A Divine Confirmation of Inclusion
Acts 10:44–48 (NASB95)
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,47“Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
In Acts 10:44–48, we witness a decisive moment when the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius’s household. As soon as Peter begins speaking, the Spirit comes upon the Gentiles—just as it did on the Jewish believers at Pentecost—with the unmistakable sign of speaking in tongues. This dramatic outpouring confirms that these uncircumcised Gentiles have been accepted into God’s covenant community by faith alone, without the traditional prerequisites such as circumcision, or even baptism, which follows the outpouring in this instance. Peter’s immediate response—ordering their baptism—reflects his recognition that God’s gift of the Spirit is the true mark of conversion and inclusion. The Spirit’s unexpected yet powerful manifestation here serves as a divine endorsement of the Gentiles’ belief and a prophetic signal that God’s salvation is available to all who believe, transcending long-held cultural and ritual boundaries.
Just as the Holy Spirit transcended human prejudices by descending on Cornelius’s household, we are called to foster communities that welcome all believers, regardless of their background or tradition. Let us remain open to the unexpected ways in which God invites us to extend our hospitality and love. In doing so, we affirm that genuine conversion is demonstrated not by external rituals but by the transformative power of the Spirit. May our churches become vibrant spaces where barriers are dismantled and everyone encounters the gracious acceptance that is found only through Jesus.
Blessings,
Ryan Goodnight