Preaching the Gospel

Sunday after Epiphany, Sunday, January 12th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" . . . beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."  (Acts 10:34ff)

In the 10^th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we hear an example of Kerygma which is a Greek word for “Preaching” or “Proclaiming”  i.e.,  to cry or proclaim as a herald, and meansproclamation, announcement, or preaching

In this 10^th Chapter, St. Peter has arrived at the house of Cornelius and he is preaching to a gathering there at the home of Cornelius, a centurion: 

Acts 10:1-2  “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion . . .  a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.”

In a vision that Cornelius had, and angel of God told him to go and seek St. Peter, whom the angel tells him to bring to his house.

Acts 10:5   (the angel said) “And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.”

Acts 10:25 “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down and worshipped him.”

Acts 10:26 “But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

And this is what sets the scene for St. Peter preaching the Kerygma . . . or preaching of the Gospel.

Acts 10:37-43  “That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Deuteronomy 18:18  “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”