WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.980 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:13.419 Acts, chapters 10 through 12. Chapter 10. There 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:16.039 was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.539 a centurion of what was called the Italian regiment, 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.620 a devout man and one who feared God with all 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:25.579 his household, who gave alms generously to the 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:28.829 people and prayed to God always. About the ninth 00:00:28.829 --> 00:00:31.690 hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an 00:00:31.690 --> 00:00:34.549 angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius. 00:00:34.689 --> 00:00:37.429 And when he observed him, he was afraid and said, 00:00:37.649 --> 00:00:40.869 What is it, Lord? So he said to him, Your prayers 00:00:40.869 --> 00:00:43.689 and your alms have come up for a memorial before 00:00:43.689 --> 00:00:47.189 God. Now send men to Joppa and send for Simon, 00:00:47.310 --> 00:00:50.229 whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, 00:00:50.409 --> 00:00:53.009 a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will 00:00:53.009 --> 00:00:55.350 tell you what you must do. And when the angel 00:00:55.710 --> 00:00:58.689 who spoke to him, had departed. Cornelius called 00:00:58.689 --> 00:01:01.329 two of his household servants and a devout soldier 00:01:01.329 --> 00:01:03.869 from among those who waited on him continually. 00:01:04.170 --> 00:01:06.390 So when he had explained all these things to 00:01:06.390 --> 00:01:09.890 them, he sent them to Joppa. The next day, as 00:01:09.890 --> 00:01:11.769 they went on their journey and drew near the 00:01:11.769 --> 00:01:15.250 city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about 00:01:15.250 --> 00:01:18.370 the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and 00:01:18.370 --> 00:01:21.129 wanted to eat. But while they made ready, he 00:01:21.129 --> 00:01:24.370 fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and 00:01:24.370 --> 00:01:27.239 an object like a great sheep bound at the four 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:30.780 corners, descending to him and let down to the 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:34.040 earth. In it were all kinds of four -footed animals 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:37.620 of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:40.840 birds of the air. And a voice came to him, Rise, 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:44.579 Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so, 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:47.180 Lord, for I have never eaten anything common 00:01:47.180 --> 00:01:50.359 or unclean. And a voice spoke to him again the 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:53.319 second time, What God has cleansed you must not 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:56.689 call common. This was done three times, and the 00:01:56.689 --> 00:02:00.150 object was taken up into heaven again. Now while 00:02:00.150 --> 00:02:02.609 Peter wondered within himself what this vision 00:02:02.609 --> 00:02:05.810 which he had seen meant, behold, the men who 00:02:05.810 --> 00:02:08.509 had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry 00:02:08.509 --> 00:02:11.129 for Simon's house and stood before the gate. 00:02:11.349 --> 00:02:13.870 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose 00:02:13.870 --> 00:02:16.650 surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter 00:02:16.650 --> 00:02:18.669 thought about the vision, the Spirit said to 00:02:18.669 --> 00:02:22.069 him, Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise, 00:02:22.069 --> 00:02:24.949 therefore, go down and go with them. doubting 00:02:24.949 --> 00:02:27.650 nothing for i have sent them then peter went 00:02:27.650 --> 00:02:30.550 down to the men who had been sent to him from 00:02:30.550 --> 00:02:34.189 cornelius and said yes i am he whom you seek 00:02:34.189 --> 00:02:37.710 for what reason have you come and he said cornelius 00:02:37.710 --> 00:02:41.110 the centurion a just man one who fears god and 00:02:41.110 --> 00:02:43.710 has a good reputation among all the nation of 00:02:43.710 --> 00:02:46.889 the jews was divinely instructed by a holy angel 00:02:46.889 --> 00:02:49.870 to summon you to his house and to hear words 00:02:49.870 --> 00:02:52.650 from you then he invited them and lodged them 00:02:52.990 --> 00:02:55.629 On the next day, Peter went away with them, and 00:02:55.629 --> 00:02:58.330 some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And 00:02:58.330 --> 00:03:00.990 the following day they entered Caesarea. Now 00:03:00.990 --> 00:03:03.370 Cornelius was waiting for them, and he had called 00:03:03.370 --> 00:03:05.990 together his relatives and close friends. As 00:03:05.990 --> 00:03:08.789 Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell 00:03:08.789 --> 00:03:11.289 down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter 00:03:11.289 --> 00:03:14.810 lifted him up, saying, Stand up, I myself am 00:03:14.810 --> 00:03:17.729 also a man. And as he talked with him, he went 00:03:17.729 --> 00:03:20.830 in and found many who had come together. Then 00:03:20.830 --> 00:03:23.330 he said to them, You know how unlawful it is 00:03:23.330 --> 00:03:26.689 for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to 00:03:26.689 --> 00:03:30.129 one of another nation. But God has shown me that 00:03:30.129 --> 00:03:32.990 I should not call any man common or unclean. 