Acts 8-10

Acts 8-10 continues to cover the spread of the gospel and includes Saul's conversion as well as Peter's encounter with Cornelius.  In chapter 10 Peter shares the good news of Jesus with Cornelius.  Peter summarizes his message in 10:42-43, "he (Jesus) is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."  Peter presents Jesus as the judge, the fulfillment of prophecies, and the forgiver of sins.

I rarely summarize Jesus in that way--judge, fulfiller, and forgiver.  When sharing the gospel I often testify to his fulfillment of prophecy and his forgiveness of sins, but his judging of the living and the dead I usually leave for a later discussion.  But I think the beauty of Peter's synopsis is it casts Jesus in the light of the entirety of scripture.  The beginning of the Bible is full of the prophets bearing witness--then He comes and forgives sin on the cross--and then at the end of the Bible He judges the living and the dead. For much of the Bible Jesus' coming is promised.  He came and forgave.  He is coming back, and when he does he will judge the living and the dead.

May I follow in Peter's example and present a fuller picture of who Jesus is.