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Tuesday 2 May 2017

Rome and the Gospel

If you go to Rome and look around you might find the tomb of Augustus and then at the heart of the Vatican you might realise under the ground there is buried the body of St Peter. What was Peter doing in Rome? In the time of Augustus being Caesar of the Roman Empire there was tax of everyone introduced so to be registered there was a couple in Judea who had to go to Bethlehem and while there a baby was born who had been produced by the Holy Spirit of God in the womb of a virgin mother and this baby grew up to be Teacher in Judea. Peter had followed this Teacher Jesus and believed Jesus to be the promised, prophesied coming Messiah. The Messiah made Peter a leading disciple and sent Him to preach after a crucifixion and resurrection back to life of Jesus caused by God who is Father to Jesus. Peter ended up preaching there in Rome in the power of the Holy Spirit sent by God in Jesus' name. Peter too ended up crucified and his body was buried by his own disciples there where the Vatican is today. The preaching was to give up pagan idolatry and licentious living and turn to this God and Father of Lord Jesus the Messiah who can save through His Son. The preaching was to receive the Holy Spirit as leader and empowerer in this Kingdom of God.