, 37–43 - Peter preaches: In the Holy Spirit, Jesus brought goodness and healing.

1. Acts 10:34, 37-43
Peter preaches: In the Holy
Spirit, Jesus brought goodness
and healing.

2. 34 Then Peter proceeded to speak
and said, “In truth, I see that God
shows no partiality.
37 what has happened all over
Judea, beginning in Galilee after
the baptism that John preached,
38 how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the holy Spirit and
power. He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by
the devil, for God was with him.
39 We are witnesses of all that he
did both in the country of the Jews
and (in) Jerusalem. They put him
to death by hanging him on a tree.
40 This man God raised (on) the
third day and granted that he be
visible,
41 not to all the people, but to us,
the witnesses chosen by God in
advance, who ate and drank with
him after he rose from the dead.
Catholic Lectionary. 2009. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

3. 42 He commissioned us to preach
to the people and testify that he
is the one appointed by God as
judge of the living and the dead.
43 To him all the prophets bear
witness, that everyone who
believes in him will receive
forgiveness of sins through his
name.”
Catholic Lectionary. 2009. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

4. Peter had just come from the home of Cornelius and was impressed by the
truth he had just learned there.
God doesn’t show any partiality toward any race, gentile or Jew.
God values all humanity equally.
Peter takes his place of leadership given to him by Christ in Matthew
16:19.
He now picks up the keys and will unlock the door of Christianity for both
the Jew and the Gentile.

5. This is a short, powerful and
important speech given by St.
Peter.
It is surprising that Peter a
fisherman from Galilee was able
to give a brief outline of how
Christ lived, died, rose from the
dead, and “that every one who
believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins through His
name.” (Acts 10:43)
Peter clearly explains that he has
witnessed all of these events.
Jesus has fulfilled the Old
Testament Messianic prophecies.
How was this relatively uneducated
fisherman able to do this so well?
As Luke explains Peter had help.
12:11 And when they bring you
before the synagogues and the
rulers and the authorities, do not
be anxious how or what you are to
answer or what you are to say;
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you
in that very hour what you ought
to say.”

6. In verse 39 we read, “They put Him to
death by hanging Him on a tree”
That’s an interesting phrase probably
chosen to clearly identify those who
put Jesus to death.
The Jewish method of execution was
by stoning.
It was the Romans and the Gentile
nations who used crucifixion as
punishment.
By using this phrase, Peter was saying,
There’s no reason for anti-Semitism,
the hatred of Jews, for the killing of
Christ.
All men are guilty both Jew and
Gentile alike.
Confirmation of the work of the
Holy Spirit’s is found in verse
44 While Peter was still saying this,
the Holy Spirit fell on all who
heard the word.
45 And the believers from among
the circumcised who came with
Peter were amazed, because the
gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on the Gentiles.