CHAPTER 10
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. Acts 10:1
Today, Caesarea is one of the most beautiful spots along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. In ancient times there was a town, a bay and a small port in this area. It was known then as Straton’s Tower. In 22 BC, Herod the Great began a reconstruction of the city and made the tiny harbor into a deep-water port. The new city was named Caesarea, in honor of Caesar Augustus. The ruins of this magnificent city can still be seen, along with its grand amphitheater and long aqueduct, which brought fresh water into the city. After its construction, Caesarea became the Roman administrative capital of the province of Judea.
In Caesarea, the Roman prefects and procurators took their seats of government. Actually today one can see on the site an inscription speaking of the infamous Ponitus Pilate who officiated in Jesus’ trial. These officials were protected by numerous Roman troops. Cornelius was a centurion in one of these bands. A centurion in the Roman army was a non-commissioned officer who was in charge of 100 men. The Roman army consisted of thirty regular legions plus auxiliary legions. These were commanded by Generals (Senators). A Legion was made up of 6000 men. These were divided into ten Cohorts, each of 600 men, and were commanded by military Tribunes of Equestrian rank. At the bottom of this organization was the Century of 100 men, commanded by the centurion.1 What is translated “Regiment” here could be translated “cohort” (ESV, NET, NRS).
While the centurion was at the bottom of the command chain, so to speak, he was considered the backbone of the Roman army, with responsibilities similar to our captain today.2 The centurions seem to have been well paid and had money to spend on alms and religious projects. Bruce remarks how centurions were presented in a very favorable light in the New Testament.3
It is obvious in this account that Cornelius was what is called a God-fearer. There were many such people loosely attached to the Jewish synagogues. These probably had become disgusted with paganism and had become associated with Judaism, no doubt because of its teaching of one true God and its high moral standards. Some actually became proselytes, that is, they became circumcised and joined with Judaism. Others did not take this bold step but continued on as God-fearers, taking on many of the practices of Judaism, such as giving alms and observing Jewish times of prayer. These were also called “proselytes at the gate.” 4 It is from this group that Paul and others later made many converts.
This chapter, with its inclusion of Cornelius and his Gentile friends, is a pivotal one in the New Testament. It is so important that Luke includes it twice (cf. 11:1-18).5 So far, we have seen the gospel going to the Jews, to the Samaritans, who were part Jewish, to proselytes or God-fearers and now at last to the Gentiles in general. In this section Peter will use his keys to the kingdom for the third and last time.6 Barker & Kohlenberger state, “…the time had come for the gospel to cross the barrier that separated Jews from Gentiles and to be presented directly to Gentiles.” 7
“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (10:2). It is clear that Cornelius had a household. No doubt it was made up of a number of servants. There is some question that Cornelius was married, since Roman soldiers were required to remain single.8 However, some could apparently acquire concubines and raise families without official censure. Obviously, Cornelius was surrounded by his household, his soldiers and many Gentile friends. He was a man of faith and he did not keep his faith to himself. Augustine said of him: “…his alms were accepted and his prayers heard before he had believed on Christ; and yet without some faith he neither gave alms nor prayed. For how did he call on him on whom he had not believed?” 9
“One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, ‘Cornelius!’ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God” (10:3-4). We cannot miss the fact that Cornelius was offering his prayer at the normal Jewish time of prayer. There was no question about this vision. It came in broad daylight when Cornelius was wide-awake. The Greek word for distinctly or clearly is phanerōs and it means “to openly or publicly make an appearance.” 10 It greatly startled him, as angelic visions are always prone to do. This was not just a vision but an audible encounter as well. The angel distinctly spoke his name and he was able to converse with this heavenly being.
It is interesting that God had taken note of the devotion of this centurion. God heard his prayers and witnessed his offerings. This disputes some theology today that claims God does not hear the prayer of an unsaved person. God always hears the prayer of a sincere heart. Some may wonder why this heavenly messenger did not personally proclaim the message to Cornelius. Lenski says, “Angels may help to connect men with God’s appointed preachers, they are never allowed to do more.” 11
“Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (10:5-6). God had heard this man’s prayers and taken note of his offerings but something more was needed. Cornelius needed a full salvation in Jesus the Messiah of Israel. For this, he was instructed to send men to Joppa, which was directly south along the seacoast a distance of 30 miles (48 km). God knows who we are. He has our address and he knows all about us. We should never think we can hide from him. God knew Peter was living with a tanner also named Simon who lived by the sea in Joppa.
