ACTS 10:44

The Bible says in Acts 10:44-46, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.” The most important thing about these verses is the fact that the exact same thing that happened to the Jews at Pentecost also happened to the Gentiles here at the house of Cornelius. This phenomenon of believing on Jesus and being filled by the Spirit was for all human beings, Jew or Gentile. The Jews who had become believers needed to learn something: they did not have a monopoly on salvation. It was not a requirement to become a Jew first and then become a Christian. Jews of the first century needed to put aside old assumptions about the necessity to be separated from Gentiles. What God is telling them through these experiences of the Apostle Peter was that there is no difference in the plan of God and in the work of God. Things had changed: every person in the world comes to know God and to serve God in the same way, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In these verses it says that these Gentiles after being filled by the Holy Ghost did “speak with tongues.” Since this is an obvious reference to the same type of experience as took place on the day of Pentecost, then what happened at Pentecost is what happened here. At Pentecost people spoke miraculously in other languages. That is very clear. Acts 2:7-8 says, “And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” Any time we see the speaking in tongues mentioned in the New Testament, we simply need to go back to the day of Pentecost for a clear description of just exactly what was that phenomenon. It was people speaking a foreign language miraculously that they had never learned.

In Acts 10:44 it is important to notice what Peter did that evidently was used by the Lord as the means by which these Gentiles believed and then were filled by the Holy Spirit. It says that Peter “spake these words.” It also says that these new believers “heard the word.” Do not underestimate the power of God’s Word, nor the requirement that His Word be preached if His work is going to be done in the lives of people. The preaching of the Word of God is dying out, and that is one of the reasons that spirituality is dying out. Just because someone is preaching does not mean that they are preaching the Word of God. They might be preaching about themselves or their own ideas.

The Bible says at the end of Acts 10:46 and in Acts 10:47-48, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” One more time we see the New Testament pattern for baptism. Babies were not baptized. Individuals were baptized after they were saved. Salvation came to individuals at the moment of belief in Jesus, and then some time afterward they were baptized.

The Bible says in Acts 11:1-3, “And the apostles and brethren that were at Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, you went in to men uncircumcised.” Notice the description given to those who criticized Peter. It says they were “of the circumcision.” There were individuals who insisted that Gentiles could not be save only by believing on Jesus. By adding circumcision, they added human works to salvation. It was a great false doctrine that was a source of contention and dispute for the apostles, but God made sure that the apostles were on the right side of that dispute. Anyone who truly understands the gospel must side with the apostles against those who would add works to the gospel. The Apostle Paul made the issue very clear in Galatians 1:8-9 that says, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.”

Peter did not argue with those that opposed him. He simply told them the truth of what had happened. The servant of the Lord is not called to strife or to argument. The servant of the Lord is called to declare the truth, and to allow those who hear to receive or reject the truth as they so choose. The Bible says in Acts 11:4-16, “But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me. Upon the which when I had fastened my eyes, I considered and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fouls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times; and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

Let’s look closely at this statement made by the Lord Jesus Christ. “John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Notice that there are two types of baptism. There is a water baptism, and there is a spirit baptism. Remember this for your future study of the Bible. Whenever you see the word “baptism” used in the Bible, you must always ask the question if it is talking about water baptism or the baptism that Jesus gives: the spiritual baptism. There are some false teaching that you may hear regarding both of these baptisms. The water baptism has nothing to do with salvation. It comes after salvation. The spiritual baptism is not a second spiritual experience that comes after salvation. The spiritual baptism is given by Jesus at the time of the spiritual birth. When Jesus saved us, He gave us the Spirit. That was the Spirit baptism. If you are saved, then the Spirit is in you because of that baptism. The question now is: are you listening to the Spirit and allowing Him to guide you and control you? Peter was listening to the Spirit. Peter said in verse 12, “And the Spirit bade me go with them.” Are you listening to what the Spirit is trying to tell you?

Peter continued speaking in Acts 11:17 and the Bible says in Acts 11:17-21, “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

One good thing that happened as a result of the persecution was the fact that the believers took the gospel with them to the places to which they were scattered. But these were Jewish Christians who had not yet learned the lesson that Peter had learned, and so when they preached the gospel, they preached it only to other Jews. Verse 19 says that they were “preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.” They were missing a lot of opportunities that they should not have missed because the Gentiles needed to hear the gospel also. But eventually through Peter many of these Jewish Christians learned the lesson that God wanted them to learn, and as is always the case when you learn what God wants you to learn and do what God wants you to do, there will be good results. That is why verse 21 says, “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

The Bible says in Acts 11:22-23, “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” We see in these verses the principles mentioned that show how the will of God and the will of man must always come together. It says that Barnabas had seen how the grace of God had been evident in the things that were taking place in Antioch and elsewhere. The gospel was being preached and souls were being saved. Things like that can only happen by the grace of God. Things like that can only happen when God is doing the work. If you are saved, it is only by the grace of God. No effort of man caused your salvation, and no effort on your part caused it. Jesus paid it all, and Jesus did it all to bring salvation to your life.

But just because Jesus did it all as far as our salvation is concerned, does not mean that we do not still have an effort to make after we are saved. Barnabas exhorted these new believers “that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Once you are saved, one of the key things to staying close to the Lord is your own desire. “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you.” In the phrase “cleave unto the Lord,” the word that is translated “cleave” means to remain with or to remain in the face of. Look to the Lord. If you look to the Lord, you will see Him. If you seek the Lord, you will find Him. It all depends upon what you really want and what you really love. That is what the heart is mentioned here. You can purpose to love whom you ought to love: your Savior. Without such a purpose, you will not continue faithfully in the ways of the Lord.

Speaking of Barnabas, the Bible says in Acts 11:24-26, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Three things are said about Barnabas to describe him: he is called a good man, he was full of the Holy Spirit, and he was full of faith. To say that Barnabas was a good man means that there was a connection between goodness and Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to do the right thing. That is what mattered most to him, and that is what is mentioned first about him. Barnabas was not motivated by what is profitable and he was not driven by what is politically correct. Barnabas wanted above else to do what was right. If you are going to be a servant of God, you must be just like that. Do right until the starts fall. If you are going to go with God, you must be motivated to do the right thing.

Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian should be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 4:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.” This verse makes it clear what it means to be filled by the Spirit. If you are drunk with wine, it means that the alcohol controls your behavior. You do things that you otherwise would not do because of the alcohol. The alcohol is the deciding factor. Of course, concerning wine and alcohol, the influence is negative. When you are filled with the Spirit, it means that you are controlled by the Spirit. The things that you do are determined by the Spirit. The Spirit leads you. When you are filled with the Spirit, you are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading because you want to be led by Him and you want to go His way and not your own way.

Barnabas was filled by the Spirit, and Barnabas was full of faith. To be full of faith means that your confidence is in God: not in yourself, not in the world, not in some other person, and not in your bank account. If you are full of faith you are thinking about the promises of the Word of God and the fact that God will keep His promises. These are the things that you are thinking about and that motivate you: Jesus died for your sins, Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus is here with you, Jesus is your Savior, your friend, your companion, your teacher. Jesus loves you. Jesus has a plan for you. Jesus is guiding you. If you are full of faith, then you are prepared for whatever life can throw at you because through faith in God all things are possible to you.

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