[344 words]
One thing that impresses me every time I read the book of Acts is the fact that the gospel is for all. Before leaving for heaven, Jesus told His apostles “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Fulfilling this, the apostles (and those they trained) went all over the known earth converting people from all walks of life. Notice the different classes of people that Acts alone mentions as converted by the gospel of Christ:
* The Jews (Acts 2:37-47)
* “Both men and women” (Acts 5:14)
* The Samaritans (Acts 8:5ff)
* An African (Ethiopian) office holder (Acts 8:27-39)
* An educated, fanatical, religious leader (Paul – Acts 9:17; 22:1-16)
* A good, decent, God-fearing man who also was a soldier (Cornelius – Acts 10:1-4; 34-48)
* A politician (proconsul – Acts 13:12)
* A businesswoman (Lydia – Acts 16:13-15)
* A heathen jailer (Acts 16:25-34)
* “Prominent” people (Acts 17:12)
* Some people who had bad reputations (the Corinthians – Acts 18:7-8)
* Religious people mistaken as to the plan of salvation (Acts 19:1-5)
* Folks who practiced occult (Acts 19:18)
* On and on we could go, but you get the idea!
There are no classes excluded in the gospel of God. It is good for the young and the old. There is no barrier because of gender, race, or social status (Gal. 3:28).
Friends, we need to take the gospel to all (Mark 16:16), for the gospel is for all. As the song so aptly states:
“Of one the Lord has made the race, Thro’ one has come the fall;
Where sin has gone must go His grace: The Gospel is for all.
“Say not the heathen are at home, Beyond we have no call;
For why should we be blest alone? The Gospel is for all.
“Received ye freely, freely give, From every land they call;
Unless they hear they cannot live: The Gospel is for all.”
Edd Sterchi
Campbellsville, KY