It is rather amazing that Peter was living with a tanner. Tanners worked with dead animals to process their skins and convert them into leather. Since they worked with dead animals the profession was regarded as ceremonially unclean as we have said in the previous chapter. Obviously, God was already making some adjustments to Peter’s thinking and getting him ready for the big task ahead.12 Stedman mentions that a tanner’s house would not be hard to find because there was usually a stench going up from it.13
Some may have wondered why God went to all the trouble to send for Peter down in Joppa when Philip the evangelist lived right there in Caesarea (Acts 8:40; 21:8). Once again, it was Peter, not Philip who had the “keys” that would open the gospel door to the Gentiles worldwide.14
“When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa” (10:7-8). Cornelius, being a military man, was prompt and obedient in carrying out his orders. He immediately got together a party that would make the journey to Joppa. We note that his soldier was also devout like Cornelius. This man had shared his faith with his soldiers as well as his servants. He did not keep anything from them but shared his whole vision.
THE VISION OF PETER
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. Acts 10:9
God’s timing is really amazing! Miracles are complicated to pull off, but God is a Master at doing this, and he works simultaneously from all angles. Peter at this moment was going up to the rooftop to pray. The normal times of Jewish prayer were at the hours of sacrifice, at 9 o’clock AM and 3 o’clock PM. Devout people would often pray three times a day, adding the noontime prayer (Psa. 55:17; Dan. 6:10).15
The rooftop of an ancient Middle Eastern house was usually flat and could be accessed by an outside stairway. The roof was a multi-purpose place, for drying fruits, for sleeping in warmer months, and even for praying. On our last visit to Israel my wife and I enjoyed a large family dinner on the roof of our daughter-in-law’s family house. It was a delightful Jerusalem evening. God had commanded that walls be built around the perimeter of the roof for the protection of everyone concerned. However, noontime on an Israeli roof can be a scorching hot place. No doubt, there was an awning to make the rooftop habitable for Peter.
“He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance” (10:10). We note here that the meal was being prepared as Peter prayed. In these ancient times the customs may have been very similar to Israeli meal practices today. Since Middle Eastern people are prone to take a couple of hours off work in the heat of the day, it is a great opportunity for many to enjoy the main meal of the day. That used to be the custom in the rural southern area where I grew up. The main meal was at noon and workers came in from the fields for the banquet. It was called “dinner.” It has taken me much of my 80-plus years to get used to calling “dinner” “lunch” like the rest of the world does.
While Peter was fighting off hunger pains he fell into a trance. Commentators have suggested that it was the sight of sails in the near-by harbor or perhaps the awning flapping overhead that helped bring about this trance. The Greek word for trance is ekstasis, meaning to stand outside oneself. It is from this that we get our word “ecstasy.” 16
“He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds” (10:11-12). We can just imagine the variety of animals, birds and other creatures that Peter saw contained in the great sheet. No doubt, all kinds of creatures, as earlier described in Genesis 6:20, were presented to Peter.17 One thing that may have immediately wrinkled his brow was that these animals all seemed to be mixed together, the clean and the unclean, the kosher and the non-kosher.
“Then a voice told him, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ ‘Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean’” (10:13-14). This passage tells us something about Peter. He had kept kosher all his life. It also implies that Jesus also kept kosher with his disciples, while at the same time, he was laying the groundwork to do away with all these types and shadows forever. Years ago, it was fashionable to look at the disciples as sort of half-Gentiles, who probably did not know much about the law. After all, they hailed from “Galilee of the nations” (Isa. 9:1). That idea now has been generally disproved.
To a Jew trying to keep kosher, this whole picture would have been disgusting. To arise, kill and eat would have been quite impossible for the Orthodox Jew. It was not just a matter of having clean and unclean animals together but it was the whole process of making meat kosher.18 The clean animal needed to be slaughtered properly with all the blood drained out. Today Jewish people not only drain the blood out but they induce a salt solution to insure that all blood is out. It is really difficult to fry a hamburger in Israel. The meat is so free of blood and fat that it will scarcely even sizzle or smoke on the grill.
All these ritual food laws were based on Leviticus 11:2-43 and Deuteronomy 14:3-20. God had established these and many other laws to insure that the Jewish people did not mix and dine with the pagans. God knew that the lure of the wonderful pagan idol banquets would be a strong temptation for his people. Bruce notes, “…there is a connection between the abrogation of the Levitical food restrictions and the removal of the barrier between believing Jews and Gentiles…” 19 We remember in Mark 7:17-23, how Jesus gave teaching that would finally spell the end of the food laws and restrictions.