00:03:33.229 --> 00:03:36.009 Therefore I came without objection as soon as 00:03:36.009 --> 00:03:39.270 I was sent for. I asked then, For what reason 00:03:39.270 --> 00:03:42.569 have you sent for me? So Cornelius said, Four 00:03:42.569 --> 00:03:45.830 days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at 00:03:45.830 --> 00:03:48.590 the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, 00:03:48.870 --> 00:03:51.569 a man stood before me in bright clothing, and 00:03:51.569 --> 00:03:54.189 said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, 00:03:54.330 --> 00:03:56.289 and your alms are remembered in the sight of 00:03:56.289 --> 00:03:59.250 God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call Simon 00:03:59.250 --> 00:04:02.430 here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in 00:04:02.430 --> 00:04:05.509 the house of Simon a tanner by the sea. When 00:04:05.509 --> 00:04:07.930 he comes he will speak to you. So I sent you 00:04:07.930 --> 00:04:10.129 immediately, and you have done well to come. 00:04:10.490 --> 00:04:13.289 Now therefore, we are all present before God, 00:04:13.469 --> 00:04:16.170 to hear all the things commanded you by God. 00:04:16.470 --> 00:04:40.910 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, after the 00:04:40.910 --> 00:04:44.329 baptism which John preached, how God anointed 00:04:44.329 --> 00:04:47.350 Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with 00:04:47.350 --> 00:04:50.490 power, who went about doing good and healing 00:04:50.490 --> 00:04:53.350 all who were oppressed by the devil, for God 00:04:53.350 --> 00:04:56.490 was with him. And we are witnesses of all things 00:04:56.490 --> 00:04:59.430 which he did both in the land of the Jews and 00:04:59.430 --> 00:05:02.170 in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on 00:05:02.170 --> 00:05:05.949 a tree. Him God raised up on the third day and 00:05:05.949 --> 00:05:08.649 showed him openly. not to all the people, but 00:05:08.649 --> 00:05:12.050 to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us 00:05:12.050 --> 00:05:14.870 who ate and drank with him after he arose from 00:05:14.870 --> 00:05:17.769 the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the 00:05:17.769 --> 00:05:20.670 people, and to testify that it is he who was 00:05:20.670 --> 00:05:23.050 ordained by God to be judge of the living and 00:05:23.050 --> 00:05:26.529 the dead. To him all the prophets witness that 00:05:26.529 --> 00:05:29.269 through his name whoever believes in him will 00:05:29.269 --> 00:05:32.399 receive remission of sins. While Peter was still 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:34.879 speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:37.620 all those who heard the word, and those of the 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:40.199 circumcision who believed were astonished, as 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:42.519 many as came with Peter, because the gift of 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:45.579 the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:48.519 also, for they heard them speak with tongues 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:51.879 and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can anyone 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:54.660 forbid water, that these should not be baptized 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:57.779 who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we 00:05:57.779 --> 00:06:00.750 have? And he commanded them to be baptized in 00:06:00.750 --> 00:06:02.930 the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to 00:06:02.930 --> 00:06:09.790 stay a few days. Now the apostles and brethren 00:06:09.790 --> 00:06:12.730 who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had 00:06:12.730 --> 00:06:15.310 also received the word of God. And when Peter 00:06:15.310 --> 00:06:18.009 came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision 00:06:18.009 --> 00:06:21.509 contended with him, saying, You went into uncircumcised 00:06:21.509 --> 00:06:24.209 men and ate with them. But Peter explained it 00:06:24.209 --> 00:06:26.529 to them in order from the beginning, saying, 00:06:26.769 --> 00:06:30.170 I was in a city of Joppa praying, and in a trance 00:06:30.170 --> 00:06:33.089 I saw a vision, an object descending like a great 00:06:33.089 --> 00:06:36.250 sheet, let down from heaven by four corners, 00:06:36.449 --> 00:06:39.389 and it came to me. When I observed it intently 00:06:39.389 --> 00:06:42.509 and considered, I saw four -footed animals of 00:06:42.509 --> 00:06:45.649 the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and 00:06:45.649 --> 00:06:47.930 birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying 00:06:47.930 --> 00:06:51.389 to me, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. But I said, 00:06:51.550 --> 00:06:55.329 Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has 00:06:55.329 --> 00:06:58.689 at any time entered my mouth. But the voice answered 00:06:58.689 --> 00:07:02.089 me again from heaven, What God has cleansed you 00:07:02.089 --> 00:07:05.290 must not call common. Now this was done three 00:07:05.290 --> 00:07:08.550 times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 00:07:08.810 --> 00:07:11.910 At that very moment, three men stood before the 00:07:11.910 --> 00:07:15.050 house where I was, having been sent to me from 00:07:15.050 --> 00:07:17.449 Caesarea. Then the Spirit told me to go with 00:07:17.449 --> 00:07:21.019 them, doubting nothing. Moreover, these six brethren 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:24.019 accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:27.279 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.540 in his house, who said to him, Send men to Joppa, 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.899 and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:36.459 will tell you words by which you and all your 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:39.920 household will be saved. And as I began to speak, 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:43.120 the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.540 the beginning. Then I remembered the word of 00:07:45.540 --> 00:07:48.819 the Lord, how he said, John, indeed, baptized 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:51.339 with water but you shall be baptized with the 00:07:51.339 --> 00:07:54.540 holy spirit if therefore god gave them the same 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:57.639 gift as he gave us when we believed on the lord 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:00.699 jesus christ who was i that i could withstand 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:03.860 god when they heard these things they became 00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:07.060 silent and they glorified god saying then god 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:10.180 has also granted to the gentiles repentance to 00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:13.439 life now those who were scattered after the persecution 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:17.339 that arose over stephen traveled as far as phoenicia 00:08:17.829 --> 00:08:20.709 Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no 00:08:20.709 --> 00:08:23.509 one but the Jews only. But some of them were 00:08:23.509 --> 00:08:26.649 men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had 00:08:26.649 --> 00:08:29.629 come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching 00:08:29.629 --> 00:08:32.289 the Lord Christ. And the hand of the Lord was 00:08:32.289 --> 00:08:35.049 with them, and a great number believed and turned 00:08:35.049 --> 00:08:38.509 to the Lord. Then news of these things came to 00:08:38.509 --> 00:08:40.929 the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they 00:08:40.929 --> 00:08:43.889 sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, when 00:08:43.889 --> 00:08:46.600 he came and had seen the grace of God. He was 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:49.879 glad and encouraged them all that with purpose 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:52.559 of heart they should continue with the Lord. 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:55.500 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:59.080 and of faith. And a great many people were added 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:02.080 to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.159 to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.480 him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.500 they assembled with the church and taught a great 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:14.340 many people. And the disciples were first called 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:18.240 Christians. in Antioch. And in these days prophets 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.360 came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.700 named Agappos, stood up and showed by the Spirit 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:27.259 that there was going to be a great famine throughout 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:30.220 all the world, which also happened in the days 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:33.279 of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.960 according to his ability, determined to send 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.220 relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This 00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:42.059 they also did and sent it to the elders by the 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:48.389 hands of Barnabas and Saul. Chapter 12 Now about 00:09:48.389 --> 00:09:51.309 that time Herod the king stretched out his hand 00:09:51.309 --> 00:09:54.049 to harass some from the church. Then he killed 00:09:54.049 --> 00:09:56.850 James the brother of John with the sword. And 00:09:56.850 --> 00:09:59.730 because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded 00:09:59.730 --> 00:10:03.149 further to seize Peter also. Now it was during 00:10:03.149 --> 00:10:05.750 the days of unleavened bread. So when he had 00:10:05.750 --> 00:10:08.450 arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered 00:10:08.450 --> 00:10:12.009 him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending 00:10:12.009 --> 00:10:14.470 to bring him before the people after Passover. 