Acts 10:44-48 – While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” Clearly it is said that the Holy Spirit “came on” all who heard the message. What does that mean? Some would say that it was at that point that these Gentiles believed and were saved and so the received the Holy Spirit, as all born-again believers do. Others say that while Peter was speaking the Holy Spirit came on them and they believed. So, did they receive the Spirit as the original infilling, or did they, as the Apostles and disciples did at Pentecost, receive an empowering of the Holy Spirit to be ministers of the Gospel? We know that the Apostles had received the Holy Spirit in (John 20:21-22) before the empowering in Acts 2 which they had been told to expect in Acts 1:4-8.
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.” This expression could mean that the Believers present (circumcised does not necessarily mean Jews, but could mean Gentiles who had converted to Judaism, completed the learning and rituals that required, including circumcision, and then after coming to Judaism had came to Jesus. Or it could mean Jews.) They were astonished that what these Gentiles were blessed in the same manner that the Apostles and disciples present at Pentecost were blessed.
Therefore, the stronger inference from the scripture is that these Gentiles had a Pentecost type of experience. But that would lead us to believe that they were already saved. Yes, that is not a problem. Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” This scripture is evident and simple, in spite of a taught doctrine that attempts to confuse and narrowly define it. The thief on the cross believed and was saved (Luke 23:43). He did not have a lot of knowledge. He observed Jesus and heard a little of what Jesus said from the cross and He believed and Jesus declared his salvation. Believers should abound in biblical and theological knowledge, but that is not required for salvation. That would be a type of work. Rather, faith in Jesus can come from a very rudimentary knowledge, as with the thief on the cross. We must remember that God discerns the heart and does not judge as we judge. On the cross, Jesus judged that the thief had given his heart to Him. While Peter was speaking the Gentiles present gave their heart to Jesus. Jesus knew that, and immediately, as with all believers, the Holy Spirit within them and sealed them (Ephesians 4:30). Since they had given their hearts to Jesus then they were empowered to be witnesses for Jesus, as had happened at Pentecost. We know that Cornelius was devout, and he had already invited family and friends to come here Peter speak. Family, Cornelius was being used before being “saved” and now he received a filling of the Holy Spirit to receive power to bring the Word of God to the world (at least the world he lived in).
Whether these Gentiles received the original reception of the Holy Spirit, or a subsequent filling of the Holy Spirit, it is obvious that they now belonged in God’s family as none receive the Holy Spirit without knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord.
“For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” Here is the definite tie to the Pentecost experience that Peter and the other Apostles had received. He recognized that what had just happened was the same as his own Pentecost experience. He stated so. That should settle the matter.
However, could it be that, different to the Apostles’ experience, that they were born again and also received the Pentecost experience at the same time? Of course it is. Who are we to limit God and to restrict how He would act. Lord God, help us to never be so arrogant as to suppose that we can restrict how You do things. You do as you will. We like it that way!
“48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.” Peter, seeing their conversion and witnessing the Holy Spirit coming on them and speaking in tongues, ordered that they be baptized. It should not be thought that he was ordering the neophytes to baptized, but rather that he was ordering the other believers to baptize them. Baptism should be taught and then embraced by new believers. It is evidence of their love of Jesus and submission to Him. All who love Jesus want to obey Him and need not be ordered to be baptized, but rather encouraged to do as the Lord has said they should be. The true believer is obedient to Jesus (John 14:15) and will want to be baptized (for some it may take time). Peter was telling the other Believers with him to baptize them.
Peter stayed with the new believers to give them a foundation of their new belief. It seems likely that he realized, by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, that they would be used as witnesses for Jesus. Peter gave them knowledge of The Gospel to prepare them. Praise our God who, like He did for Cornelius, calls us, saves us, empowers us, and instructs us all along our walk. Praise our good and loving God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.