Surprised by the Spirit
TBC Book 3, Chapter 16
Acts 10:27-48
Peter and his six companions found themselves doing what would have been unthinkable two days ago. At the request of Cornelius, a centurion, they now stood inside his home, the home of a Gentile—something strictly forbidden by Jewish law.
Peter knew that the Holy Spirit had directed him to accept this invitation. But the reason why had not been revealed. So he turned to Cornelius and put the question to him.
With his guests listening attentively, Cornelius recounted to Peter what had happened only four days earlier. “I was in my house praying at this same hour,” he said, “at three in the afternoon, when suddenly a man in shining clothes appeared. He said to me, ‘Cornelius!’
“I was startled at his presence and surprised to hear him call my name.
“Then he said, ‘God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. You are to send men to Joppa and have them ask for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying as a guest with Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
“So I sent for you right away, and it was good of you to come. Now all of us are here, in the presence of God, ready to listen to all that the Lord would have you to tell us.”
Peter marveled at the Lord’s divine orchestration in bringing them together. With every eye in the large gathering now riveted upon him, he knew what the Lord would have him share.
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism,” Peter began, “that he accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
“You are aware of the message God sent to Israel, the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You realize what happened throughout Galilee and Judea, following the baptism preached by John—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with power through the Holy Spirit to do good works, healing many and delivering them from the devil’s power.”
Peter paused and motioned toward his Jewish brothers. “We are witnesses of everything he did among the Jewish people. In Jerusalem, however, they killed him, hanging him on a tree. But on the third day, God raised him from the dead. We know this because we saw him.
“God permitted Jesus to be seen by those of us who were chosen to be his witnesses. We even ate and drank with him after his resurrection.
“He then commanded us to preach to all the people, to testify that Jesus is the one who God appointed as judge over both the living and the dead. He is the one of whom all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
At that moment, while Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit suddenly came upon all who were listening, and they began speaking in tongues, praising God. The men from Joppa looked at one other in astonishment, shocked that God had poured out the Holy Spirit upon Gentiles!
Turning toward his companions who had just witnessed the outpouring of God’s Spirit, Peter smiled and said, “Is there any good reason why these people should not be baptized in water? For they also have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, just as we have.”
Peter then directed his companions from Joppa to assist him in baptizing Cornelius, his family, and all of his guests in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to remain with them longer. So he stayed among them for a few days, teaching them and nurturing their faith.
Only later did Peter realize God’s wisdom in sending companions with him. Besides bearing witness of Jesus, they would also bear witness of the Holy Spirit, which God had now poured out upon Gentiles.
TBC 309
Acts 10:27-48
Peter and his six companions found themselves doing what would have been unthinkable two days ago. At the request of Cornelius, a centurion, they now stood inside his home, the home of a Gentile—something strictly forbidden by Jewish law.
Peter knew that the Holy Spirit had directed him to accept this invitation. But the reason why had not been revealed. So he turned to Cornelius and put the question to him.
With his guests listening attentively, Cornelius recounted to Peter what had happened only four days earlier. “I was in my house praying at this same hour,” he said, “at three in the afternoon, when suddenly a man in shining clothes appeared. He said to me, ‘Cornelius!’
“I was startled at his presence and surprised to hear him call my name.
“Then he said, ‘God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. You are to send men to Joppa and have them ask for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying as a guest with Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
“So I sent for you right away, and it was good of you to come. Now all of us are here, in the presence of God, ready to listen to all that the Lord would have you to tell us.”
Peter marveled at the Lord’s divine orchestration in bringing them together. With every eye in the large gathering now riveted upon him, he knew what the Lord would have him share.
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism,” Peter began, “that he accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
“You are aware of the message God sent to Israel, the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You realize what happened throughout Galilee and Judea, following the baptism preached by John—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with power through the Holy Spirit to do good works, healing many and delivering them from the devil’s power.”
Peter paused and motioned toward his Jewish brothers. “We are witnesses of everything he did among the Jewish people. In Jerusalem, however, they killed him, hanging him on a tree. But on the third day, God raised him from the dead. We know this because we saw him.
“God permitted Jesus to be seen by those of us who were chosen to be his witnesses. We even ate and drank with him after his resurrection.
“He then commanded us to preach to all the people, to testify that Jesus is the one who God appointed as judge over both the living and the dead. He is the one of whom all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
At that moment, while Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit suddenly came upon all who were listening, and they began speaking in tongues, praising God. The men from Joppa looked at one other in astonishment, shocked that God had poured out the Holy Spirit upon Gentiles!
Turning toward his companions who had just witnessed the outpouring of God’s Spirit, Peter smiled and said, “Is there any good reason why these people should not be baptized in water? For they also have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, just as we have.”
Peter then directed his companions from Joppa to assist him in baptizing Cornelius, his family, and all of his guests in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to remain with them longer. So he stayed among them for a few days, teaching them and nurturing their faith.
Only later did Peter realize God’s wisdom in sending companions with him. Besides bearing witness of Jesus, they would also bear witness of the Holy Spirit, which God had now poured out upon Gentiles.
TBC 309
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"Take up the shield of faith, . . . the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
—Ephesians 6:16-17