Acts 10:34-43 Peter delivers the
gospel. This is the simple gospel, stripped to its core essentials.
• Jesus is Lord
• Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit with power to heal
and deliver those oppressed by the devil
• Jesus was put to death
• God raised Jesus from the dead
• Everyone who believes in Him is forgiven of their sins
And Peter includes that he and his
fellow apostles personally witnessed all of these things.
Acts 10:44-48 Cornelius and his
entire household are baptized in the Holy Spirit. Peter didn't even get to
finish his message before the Holy Spirit empowered the Gentiles to speak with
tongues and exalt God. At least God's message to him was unmistakable.
Recognizing that God's sovereignty had brought these circumstances, Peter
immediately said that they should be baptized in water, as he saw the close
connection between the two baptisms, as he had in Acts 2:38. And then he stayed
for a few days, most likely to give them instruction in the faith. We have to
wonder if he was able to arrange fellowship with Jewish believers in Christ in
the area of Caesarea. No mention is made of it here.
The
importance of these events for the world cannot be passed by. Although Paul
would ultimately become the apostle to the Gentiles (e.g. Romans 11:13), the preaching of Jesus outside the Jewish
community would not have been sanctioned by the completely Jewish apostles
unless Peter was willing to take a strong stand and effectively veto the
Pharisees who had become believers. Peter himself had habits of behavior to
overcome (Galatians 2:11-14). This second Pentecost, or Gentile Pentecost as it
might be termed, put God's seal of approval, not just on allowing Gentiles to
become Christians, but on seeking them out aggressively. And He demonstrated
that He would empower them with the same supernatural spiritual gifts and
endowments that He gave to Jewish Christians.
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