Godbey remarks: “The vision has nothing to do with the problem of edibles and potables. The signification is purely spiritual and evangelical, forever smashing the impregnable walls which had separated the Jews and Gentiles from the days of Abraham.” 20 Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335 – c. 395) says that Peter, “saw the gospel linen sent down from above by four corners…” 21 Bede adds, “The four corners by which the linen sheet hangs down designate the four regions of the world to which the church extends…” 22 The church was getting ready to think and sing in terms of that old hymn:
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Long ago the prophet Jonah refused to go from Joppa and minister to the Gentiles at Nineveh. Now, from that same place, Peter will soon be sent to preach the gospel, first to the Gentiles at Caesarea and then to the Gentiles the world over.23
“The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven” (10:15-16). Peter heard the voice of God instructing him not to call things impure that God has cleansed. What a shocking message? It really turned Peter’s life upside down. The Lord was introducing a brand new era and it would take time for Peter to really get used to it.24 We mentioned in 9:17 how twin visions are rare. Here we have another case of it. Cornelius had seen a vision and now Peter was seeing a corresponding vision.
In Peter’s vision, the sheet had been let down three times and raised back to heaven each time. God really wanted Peter to learn this lesson. Utley says, “It is not uncommon in the Bible for important prayers, praises, or actions to be repeated three times.” 25 According to God’s meticulous plan, Peter barely had time to digest this strange vision and contemplate upon it until its very fulfillment began with a caller at the door.
PETER ENTERTAINS GENTILES
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. Acts 10:17-18
The Gentile party was standing at the outer gate of the home and no doubt they were wondering if Peter the Jew would accept them into the house. Fortunately for them, God had just done a work in Peter’s heart.
Barclay relates this story which illustrates the change that Jesus makes:
A missionary tells how once he officiated at a communion service in Africa. Beside him as an elder sat an old chief of the Ngoni called Manly-heart. The old chief could remember the days when the young warriors of the Ngoni had left behind them a trail of burned and devastated towns and come home with their spears red with blood and with the women of their enemies as booty. And what were the tribes which in those days they had ravaged? They were the Senga and the Tumbuka. And who were sitting at that communion service now? Ngoni, Senga and Tumbuka were sitting side by side, their enmities forgotten in the love of Jesus Christ. In the first days it was characteristic of Christianity that it broke the barriers down; and it can still do that when given the chance.26
In Israel, it is customary for families and friends to get together for a meal at the beginning of the Sabbath on Friday evenings. Since this is a lovely custom with the Jews, Christians living in the country often participate in sharing meals as well. My wife and I remember one occasion when we had a couple of Christian women dining with us in Jerusalem. One was from Holland and the other from Germany. My wife asked the lady from Germany what it was like to live through the war period as a little girl of five. She related her difficult story. At that, the lady from Holland told how she was also a little girl of five during the war. Then smiling she looked at the lady from Germany and said, “Then we were enemies and now we are friends.”
“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (10:19-20). Remarkably, Peter had gotten more direct instruction from the Lord in this one early afternoon than the average Christian today gets in a lifetime. We must remember that this was a critically important engagement and God wanted Peter fully prepared for it. Really, the salvation of the whole Gentile world depended upon it. We might remember here the words of Isaiah 65:24: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”
The word “hesitate” is the Greek expression mēden diakrinomenos. It means to not doubt or waver.27 Peter had experienced some bouts of wavering already and would experience some more later. Peter was being instructed to do the unthinkable, to go with these Gentiles, who just an hour before he would have considered unclean.
“Peter went down and said to the men, ‘I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?’” (10:21). Peter was confronted with what would have normally been an impossible situation. Not only were these men uncircumcised Gentiles, but one was a detested Roman soldier. No Orthodox Jewish person would allow such riffraff into his house.28 Keener says, “…strict Jews would not enter a Gentile’s house or allow a Gentile in theirs.” 29
In answer to Peter’s inquiry, “The men replied, ‘We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say’” (10:22). Here it is plainly stated that Cornelius was a God-fearer. We will see references to this status several other places in Acts (cf. 10:35; 13:16, 26, 43, 50; 17:4, 17; 18:7). As a God-fearer attached to the synagogue he obviously was respected.
“Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along” (10:23). It was already too late for a trip back to Caesarea that day so Peter received these guests, giving them food and lodging for the night.30
The next day Peter consented to travel with them back to Caesarea. To travel by foot those 30 miles would have easily taken ten to twelve hours. Peter wisely took some Jewish believers with him from Joppa. In 11:12, we will learn that there were six in all. With Peter that would make the perfect number of seven.31 This was an important and weighty occasion and Peter knew he would need witnesses. In fact, he would soon be questioned about his actions by the elders in Jerusalem (11:1-18).
