Daily Devotions
Filled with the Holy Spirit
"The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also."
Text: Acts 10:45
ANOTHER GREAT DIVIDE
There was another great divide that had to be addressed. The Jews had great difficulty in relating to Gentiles. This problem was wondrously resolved by the Lord when He sent the Apostle Peter to minister a word to Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. The following text summarises the ministry to Cornelius, his relatives and close friends.
“While Peter was still speaking these words,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
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.
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”
Acts 10:44-46
A QUICK REVIEW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE MINISTRY TO CORNELIUS
The Lord gave Peter a vision of both clean and unclean animals. He was then instructed to eat. Peter protested for he had not eaten “unclean things” all his life. He was chided for this remark. He must not call unclean that which God has cleansed.
There was a deeper significance to this vision given to Peter. Peter and many other Jews did not fulfil the Lord’s command to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. That would mean reaching Gentiles. This was a difficult command to obey!
The following is a series of events that summarises the opening of the ministry to Gentiles.
1. The Holy Spirit Himself sent Peter to minister to Cornelius (Acts 10:19).
2. Peter was accompanied by some people who lived in Joppa (Acts 10:23).
3. They came to Caesarea when Cornelius welcomed them (Acts 10:24).
4. Cornelius shared with Peter how the Lord also gave him a vision (Acts 10:30-33).
5. As Peter began to speak something wonderful happened: –
a) The Holy Spirit was outpoured.
b) The Gentiles gathered at the home of Cornelius was given the Spirit of God.
c) They were given a similar gift of being able to speak in foreign languages.
d) The new Gentile believers were praising God and magnifying Him.
A SIGNIFICANT EVENT
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles was a significant development for the Church that began in Jerusalem.
1. There was Oneness of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ
a) Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles were equal.
b) The Spirit of God brought about this oneness.
2. The Command of the Lord Jesus Christ to be witnesses for Him was being fulfilled
The Church had grown further in maturity of faith and in depth of comprehension!