While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, 46 for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?” 48 He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 49 Then they invited him to stay for a few days.'
Peter was still speaking when the gift of Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening even before they were baptized (cf. Lk. 3:21-22) and without the laying on of hands (Acts 19:6). The Jewish converts who had accompanied Peter were greatly surprised that the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit and were speaking in tongues, glorifying God (v. 46; Acts 2:17-18), similar to what happened at Pentecost (Acts 2:4). Peter was also surprised, and since it was God who willed the gift of the Holy Spirit, Peter ordered Cornelius and his household to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; “If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God (Acts 11:17)? This was the same baptism those entering into the life of Christ received, not a baptism of repentance like John the Baptist preached. The baptism fully incorporated Cornelius and his household into the life of the Christian Church. Peter stayed with them a few days and was no longer afraid to enjoy Gentile hospitality and break bread with them.
Almighty God, your unmerited gifts of grace and love showered upon us by the Holy spirit are matched only by your boundless mercy. Through our Baptism we entered into the Body of Christ, and with your help we can keep your commandments in the hope of attaining the glory you promised to all who have faith and believe in your Son. This we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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