Convinced

Pete Kersker - Jun 08, 2026

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray (Acts 10:9 NIV).

Last week, we considered what it means to be holy (separate, set apart) by drawing near to God. Simon Peter and the Jews of his day knew that God's Law led them to be holy (separate, set apart) from the rest of the world who did not know or listen to God. They had a name for those people. They were called Gentiles.

He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" (Acts 10:28-29 NIV).

Somehow, however, God got Peter's attention and convinced him that the Gentiles were no longer to be avoided. God was going to make Gentiles "clean" (holy, set apart) just like the Jews were being made clean. God was going to apply the work of Jesus on the Cross to Jews and Gentiles alike. Peter was convinced. Then, Peter went back to tell this news to the rest of the disciples (students) in his area. They were not convinced.

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." (Acts 11:1-3 NIV)

What would it have taken to convince you that God welcomed "unclean" Gentiles?What does it take to convince you that God is at work today?

What do you do when you see God at work?
Do you join God? How?