Acts 10:34-48 – The Gentile Pentecost

Christ had said He would baptize with the Holy Ghost (1:5). Here it is (v. 45). The Holy Spirit was “poured out” on the day of Pentecost (2:17). Some of the Samaritans (who had practiced a religion that was a corrupt mixture of Old Testament and pagan ideas) had been converted to Christ, and the Holy Spirit had “fallen upon” them (8:16). And now that same gift of the Holy Ghost is poured out upon these Gentile believers. The Samaritan and now this Gentile sequel to Pentecost were demonstrations of the fact that the blessings of the Holy Spirit, including that distinct once-for-all baptism of the Holy Spirit signalling that the New Testament age of the exalted Christ was the age of the Holy Spirit in abundance, belonged equally to all sections of the Church – Jew, Samaritan, and Gentile. Peter, realising this, declares that these Gentile believers must be treated fully as part of the church of Christ by being baptized. For whatever reason, Cornelius had been only an ‘adherent’ of the synagogue and of the Old Testament church, but this must not continue – he must be fully a member of the church now in its continuing New Testament phase. The church is international!

God is “no respecter of persons” (v.34) and the church will ultimately be “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Rev.7:9). The God of Heaven sent the vision to Cornelius and the vision to Peter to so coincide as to bring to us the message that “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (v.35).

Whatever kind of sinner you are, the Lord receives all sinners who come to Him in His appointed way – through faith in Jesus Christ. This is good news. “The LORD is nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

Questions
1. Do we speak to others of this good news?
2. Are we, like God our Father in Heaven, no respecter of persons in the Church (James 2:1-4)?

Prayer Points
1. Pray for the salvation of your neighbours and friends.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.