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:17.820 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:21.100 prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:24.120 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:27.240 night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.100 between two soldiers, and the guards before the 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:32.860 door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:35.840 angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:38.460 in the prison. And he struck Peter on the side 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:41.940 and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly. And 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:44.519 his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:47.440 said to him, Gird yourself and tie on your sandals. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:50.399 And so he did. And he said to him, Put on your 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:53.500 garment and follow me. So he went out and followed 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:56.559 him, and did not know that what was done by the 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.480 angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.220 When they were past the first and the second 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:05.460 guard posts, they came to the iron gate that 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:08.320 leads to the city, which opened to them of its 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:11.320 own accord. And they went out and went down one 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:14.409 street, And immediately the angel departed from 00:11:14.409 --> 00:11:16.830 him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, 00:11:16.990 --> 00:11:19.769 Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent 00:11:19.769 --> 00:11:21.889 his angel and has delivered me from the hand 00:11:21.889 --> 00:11:24.730 of Herod and from all the expectation of the 00:11:24.730 --> 00:11:27.330 Jewish people. So when he had considered this, 00:11:27.470 --> 00:11:30.210 he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, 00:11:30.370 --> 00:11:33.289 whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered 00:11:33.289 --> 00:11:35.889 together praying. And as Peter knocked at the 00:11:35.889 --> 00:11:39.289 door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to 00:11:39.289 --> 00:11:42.250 answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, because 00:11:42.250 --> 00:11:44.850 of her gladness, she did not open the gate, but 00:11:44.850 --> 00:11:47.769 ran in and announced that Peter stood before 00:11:47.769 --> 00:11:50.409 the gate. But they said to her, You are beside 00:11:50.409 --> 00:11:53.470 yourself. Yet she kept insisting that it was 00:11:53.470 --> 00:11:57.070 so. So they said, It is his angel. Now Peter 00:11:57.070 --> 00:11:59.409 continued knocking, and when they opened the 00:11:59.409 --> 00:12:02.450 door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning 00:12:02.450 --> 00:12:05.450 to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared 00:12:05.450 --> 00:12:08.250 to them how the Lord had brought him out of the 00:12:08.250 --> 00:12:11.429 prison. And he said, Go tell these things to 00:12:11.429 --> 00:12:14.110 James and to the brethren. And he departed and 00:12:14.110 --> 00:12:17.389 went to another place. Then as soon as it was 00:12:17.389 --> 00:12:20.049 day, there was no small stir among the soldiers 00:12:20.049 --> 00:12:23.269 about what had become of Peter. But when Herod 00:12:23.269 --> 00:12:26.029 had searched for him and not found him, he examined 00:12:26.029 --> 00:12:28.509 the guards and commanded that they should be 00:12:28.509 --> 00:12:30.929 put to death. And he went down from Judea to 00:12:30.929 --> 00:12:33.929 Caesarea and stayed there. Now Herod had been 00:12:33.929 --> 00:12:36.210 very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.980 But they came to him with one accord, and having 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:42.019 made Blastus, the king's personal aide, their 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:45.039 friend, they asked for peace, because their country 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:47.820 was supplied with food by the king's country. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:51.919 So on a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.879 sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:57.539 And the people kept shouting, the voice of a 00:12:57.539 --> 00:13:00.690 god and not of a man. Then immediately an angel 00:13:00.690 --> 00:13:03.070 of the Lord struck him, because he did not give 00:13:03.070 --> 00:13:06.789 glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. 00:13:07.110 --> 00:13:10.649 But the word of God grew and multiplied. And 00:13:10.649 --> 00:13:13.629 Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when 00:13:13.629 --> 00:13:15.909 they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also 00:13:15.909 --> 00:13:18.669 took with them John, whose surname was Mark. 00:13:23.590 --> 00:13:25.889 I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much as 00:13:25.889 --> 00:13:27.990 I did. and I look forward to seeing you again 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:30.429 tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless 00:13:30.429 --> 00:13:31.490 you and have a great day.