Acts 10:43, 44
Peter’s sermon to the house of Cornelius was not one born of excitement on Peter’s part. He had refused to take the gospel to the Gentiles, for fear that they were unclean and thus unworthy to receive the good news. When God finally got through to the Apostle, he was eager to share the faith with whoever would listen, and the great 10th chapter of Acts bears out this highly anticipated sermon.
The Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles in this chapter, just as He had fallen upon the 120 on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Peter knew that they had received the same revelation of the Holy Spirit because he heard them speaking with other tongues and he knew that they must have received of the same Spirit (Acts 10:46). What brought this great revelation of the Spirit to the house? Of course it followed the message that was delivered by Peter, but at what point in the sermon did the Spirit enter? The answer to that question is key in understanding the role of Christ’s finished work in everything that the Holy Spirit does.
Peter’s sermon begins in Acts 10:34, and continues through verse 43; a relatively short span of scripture. In my Pentecostal background, of which I am very proud to claim, we would take portions of this sermon and hold them up as great ways to describe the Holy Spirit. For instance, I remember hearing verse 38 quoted many times as an example of the power of God. It reads:
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
That is a power verse, pointing us to the awesome works of Jesus; how He did good things and healed people because of the Holy Ghost and power that rested on Him. However, if you will notice, there is no response on the part of the Holy Spirit when Peter says this. Instead, the sermon continues. Now notice that the scripture gives you the exact moment when the Spirit arrives in the room, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell…” (Acts 10:44). What words was Peter speaking when the Holy Ghost fell? Perhaps we should read verse 43:
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
The moment that faith in Jesus and His finished work is mentioned, and the fact that this faith brings complete remission of sins, the Holy Spirit shows up. It is as if the Spirit has been waiting in the wings of the stage, listening for His cue so that He can rush in and save the day. His cue then, as well as now, is the finished work of Jesus being glorified. When Jesus is lifted up as the sacrifice for sins, the Spirit arrives with power to change lives. Jesus said that the role of the Spirit would be to glorify Him (John 16:14). As Jesus is lifted up, the Spirit manifests Himself to do the work. Peter learned that lesson in that moment; let’s not forget it now.
Peter’s sermon to the house of Cornelius was not one born of excitement on Peter’s part. He had refused to take the gospel to the Gentiles, for fear that they were unclean and thus unworthy to receive the good news. When God finally got through to the Apostle, he was eager to share the faith with whoever would listen, and the great 10th chapter of Acts bears out this highly anticipated sermon.
The Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles in this chapter, just as He had fallen upon the 120 on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Peter knew that they had received the same revelation of the Holy Spirit because he heard them speaking with other tongues and he knew that they must have received of the same Spirit (Acts 10:46). What brought this great revelation of the Spirit to the house? Of course it followed the message that was delivered by Peter, but at what point in the sermon did the Spirit enter? The answer to that question is key in understanding the role of Christ’s finished work in everything that the Holy Spirit does.
Peter’s sermon begins in Acts 10:34, and continues through verse 43; a relatively short span of scripture. In my Pentecostal background, of which I am very proud to claim, we would take portions of this sermon and hold them up as great ways to describe the Holy Spirit. For instance, I remember hearing verse 38 quoted many times as an example of the power of God. It reads:
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
That is a power verse, pointing us to the awesome works of Jesus; how He did good things and healed people because of the Holy Ghost and power that rested on Him. However, if you will notice, there is no response on the part of the Holy Spirit when Peter says this. Instead, the sermon continues. Now notice that the scripture gives you the exact moment when the Spirit arrives in the room, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell…” (Acts 10:44). What words was Peter speaking when the Holy Ghost fell? Perhaps we should read verse 43:
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
The moment that faith in Jesus and His finished work is mentioned, and the fact that this faith brings complete remission of sins, the Holy Spirit shows up. It is as if the Spirit has been waiting in the wings of the stage, listening for His cue so that He can rush in and save the day. His cue then, as well as now, is the finished work of Jesus being glorified. When Jesus is lifted up as the sacrifice for sins, the Spirit arrives with power to change lives. Jesus said that the role of the Spirit would be to glorify Him (John 16:14). As Jesus is lifted up, the Spirit manifests Himself to do the work. Peter learned that lesson in that moment; let’s not forget it now.
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