Oct. 17, 2004

  Chap.10, verse 44- “while Peter yet spake these words..”- the language of the text suggests an interruption by the Holy Spirit while Peter was speaking.  That the Holy Spirit came upon these Gentiles is  a remarkable event; we would assume that while Peter was speaking they believed on Christ unto salvation.

   Here the Holy Spirit (with accompanying tongues) verifies that God receives Gentiles as objects of His salvation.  “heard the word”  would be synonymous with believing..  There is much here similar to what occurred in Acts 2 with the Jews.

   Chap.10:45-46- Luke then directs us to observe the reaction of those believing Jews who accompanied Peter (called they of the circumcision).  They were astonished =existemi- literally, they stood “out” of themselves.  This ministry of the Holy Spirit is here called a gift (2:38, 8:20); it emphasizes the free nature of the Holy Spirit’s presence and as such, underscores grace as the basis of His presence.

   “for they [the believing Jews] heard them [new believing Gentiles] speak with tongues..”  This aspect parallels what occurred in Acts 2 with the Jews.  It communicates to these observers

that a precedent has been set for equality of Jew and Gentile.  The

tongues would serve as an authenticating sign to these Jews- see

I Cor.1:22.  Just what language was spoken is unclear; most commentaries suggest this was an ‘ecstatic’ utterance and therefore unintelligible.

   Chap.10, verse 47-48- in view of these marvelous events, Peter now takes the matter further (in obedience to the command of Jesus) by asking if there is any opposition to these Gentiles receiving water baptism.  This act of immersion of the Gentiles would give official

approval to their inclusion in the kingdom of God.  Peter points out that they have received the Holy Spirit “as well as we”.  He, no doubt, is referring back to Acts 2—note 11:15.

   These Gentiles were then baptized in the name of the Lord.

There are textual variants:  The KJV reading expresses the Textus

Receptus (and a large number of Western mss.) and the NIV reading of  ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’ is found in Siniaticus and Vaticanus and some other mss. 

   It should be clear that this 10^th chapter of Acts is showing the change that is occurring in the ministry of the apostles.  In fulfillment of Jesus’ command, the gospel is now going to those further from geographical and ecclesiastical Jerusalem.  God is receiving Gentiles

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as they respond in faith to the gospel.  The first Gentiles to respond are those who have adopted the God of Israel and are called those that “fear God” or are “devout”.  It would appear their relation to Jewish synagogues give them an advantage of familiarity with OT

truths fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.  This provides a basis of then communicating how Jesus is the Messiah, dying on the cross and resurrected  and ascended to the Father’s right hand.  The fully explanation of these events awaits the epistles of Romans, Galatians and Ephesians that are written to predominantly Gentile churches.

  It should be noted that baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ should not necessarily be thought of as in conflict with baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as per Matt. 28:19.  The emphasis in Acts is upon the resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ.

Later, after Matthew is written (between 50-60 AD) and after the church develops a better concept of the Trinity, the formula of

“Father, Son and Holy Spirit” is more utilized.