Peter’s vision and subsequent evangelism at Cornelius’ house (10:1-48) marks a significant shift in the narrative of Acts, which prepares the church for its mission to the Gentiles. Luke prefaces this pivotal episode with two miracle accounts in 9:32-43. These two accounts, along with Peter’s ministry to Cornelius, echo three distinct episodes in Jesus’ ministry: the healing of the paralytic (Luke 5:17–26), the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:41–56), and Jesus’ interaction with a Roman centurion (Luke 7:1–10). Luke includes key discourse features within the narrative and Peter’s sermon, which set it apart from previous narratives in Acts and accentuate the Christ motifs.
This paper will examine the significance and function of the Christ motifs in Peter’s Judean ministry. It does so by establishing concrete connections with the ministry of Jesus, applying discourse analysis principles, and comparing Peter’s Judean ministry with previous narratives in Acts. The paper will demonstrate that Luke incorporates unique discourse features and terminology that distinguish this narrative from previous ministry and preaching narratives in Acts. It will argue that the Christ motif serves an apologetic function in the narrative, presenting Peter’s Gentile ministry as consistent with and in obedience to the command and example of Christ.