Acts 10:36-48
36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all–
37 “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39 “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40 “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41 “not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
43 “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Peter preached –
The Lordship of Jesus,
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit,
People healed and delivered under the ministry of Jesus,
Jesus’ cross, death and His resurrection,
Jesus will Judge the living and the dead,
Salvation and forgiveness is in Jesus’ name.
Our preaching should include all this factors. Then we too will experience a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit as it happened in Cornelius house.
God took the initiative to pour out His Spirit. When we trust and cooperate with God in His new work then God will take the initiative to do something beyond our imagination and surprise us.
All were amazed at the work of the Lord. God in His mercy poured His Holy Spirit on the gentiles. The mystery which was hidden in God for ages was now unveiled that even the Gentiles would find salvation and be accepted to the Father through Jesus. Even upon them the gift of the Holy Spirit would be poured. What an hour of mercy! Peter had the privilege of seeing this. The crucified Christ has made a way for the gentiles also to be saved and filled.
Preach the full gospel and depend totally on the Lord – you will see a mighty move of God in your life, church and ministry.
Peter didn’t stop with the salvation experience of the people but he led them into water Baptism. Encourage the believers to obey the Lord in water baptism.
Bro S. R. Manohar