When God brings renewal he provides both a stirring and a softening of the heart.
When God brought his people back to their homeland he stirred the heart of a king.
The people of God are marked by the presence of the Spirit, trust in Jesus, and love for each other.
Peter learns that Jesus indeed has provided salvation to ALL who love him and call him Lord and that we will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (not just to Jerusalem, Judea, or even Samaria).
When God calls us we think differently, we take risks, we suffer, we get stretched and trained, and while we may not see immediate success, God works in and through us to complete his plan in the world.
The encounter between an unlikely pair demonstrates the extension of God's love to all.
Although he loves us and desires our good, God will not be manipulated for our benefit.
As the family of God, we are called to be a community of ‘differents’ united in His purpose - and extend this invitation to others.