Replies

The Acts 10: 9-26 confuses me. After reading it again I am convinced it was God revealing that Gentiles were hereby declared "clean" and the Good News was to be revealed to them as well.

Saying it was Catholisizm revealed is a stretch, in my opinion.

Also, I will admit that Peter did a lot of good stuff and he had a special place in Jesus' heart. But that doesn't make him the beginning of a long line of Popes. My intercessor is Jesus himself - in the order of Melchizedek.

When Jesus is dead, I'll look for another - if you get my drift.

Peter was a good example for all of us to follow, as was Paul and, of course, Jesus himself. But that is all he was - a man doing the will of God (better than most from what I read).

The Acts 10: 9-26 confuses me. After reading it again I am convinced it was God revealing that Gentiles were hereby declared "clean" and the Good News was to be revealed to them as well. Saying it was Catholisizm revealed is a stretch, in my opinion.

Acts 10:9-26 (or -28 or -48) is about Peter coming to understand that Christ's message was universal (catholic with a lower case "c"), it was was for all peoples. Not only does Peter receive the message through divine revelation, but he also immediately implements it.

Also of note is the necessity of such instructions to Peter, for it reveals that not even the apostles fully grasped the implications of Jesus' teaching on the law at first. The Apostles did not receive doctrine fully formed at Pentecost, but came to fuller understandings over time. Doctrine developed.

Further, Peter instructs the other apostles on the catholicity (universality) of the Church in Acts 11:5-18. Without Peter's early leadership role, probably neither of us would be here discussing this issue.

Also, I will admit that Peter did a lot of good stuff and he had a special place in Jesus' heart. But that doesn't make him the beginning of a long line of Popes. My intercessor is Jesus himself - in the order of Melchizedek... Peter was a good example for all of us to follow, ... but that is all he was - a man doing the will of God.

Just out of curiosity, what do you think Jesus was up to in these verses:
Mt 16:18-19 -- Jesus gives Peter "the keys"
Mt 16:19 -- the power to bind and loose
Jn 21:15-17 -- Jesus tells Peter "feed my sheep"
Lk 22:32 -- Jesus prays for faith of (only) Peter
Lk 22:32 -- "Simon...strengthen your brethren"