Then Peter opened his mouth and said:  “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  (35) But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  (36) The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all – (37) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke; Physician, historian and beloved companion of the apostle Paul. Our verses today come a the tail end of a conversion story written about in acts 10, 11 and 15 and is about the commission that the resurrected Christ Jesus gave his apostles – to go forth to all of the known world, both Jews and Gentiles, baptizing and teaching all nations about Jesus. For the first time we have an apostle speaking to a Gentile as directed by the Spirit. The Jews were now on an equal footing with the Gentiles.  This change from centuries of belief that salvation came from the Jews and through the Jews was revolutionary.  Our verses today from the apostle Peter, as recorded by Luke, were an insight that would change the history of the world.
Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman army – the elite Italian regiment – was visited by an angel and told to send for a man, Peter, as God had heard the prayers of this devout man. The next day Peter had a vision, the point of which was “What God has cleansed you must not called common.”  Peter’s vision of God’s cleansing of all animals indicated the abolishing of Old Testament dietary restrictions which was symbolic of how Gentiles had been cleansed by the atoning death of Christ. At this time Peter was told by the Spirit that three men – sent by Cornelius – were at the gate of the house where he was staying. Peter let them in and heard that their master had been divinely instructed to send for Peter to hear his words.  Peter went with them and found Cornelius, his household, relatives and close friends waiting to hear Peter’s words from God. Peter states plainly that Jesus is Lord of all, not just the Jews.  He didn’t even finish his teaching before his audience responded with obvious evidence of salvation by faith in the Lord.
Salvation spreads to others by God’s witnesses of which we , as Christians in faith, are. Salvation comes to all who believe in Christ. It is not a vague general sort of belief.  Peter’s sermon teaches salvation is not based on national identity or good works but it is centered on Christ Jesus.