and the believers from among the circumcised who had come with peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the gentiles. for they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. then peter declared, “can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. then they asked him to remain for some days. [acts 10:45-48]
in the final verses of acts 10, the gentiles receive the Holy Spirit in a similar manner to the christian jews in acts 2:
and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. and divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [acts 2:2-4]
the jews who were with him were amazed, for these gentiles were praising the God of the hebrews–this is the work of the Spirit, it overflows in proclaiming Jesus Christ! if they knew their scriptures, they shouldn’t have been surprised, this was prophesied from of old:
behold my servant, whom i uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
i have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations. [isaiah 42:1]
and Jesus re-emphasizes this as a purpose of his coming in matthew 12:18. peter, then obeying Jesus’ words from the end of matthew–
“go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” [matthew 28:19]–
–commands the baptism of these new believers.
contemplate today our God who is still working through the Holy Spirit and saving unbelievers who are repenting of their sin, being regenerated by the blood of Jesus Christ, and being baptized as a sign of their regeneration and obedience to him!
today O Lord, help me believe:
that God fulfills all that he has written in scripture–his words are infallible and they will stand-
that God is still saving, even those who i believe are beyond saving-
that the Spirit is real and moves us to worship and obedience–
that there are other sheep, and we must proclaim to them the gospel–there is no other Name under heaven but that of Jesus Christ which anyone is saved!
~ ce