#saint peter

[Acts 11:1-18] is not the actual [or ‘real-time’] narration in Acts of the conversion of Cornelius– [that is recorded in 10:1-29–] but Peter’s rendering of it to the community [of Jewish converts to Christianity] when he is justifying his action [of not only visiting but also eating with the Gentiles]. Like the story of Paul’s conversion, this story therefore occurs three times in Acts– [first as narrative, then twice again as speech–]showing the importance of this moment when the first gentile is received into the Church, [and the need to continually proclaim this universal heart of the Good News]. Nevertheless, Peter is humble and witty enough to include his little tiff with the Voice from heaven, whose liberalism so scandalised him, and which [therefore] ended up by roundly ticking him off for his criticism of God’s creation [as 'unclean’]! Peter also amusingly stresses that the Holy Spirit, and not himself, was responsible for the acceptance of the first gentile: in the original account the Spirit merely 'interrupted’ Peter (10:44), whereas now Peter [himself] says, [in effect, that his speech was neither a requirement nor a cause for grace– emphasizing that] he hardly had time to begin speaking when the Spirit poured down!

Dom Henry Wansbrough; Commentary on Acts 11:1-18

I love Peter. My church is beginning a new sermon series on Peter after Easter, so I’ve been sort of doing my own “research” beforehand. This website: http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/topics/simonpeter.htm has sort of a basic overview of Peter’s life/time with Jesus. It’s awesome.

The more I look at Peter, the more I see myself. Peter was passionate and loyal, but also frail and weak-hearted and rash when he should have trusted or had better faith. John was the “good child”… Peter was the leader. How many times have I been that in my life? 

I love seeing how Peter’s change from fisherman to founder of the Church wasn’t instantaneous or even easy - it was  JOURNEY, much like that of Pilgrim’s Progress. Peter makes sooo many wrong choices, some of which may even have been well-meaning. But he, like King David, always LEARNED from his mistakes. John was the devoted, loving follower. Peter went in and out, fearing and then trusting - but when he came out the end, it made him into a ROCK.

When Jesus named Peter “Petrus”, he was not referring to Peter’s PRESENT state - he was referring to what he would become. 

How often do we not believe God’s words in our life because we look at ourselves and say “me? now? yeah right.”? But God doesn’t look at us NOW - he looks at what we can BECOME. Like Peter, he knows we’re humans.. we mess up… but he also knows that if we make it through, we will be strong as a rock when we come out on the other side.