The Book of Acts

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

Acts 10:44-48 _NLT

“Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.”- Acts 10:44

            One of the greatest barriers to the spread of the gospel in the earliest days of the church was the conflict that existed between the Jews and the Gentiles. The thought of mingling with non-Jews was appalling to the Jewish people. This was remedied when the Lord gave Peter a vision regarding the co-mingling of clean and unclean animals. God had and has declared that everything and everyone is clean and should not be shunned or avoided. This was accentuated by Peter visiting the Roman Centurion Cornelius in Caesarea, and entering his home to teach both he, his family, and friends. 

            Peter’s sermon to Cornelius’ grouping was powerful in that he gave a clear, concise statement of the gospel message: the perfect life of Jesus as servant, his gruesome death on a cross and his resurrection to new life. Peter stressed that Jesus’ life and death fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures. He also showed the necessity to have a personal, intimate faith driven relationship with Christ. A sermon need not be wordy, but rather Spirit-led and to the point, making Christ the center of it. Without Christ’s death on the cross there is no salvation.

            Once Peter was through preaching the Spirit of God fell upon all those who were in attendance. Those accompanying Peter were amazed that the Gentiles were filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by their all speaking with other tongues and praising God. After their infilling, Peter asked if anyone could possibly deny their being water baptized. With no dissenters, all were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Knowing he was much in need of further teaching regarding the things of the Lord, Cornelius asked Peter to stay a few days longer to which Peter agreed. Are you hungry for the word of God? Do you wish to represent Christ in your daily life, if you do not already do so? Seek the depths of wisdom that can be poured out unto you by God’s Holy Spirit. Use your time wisely, for our days are numbered and soon enough the end of time will come. Perhaps in our lifetime, perhaps not, but we are to embrace Christ with all our being and seek to serve him in every way possible. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries