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 baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
So he gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days. (Acts 10:44-48)
Clearly this collection of questions have sparked something in a number of you. It seems these are questions that numbers of you have asked as well and so you are waiting on the answers to these questions in particular. Especially on baptism, tongues and other related things. Perhaps Rachel’s response sums it up the best. “Ooooooooooooo I am looking forward to this one!!!!!!! Those questions are some of the questions i had going through my head last year when I found out about being baptized in the Holy Spirit!!! Can’t wait read your next emails.” Well you will have to wait for a while Rachel and the others of you who responded on the baptism in the Holy Spirit and tongues issues because as usual I will handle things in order. The questions below will be the first ones I tackle then we move on the issue of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and tongues. I am debating as to whether I deal with that issue in this segment or I leave it to the point where it naturally belongs in the Acts. Do you know where that is? Can you work it out? A few of you have asked if or when I am going to deal with the matter of baptism in the Holy Spirit, tongues and tongues being the sign gift. They are busting to know. Let it sit for a while and see if you can determine where the best place for me to cover it actually is.
Yes you are right Elizabeth, The “as Peter was saying these things” is important. The timing of the Spirit falling is important.
- When and why did He fall?
- Why that time and what was the significance of that time ?
- Yes it leaves us with the question, what does the saying these things refer to?
- Is Luke referring to Peter’s statement in 10:34 that God shows no favouritism or is it referring to Peter’s summary of the Gospel for Gentile believers?
Most commentators believe it refers back to 10:34 and I agree with them. The thrust of this passage is the incorporation of the Gentiles into the flow of what God is doing. So everything that relates to that is important here. Yes and the other comment that one of you made to the effect: –
- It struck me that the Holy Spirit fell on all listening to the message, not just those who believed. Right?
- Or does it mean that all who listen believed?
Those are two good questions. Think again of the circumstances here.
- Who is it who heard the message?
- And thus experienced the Spirit falling on them?
- It is Cornelius’ household right?
Along with the Jewish believers who came with Peter. In other words primarily there were two groups of people there – the Gentiles who were part of Cornelius’ household and Jewish believers who had come along to witness. The Holy Spirit of God has been involved throughout bringing these people together. Oh it is without doubt that primarily the ones in the Spirit’s scope sights are the Gentiles connected with Cornelius. This whole story is with them in mind. That is the way this story is written. Yes as Kevin said, I do see that this could be seen as the point where the Gentiles were officially grafted in to God’s church, a very profound moment in the history of the Gentile church. That is undoubtedly the Spirit’s focus and therefore Luke is writing this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That is where the natural emphasis falls. But it is also curious that we are given this supposed side comment related to Spirit falling on all who were listening to the message. Actually the side comment is more than that. Look carefully at the verses which follow the opening statement.
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.
Acts 10:44-47
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 baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
This little side comment is in fact more than a side comment. The timing of when the Holy Spirit fell on them all was undoubtedly linked to Peter’s revelation that God doesn’t show favouritism. To add God’s witness to that statement the Holy Spirit falls on them. This is primarily about people witnessing this momentous event. Now, at the time, God Himself is witnessing and adding His seal to the conclusion that God doesn’t show favouritism. Some query as to whether this event is linked back to the Spirit falling at Pentecost on 120 believers in Jerusalem in that now famous upper room. I would say a resounding “Yes”. That is clearly what is in mind with the comment “Can anyone object to their being baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”. That is the moment when the Jewish believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit that had been promised. That is the moment that is in Peter’s mind when he says “received the Holy Spirit just as we did”. There is no other moment which can be meant. That inextricably links the Gentiles with the Jews in this new move of God and the fact that the Spirit of God fell on them all at that moment – Cornelius’ household and the Jewish believers who had come with Peter adds to the importance of the moment. These Jews and Gentiles are all together. It is like God speaks from heaven and says, See I pour out my Spirit on all flesh just as I told you I would. These Jewish believers heard the Gentiles speaking in tongues just as the Jews had done in Jerusalem and all those of other nations gathered there with them. Now Peter adds to the moment by saying “can anyone object to their being baptised” . . . just as we were?
Is this question for Cornelius’ household? Of course not. Peter is asking this of the Jewish believers with him. It makes no sense for this question to be directed to Cornelius’ group. This is for the benefit of those Jewish believers with him. Yes indeed, a momentous moment for all present, witnessed by Jews and Gentiles alike and a moment over which the Holy Spirit places God’s seal of approval. And think about it – this scenario was set up and orchestrated by God from start to finish. It was He Who spoke to Cornelius in a vision saying send for Peter who is at Straight St. It was He Who spoke to Peter in a trance and told him what would happen and that men were coming to escort him to Cornelius’ house. How amazing!
Now the moment for the question – 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? Read the words again – The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. These Jewish believers were not amazed that the Holy Spirit had come and that His coming was accompanied by tongues. They were typically Jewish and were amazed by the fact that the Gentiles received this gift too. Their Jewish prejudices had been getting in the way of the message. What’s the message? The Gospel per se or that Gentiles should be included? THAT GENTILES SHOULD BE INCLUDED! That is the amazing thing about all of this and what is front and centre in all of the witness testimony that is being offered here and will still be offered in the segment to come.
Luke’s use of fall on [epipipto] is figurative so no it doesn’t refer to one person falling on another. But also no problem that it made you laugh. God created laughter too. Rather it is a term by which Luke consistently expresses an extraordinary God event – both good and bad but entirely of God. It probably contains elements of suddenness as in something fell on me and the fact that the falling on was from above – I.e. from heaven or God.
I will save the following elements for the next Gemz
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?
And I will leave you to ponder when I should address the matter of the baptism of Spirit and the baptism by water.
When do you think?
Should I do it now in this collection of Gems or should I leave it for a more opportune time.
And if that is the case when would that time be?
P E A C E is seeing a sunset, and knowing who to thank.
Jasmine Heryanto
Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got.
Anon
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude of mind.
Eva Gabor
I have no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don’t believe I deserved my friends.
Walt Whitman