The Holy Spirit’s Response
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10:44-48
Here are the compilation of your questions or comments on this passage:
- I’m having a problem recognising where to dig for the gold . It appears to be a very clear description of what happened. However I do see that this could be seen as the point where the Gentiles were officially grafted into God’s church a very profound moment in the history of the Gentile church.
- The “as Peter was saying these things” is important isn’t it? But I don’t know why? Please explain.
- It struck me that the Holy Spirit fell on all listening to the message, not just those who believed. Or does it mean that all who listen believed?
- Why does Luke choose “fell on”? It made me think of some one falling on someone else. It made me laugh.
- What’s the message? That Gentiles should be included or the message of the Gospel?
- What does the gift of the Holy Spirit mean? Does it mean the gifts as in 1 Corinthians 12? Speaking in tongues and all that? Or does it mean they got the Holy Spirit himself?
- How do you know you have got the Holy Spirit?
- Can anyone get speaking tongues or is it only for favoured people?
- Is receiving the Holy Spirit and having the Spirit fall on you different?
- Is one being when you get the Spirit when you believe and the other this baptism in the spirit they talk about?
- I can see why some people would say from this that the way we know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit is that we speak in tongues. A very prickly pineapple at best.
- Being a good Baptist I have always had the view that it may follow but is not necessarily essential . What do you think?
- What does speaking in tongues (glossolalia) actually mean? Is it languages or is it the pentecostal tongues?
- I saw the link between speaking in tongues and praising God. Is that always the case?
- Who are the Jewish believers mentioned?
- Why should the Jewish believers have been amazed. Surely as they travelled with Peter to Cornelius’s home he would have spoken about his vision from God about clean/unclean and what it meant?
- What is the baptism mentioned here? Does it refer to water baptism or baptism in the spirit/being slain in the Spirit?
- What does we mean in “just as we did”? Is that looking back to what happened at Pentecost?
- What happened when Paul was asked to stay on for several days? Do we know? You always seem to know extra information Ian?
- Do you know what happened when he stayed on? Or even if he stayed on?
- Did Peter baptise them? But doesn’t it say somewhere that the Apostles didn’t baptise?
- Why does it keep saying in Bible baptise in the name of Jesus Christ? Why do they say at baptisms in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost?
- This may be a really dumb question, but is Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost different?
- This thought came up in my mind about the title of this message. God shows no favouritism, but as i lookup countless times in the Bible God did play favouritism, as in giving favour over someone that over someone else, example Joseph and David, Jacob and Esau. Doesn’t the statement contradict? Or is it just the angle of view that is different?
- Does God show no favouritism regarding salvation but for ‘other things’ such as the one He uses/picks to be His tools on earth, God does show different favour?
Once again your questions have grown to be more than what Luke wrote in the first place. Maybe its like the Moody Blues said in their song A Question of Balance that I quoted in Gem 1541
Why do we never get an answer when we’re knocking at the door Because the truth is hard to swallow, that’s what the wall of love is for.
Maybe some of you feel you don’t get straight answers to some of your questions on these issues above. Well hang on to your hat. That’s what we will do over the next Gems as we work through this bunch of questions you have given me. I don’t think you have missed anything out between you. Promise I won’t give you the wall of love instead of answers.
You will never see the end if you give up in the middle!
Joyce Meyer
Follow your heart, but don’t forget to take your brain with you!
Diah Mintara
Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.
Doug Larson
Today people value tolerance more than truth.
Wendy Treat