I find myself preparing to preach this upcoming Sunday from the text of Acts 10. We are going through a series that covers the New Testament book of Acts that we are calling Unhindered. I always enjoy going through Acts and seeing how the gospel of Jesus Christ went out unhindered.
Acts 10 contains the story of how Simon Peter shares the gospel with a Roman centurion who comes to faith in Christ. It is so good. As I have been studying and preparing a sermon from this text, I came across something that has just held on to me.
This thing that has gripped me was something I read in a commentary on Acts from Warren Wiersbe. In his Be Dynamic commentary, Wiersbe talks about Peter’s miracle ministry in Acts 9:32-10:48. In these verses, Wiersbe shares how this miracle ministry went from great to greater to the greatest.
The Great
In Acts 9:32-35, we can see God using Peter to bring healing to a man named Aeneas. Aeneas had been crippled up and paralyzed for about eight years before Peter met him. Peter shares the love of Jesus with this man and even commands a paralytic to stand to his feet – something he hasn’t done in almost a decade. Amazingly, strength comes back to Aeneas’ legs, and he is able to walk again. No doubt that this is a very great thing.
The Greater
As Luke moves on in Acts 9, we see Peter going to Joppa and being used in an even greater way. Peter was called on by some of the disciples in Joppa called out to Peter to come to them because one of their own, Tabitha, had died from an illness. In Acts 9:36-43, God uses Peter to bring this young woman back to life from the grave. If seeing a paralyzed man walk again was great, then seeing someone come back from the dead is truly greater!
The Greatest
As you get to Acts 10, it is hard to even imagine that one might rise above what has already been seen… but it happens. Acts 10 holds the story of a Roman centurion named Cornelius who is seeking after God. This is a good man who does many good things. In spite of this, Cornelius realizes that he is still lacking something essential.
The Lord tells Cornelius to bring in Peter and listen to what Peter has to say. Peter comes into Cornelius’ house and shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with those gathered in this centurion’s house. As Peter shares the gospel with the gathered group, they respond by trusting in Christ and receiving salvation (Acts 10:44-48).
It may not pop out like a bright neon sign, but this miracle that takes place here is the greatest of all mentioned. This miracle is the greatest because it shows God not simply bringing physical ability back… not simply bringing breath back into stopped lungs… it shows the rescuing of sinners from the clutches of Hell’s grasp.
Do we recognize that when we see a sinner turn to faith in Christ that the greatest of miracles
has happened in our midst?
I firmly believe that miracles still happen today. In fact, if you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, then the miracle of new birth and a new life can happen in your life today. Confess your sins and call out to Jesus for this new life. He will give it to you.