PETER AT THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS
The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. Acts 10:24
Obviously, the trip to Caesarea had taken much longer than the trip by the messengers of Cornelius. In the journey they had to spend the night on the road. We can imagine that there was a great spirit of anticipation at the house of Cornelius. He had called together a group of relatives and friends. Chrysostom remarked about it: “This is the part of a friend, this the part of a devout person, that where such blessings are concerned, he takes care that his near friends shall be made partakers of all.” 32 Hervey would say of this meeting, “This was a memorable event, being the first invasion of the Roman Empire by the soldiers of the cross.” 33
“As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence” (10:25). Cornelius immediately fell and prostrated himself before Peter. Barnes says, “In Oriental countries it was usual for persons to prostrate themselves at length on the ground before men of rank and honor.” 34 Yet, Meyer notes, “That a high-born Roman should prostrate himself before a Jewish evangelist was unprecedented.” 35
Unfortunately, religion in general and Christianity in particular has been filled with occasions where believers have prostrated themselves before religious figures. Stott tells of the great St. Peters Cathedral in Rome where people still come and kiss the toe of the statue of St. Peter.36
“But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself’” (10:26). Peter in real life would have none of this. He commanded Cornelius to stand up (cf. Rev. 19:10; 22:9). The Bible commands us to reserve our worship only for God (Exo. 20:3-5; Deut. 5:7-9; Lk. 4:8).
“While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people” (10:27). By walking into a Gentile home Peter was breaking a long-standing Jewish practice. Harvey says, “It was one thing to give a Gentile Jewish hospitality, and another for a Jew to accept Gentile hospitality.” 37 Stott says here, “….The principle subject of this chapter is not so much the conversion of Cornelius as the conversion of Peter.” 38
“He said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” (10:28-29). Peter had obeyed the Lord and had made the journey without reservations or objections. Cornelius, being quite closely associated with the synagogue undoubtedly understood how difficult it was for Peter as a Jew to enter a Gentile home. Of course, many of the Jewish requirements went far beyond the law and were based primarily on Pharisaic interpretations.39
Peter’s question is rather amazing. God had already prepared Peter with vision and revelation, in order that he could go to the Gentiles with the gospel. Yet, somehow he still did not connect with this purpose. Coffman remarks: “‘All things …’ could hardly have failed to ring a bell in Peter’s heart; for he had heard the Lord command that ‘all nations’ should be taught ‘all things’ whatsoever Jesus had commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). His duty, therefore, was crystal clear; for here was a Gentile household belonging to the ‘all nations,’ declaring that they were assembled to hear ‘all things’ the Lord commanded.” 40
THE TESTIMONY OF CORNELIUS
Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’” Acts 10:30-32
It is interesting that the NIV and NJB translations have it “Three days ago” while most other translations have it as “Four days ago.” If we look carefully at the journeys we will realize that the “four days” is correct. On the second day, the messengers arrived at Joppa (10:9). On the third, Peter returned with them, but on the fourth day they arrived at Caesarea (10:24).41
As Cornelius speaks, we get the new information that the angel wore shining clothes. Of course, this was the normal dress and appearance of angels in the New Testament (cf. Acts 1:10; Matt.28:3; Mk.16:5; Lk. 24:4).
“So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us” (10:33). “Few preachers have ever had a more receptive audience than Peter had on this occasion.” 42 Pett says, “…he had probably never before walked into a room like this packed with so many people who were just waiting, every one, to be converted… He would never forget this moment.” 43
PETER’S SERMON
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Acts 10:34-35
Peter had learned a great lesson, that God does not play favorites or show favoritism (cf. Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9; Col. 3:25; Jas .2:1; 1 Pet. 1:17). The favor he had shown Israel over the centuries was a favor for his own salvation purposes. This would also be true for the favor now showered upon Christians.
As Peter spoke, centuries of darkness and misunderstanding were passing away. The Jewish people had greatly confused their relation with Gentiles. Jewish men had come to begin their days by thanking God that they were not slaves, Gentiles or women…If a Jew married a Gentile, the Jewish community would conduct a funeral for that Jew and consider that person dead.” 44 Some Jews had come to the place where they would not even assist a Gentile woman in childbirth, lest they help bring another Gentile into the world.
With Peter’s words, all the types, patterns and shadows of the Old Testament were passing away and the Sun of Righteousness was arising (Mal. 4:2).
