The Book Of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 48 The Word Was Preached. The Spirit Came and Gentiles were Converted!

We have taken time to carefully consider Peter's use of the keys of the kingdom of heaven in the life of Cornelius. God was sending His gospel to Gentiles as well as to the Jewish people. 

We have processed most of Luke's outline of Peter's preaching that day and are ready to see the results of his faithful ministry.

Peter faithfully preached truth.

Acts 10:42-43  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 

The Holy Spirit prompted Peter to bring his sermon to a close. He told Cornelius that God commanded the apostles to preach this gospel of Christ to the people, and to show how Jesus Christ is the focus of all the prophetic writings.

As Jesus Christ was the substance of the law, so all the prophets wrote directly or indirectly, about Him. Without Christ Jesus as the center of prophecy, such prophecies lose their meaning.

Peter then said that all who exercise repentant faith in the name of Jesus Christ, will receive the remission of their sins. 

This is far more than God taking away our sins. It includes removing the guilt of our sin and the destructive power, nature, and consequences of sin. 

All that is implied in pardon of sin, destruction of its tyranny, and purification from its pollution is given to all who believe. Full forgiveness, full pardon, full sonship, full adoption, full justification and so much more. 

The Holy Ghost had His way in their hearts and fell on them!

Acts 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

The Holy Ghost "fell" on Cornelius and all who were with him in his home. The word "fell" means to rush upon and take possession of, on each person who heard the word of God preached by Peter.

The words imply that Peter was prepared to keep preaching truth but was happily interrupted by the Spirit of God doing His mighty regenerating  work in human hearts. 

Nothing ever happens without preaching the Word.

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Nothing ever happens without the Word of God being shared, preached or exposited to others. The Spirit of God will always take the Word of God and do a mighty work in the hearts of sinners to bring them to repentant faith in Christ. 

Gentiles received the same gift as the apostles.

Acts 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Here was a visible and audible manifestation of the Holy Ghost very much like the day of Pentecost when He fell upon the disciples gathered in the upper room. 

Peter and the Jewish disciples who were with him were utterly astonished when this happened. The word "astonished" means total amazement and thrown off by a startling change of events. 

They never expected that God would give the same gift of the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles, but this is in keeping with God not being a respecter of persons. 

The words "poured out" has to do with abundant copious rains that fill the lakes, rivers and streams.

Cornelius and his household glorified God

Acts 10:46-47  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Cornelius and his guests were filled by the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues, magnifying and praising God. 

Just as in Acts 2, speaking in tongues meant that Cornelius and his family and friends were able to speak the gospel in languages that they never learned. Why? So that they could help spread the gospel throughout the Roman empire.

Seeing and hearing the wonderful works of God after he preached,  caused Peter to find water so  Cornelius and those with him could be baptized. 

We are to confess our faith verbally.

Romans 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Another reason the Holy Ghost empowered the Gentiles to speak in tongues was so they could magnify God. In writing to the church at Rome, Paul made it clear that a believer should want to make a public profession of faith. 

Thus, we are to confess or agree with what God says about His Son, Jesus Christ. We confess with our mouth and voices what we have believed in our hearts after hearing the word of God preached. 

Believers baptism honors Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 3:21-22  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

It is Peter who told us that being baptized is an indicator of a good conscience toward God, because we put our trust in Christ (1 Peter 3:21). 

Faith in Christ makes us right with God and we enter new life in Christ as old things pass away. Baptism is an external sign of an inward transformation.    

We are to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Acts 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. 

How sweet it is when a loved one is converted to Christ by faith. The entire group of people with Cornelius were so amazed at the grace and mercy of God and so hungry to hear more that they begged Peter and the others to stay with them longer. 

Luke does not tell us how long Peter stayed, but it was long enough to ground them in their faith. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

First, we see that faithful preaching of God's Word will be honored by God. 

In this case, the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles who heard the Word. Many new Gentile believers were added to the kingdom of God that day. 

Second, nothing will ever happen without preaching God's Word because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

There is pressure to put aside preaching God's Word and substitute man centered programs. However, these do nothing to change us into the image of Christ.  

Third, it is the Holy Spirit who will do the necessary work in human hearts when the word is preached. 

We need to be faithful and do the specific things Christ commanded us to do (Matthew 28:16-20). Whatever we do in sharing the gospel should not get in the way of allowing the Spirit of God to work in someone's heart. It is not about us. It is about Jesus Christ. 

Last, evidence of true conversion to Christ is when new believers make verbal professions of faith. 

If one says "I am born again" but never speaks about Jesus Christ, never reads the Bible, never spends time praying to God or never speaks of heavenly things, that person is probably not born again. .

Baptism is a symbol of a believer being united with the death of Christ on the cross and being raised to walk in newness of life in Christ (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). 

How glorious God is to seek and save Gentiles who many ages ago rejected God (See Genesis 11:1-9). 

How marvelous is the grace of God toward all who will hear and heed the scriptures. I pray that all believers will glorify God each morning for saving us from ourselves, and giving us all things in Christ. 

Bob