Acts 10:44-48
How neat is this—and what an eye-opener to the Jewish believers, who now had to reconcile the fact that God had extended the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles just as He had to them! And how did they know the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given? They heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Speaking in tongues, or praying in the Spirit, is a difficult subject for many believers to reconcile, even today. Not all Christian denominations teach the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Some teach about the Holy Spirit, but refer to Him more as an “it” than a “He,” limiting His work in their lives. Yet Jesus commanded the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on High—until they received the gift the Father had promised. Then they were to continue the ministry Jesus had given them: to be His witnesses throughout the earth.
These first Gentile believers got off to a good start in their walk with God, with the Holy Spirit actively and powerfully working in their lives.
Peter then gave orders for all these new believers to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ—a separate baptism from the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
I can only imagine that when Cornelius asked them to stay a few days, it became like an intense seminar as they learned all they could before Peter returned to Joppa. There is a certain hunger that develops when you stumble upon what you know to be the truth. I experienced this when I came to the Lord in college and found myself in church every moment I could. Like a sponge, I wanted to learn as much as possible because I had found the life that was truly life, and it operated very differently from what I had previously known.
Remember, this was all new territory for both the Jews and the Gentiles, yet God was showing them that the Gospel is for everyone.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles was proof that salvation and the promises of God are available to all who believe. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the early church still desires to work in and through believers today. Our role is to remain open, hungry, and obedient to whatever God wants to reveal and accomplish in our lives.
Speaking in tongues, or praying in the Spirit, is a difficult subject for many believers to reconcile, even today. Not all Christian denominations teach the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Some teach about the Holy Spirit, but refer to Him more as an “it” than a “He,” limiting His work in their lives. Yet Jesus commanded the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on High—until they received the gift the Father had promised. Then they were to continue the ministry Jesus had given them: to be His witnesses throughout the earth.
These first Gentile believers got off to a good start in their walk with God, with the Holy Spirit actively and powerfully working in their lives.
Peter then gave orders for all these new believers to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ—a separate baptism from the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
I can only imagine that when Cornelius asked them to stay a few days, it became like an intense seminar as they learned all they could before Peter returned to Joppa. There is a certain hunger that develops when you stumble upon what you know to be the truth. I experienced this when I came to the Lord in college and found myself in church every moment I could. Like a sponge, I wanted to learn as much as possible because I had found the life that was truly life, and it operated very differently from what I had previously known.
Remember, this was all new territory for both the Jews and the Gentiles, yet God was showing them that the Gospel is for everyone.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles was proof that salvation and the promises of God are available to all who believe. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the early church still desires to work in and through believers today. Our role is to remain open, hungry, and obedient to whatever God wants to reveal and accomplish in our lives.
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