“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (10:36). The events of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus were undoubtedly well-known throughout Israel. They were certainly not done in secret. Undoubtedly, the people listening to Peter had some sketchy knowledge of these things, so Peter is being brief. However, this sermon is unique since it pays more attention to the earthly life of Jesus than other sermons.45
The great biblical scholar, C. H. Dodd felt that this sermon of Peter represented the heart of gospel preaching known as kerygma that was used in the primitive church.46 Other scholars have pointed out that the Greek of this sermon is rough, probably implying that Peter was primarily an Aramaic speaker. Some have even thought that he spoke Aramaic through an interpreter.47 We can be certain that Peter’s whole message is not recorded, but more or less the gist or summary of his message is presented here.48
“You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (10:37-38). No doubt, because these were Gentiles, Peter was filling them in on some basic details of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry.49 It is clear in this verse that religion is not just about talking or about theology alone. Jesus “went around doing good.” Christianity is to be a religion of good deeds.
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen” (10:39-40). The sermon continues with its rather clumsy Greek. This in itself is a great witness for the truthfulness of Luke. He was himself a good Koine Greek writer but here he faithfully records his sources without making corrections in the poor grammar.50
It is plain here that there was a need for apostolic witnesses to the events of Jesus’ life. Peter was not presenting hearsay evidence but he was talking about what he had actually seen and heard. This apostolic witness in the New Testament is absolutely critical.51
“He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen— by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead” (10:41-42). Pfeiffer and Harrison state: “Peter’s sermon is our first example of preaching to the Gentiles. It contains very little reflection upon the meaning of the person of Christ, no emphasis upon his pre-existence, incarnation, and deity, nor on the atoning character of his death. It is indeed a ‘primitive Christology,’ and consists primarily of the proclamation of the facts of Jesus’ death, life, and resurrection, and the appeal to believe on him for the forgiveness of sins.” 52
“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (10:43). It seems that the statement “everyone who believes” was the key that broke through the traditional barriers that had long separated Jews and Gentiles.53 We can suddenly feel the excitement rising in the group and that excitement will shortly break forth into a spiritual explosion.
THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT COMES UPON GENTILES
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Acts 10:44
Peter did not even get through with his sermon when suddenly the Holy Spirit fell upon all those assembled. O that we could have such spiritual interruptions of our sermons today! Barclay says, “They were lifted out of themselves in an ecstasy and began to speak with tongues.” 54
Barker and Kohlenberger add: “Luke suggests that it was this phrase [v. 43 “everyone who believes”] that struck like a thunderbolt into the consciousness of the assembled Gentiles…emboldening them to think that they could believe and so receive the blessing promised to Israel…just as he had come upon the disciples at Pentecost.55
Of course, it had always been God’s plan to include the Gentiles in his kingdom. We remember that Abraham was promised that he would be the father of many Gentiles (Gen. 17:4). Joseph had even married a Gentile wife and so his two children Ephraim, and Manasseh, were half Gentile from the start. Then there were important Gentile women like Rahab and Ruth who married into the Messianic line. Many of David’s great warriors were Gentiles. The prophets had spoken of the Gentiles coming in. Isaiah 60:1-3 states it well: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you…Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isa. 60:1, 3). The Bible exclaims, “Rejoice, you nations, with his people…” (Deut. 32:43) and “Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples” (Psa. 117:1).
Right before Peter’s eyes these scriptures were coming true and surely he was amazed as well as all those with him. Pfeiffer and Harrison say, “This was not a new Pentecost but an extension of Pentecost to include the Gentiles.” 56 In much the same way Peter had seen it extended to include the Samaritans.
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (10:45-46a). This gift was identical to the one the Jews received at Pentecost and the circumcised believers were astounded. These Gentile people were speaking in tongues just as the Jews did at Pentecost. “The gift of tongues was given on this occasion that there might be no doubt whatsoever that God had given to the Gentiles the same gift he had bestowed upon Jewish believers.” 57
“Then Peter said, surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have” (10:46b-47). Fredrick Bruner says, “It was impossible for the apostles to associate the gift of the Holy Spirit with anything but baptism; the new converts were immediately baptized.” 58 “Baptism had become the outward sign of reception into the people of God.” 59 No longer would circumcision mark a division between Jews and Gentiles. “…Peter was quick to draw the inevitable deduction. Since God had accepted these Gentile believers, which indeed he had (15:8), the church must accept them too…” 60
“So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days” (10:48). The new believers were promptly baptized as was the custom in the early church. Then Peter was asked to linger on a few days, no doubt so that he could share his rich teaching and experience. “….With this event, the period of transition in the early history of the church comes to an end. Believers among the Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles have all received the Spirit of God and are united in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).” 61