The Receipt Of God
Acts 10:44-48
Even as Peter preached these words, this (same effect) of the Spirit of the Holy One, was with everyone who heard the Word. And standing in awe were those of the circumcision who believed, as many as came together with Peter, because even on the Gentiles the "gift" of the Holy Spirit had been poured out; for they were hearing them speaking multiple languages and exalting the excellence of God. Then Peter discerned, questioning, “Perhaps any of the water could forbid anyone from the Baptism of these, who the Spirit of the Holy One received; even to the degree that we had been?” And he commanded them to be Baptized in the name of the Lord. Afterward they inquired of him to abide for some days. (MAST)
By way of review of our last study, to lead us into the end of this chapter, we looked into the cause and effect of the death of Jesus Christ, and how that applied to Peter and the other disciples as eye witnesses. One of the things I forgot to bring out more clearly and fully in our last study was the effect of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost because of the death and resurrection of the Lord. This will be necessary to remember as we study the following verses, as the same effect occurs within the Roman Gentiles. But for now, by way of review, justification and forgiveness of sins was the heart of the effect surrounding the events of Christ’s life; a life which caused His death and resurrection. Christ died and was risen for the believer’s justification. In His death our sins were imputed to Him to be judged among the criminals as “He swallowed death in victory” (1Cor.5:54; Matt.20:22). It was on the hill called Calvary, the Headstone of Jerusalem, upon which He died; for all who died with Him and to Him confessing their sinful and ungodly disposition. These alone are for whom the Father imputes the satisfaction of Justice, paid in full, and the redemption accomplished through the witness of the resurrection and ascension of the Son. These alone are given the Holy Spirit (the Witness) as the receipt of this transaction.
These alone are given the power to believe and to continue in the glory of His name. These alone are rewarded with eternal life, for trusting in the name and work of the Son by which the Father has revealed the glory of God, and whom He has delivered from the pattern of death, and is renewing in the pattern of life. His death continues to go out as a one time offering for all humankind, but these alone who trust in Him are for whom the penalty was paid in full. The Gospel is a sincere offer for all, but only those who possess the Witness of “this man” dwelling in them by the authority of the Holy Spirit are those who have received “this” justification. If this describes you, then you have been given the power to follow along in the mind of Christ and to submit to His will.
vs.44
Even as Peter preached these words, this (same effect) of the Spirit of the Holy One, was with everyone who heard the Word. (MAST)
While Peter explained, and clarified, all that had occurred from the time of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness and of The Lord’s death and resurrection in Jerusalem, with "authority" and power, the embrace of the Holy Spirit was with all the men who received Peter's "rhemata" (words) as the Logos (Word) of God. In our last study, we briefly went over the necessity of the combination of the witness of men and the witness of heaven to be one of the qualifications to determine if one possesses the “witness” of the Word of God. We went over how Cornelius and his men had heard the Logos from heaven and various accounts of the "rhema" of men, however this rhema of men had to be validated by an Apostle who had seen and heard the works and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ in person. Peter was sent to validate the "rhema" that Cornelius heard and to clarify any misunderstandings. As Peter preached "these words," that is, in his own words what he saw, the same effects that had happened to them at Pentecost was with those who received “these words” that Peter preached as "the Word of God."
2158 ἐπιπίπτω (epipiptō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 5877; Str 1968—1. LN 19.43 press against, crowd upon (Mk 10:3; Ac 20:10+); 2. LN 13.122 happen, to fall upon, have a change of state (Lk 1:12; Ac 8:16; 11:15; 19:17; Ro 15:3; Rev 11:11+); 3. LN 34.64 ἐπιπίπτω ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον (epipiptō epi ton trachēlon), embrace, formally, fall on the neck (Lk 15:20; Ac 20:37+)
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Peter preached "these words" with the power of the Spirit as the Holy One epepese (pressed) "these words" into the understanding and consciences of these men. You could even say that the Spirit pressured these men to obey and fall upon “this man.” Peter’s words were according to the doctrines of “this man.” In other words, the Holy Spirit came alongside the words of Peter with power and moved in on these men with conviction and with a strong sense of urgency to surrender their wills to "these words." In doing so, the men received "these words" as the very Word of God. Peter’s words created the desired effect because they were exercised in truth and in the spirit of the passion of the Christ. Luke writes that these men akouontas ton Logon (heard the Word). I believe Luke transitions from using the original Greek noun "rhema" to the noun "Logos" to show that Peter was witnessing as a man of flesh and blood and in much weakness; and yet in spite of this, his words are to be taken as the witness of heaven; for the Spirit of the Holy One has made his words the Logos of God. The Apostle Paul also described “this effect” of his preaching to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (NKJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 4:20 (NKJV)
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
John 17:20–22 (NKJV)
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
Jesus is praying that the Father would make the words of the Apostles effectual and that their words would have unity in the Spirit of Him who sent them. That is exactly what Luke has done by transforming the “rhema” of Peter into the written Logos of God. If I may speak from my own heart for a moment to aid you in the need to be discerning concerning the “rhema” of men. I believe the Lord has used my own weakness of lack of trust in the words of men to drive me to study the Word of God for myself. The Scriptures make this a virtue, to be a noble Berean, who searches the Scriptures daily to account for “these things” as the Word of God. You have a responsibility to examine your pastor’s doctrine with the Word of God, for you will give an account of your own soul as well as for your children’s soul. The words of Peter were not blindly taken in by these trained men in the art of discernment. These men were trained to draw out lies in the testimonies of suspects as soldiers who often went on search parties to issue arrest warrants for criminals, as Peter himself was subpoenaed to their presence. These men weren’t common fools who could easily be deceived. They were also trained to detect conflictions between testimonies of multiple witness in the event of a crime against Rome. This should validate the authority of Peter’s message to an even higher degree knowing the credibility and expectations of these Roman soldiers.
vs.45
And standing in awe were those of the circumcision who believed, as many as came together with Peter, because even on the Gentiles the "gift" of the Holy Spirit had been poured out; . . . (MAST)
The Greek verb existemi (amaze) stems from the root istemi (to stand). I believe Luke and the context calls for the fullest definition of the word, which is "to stand in amazement." These men were of the circumcision among the converts in Joppa who traveled with Peter to be witnesses and advocates of his eye witness testimony, and to collaborate the events of his travels for the mother church in Jerusalem (11:12). The root of the verb also has the meaning of standing still or to the effect of ceasing to a stop. The believers of the circumcision most likely had their doubts about the acceptability of the Gentile men, but Peter's message also had an effect on the men who traveled with him. They, too, came to cease doubting in their spirits and prejudices about the Gentile men being accepted by God. They were standing in awe of, not only the Spirit being poured out on the Gentiles, but in the authority of Peter's words. In other words they were standing in awe, with their mouths open, taking in Peter's words as the Holy Spirit was being poured out into the Gentiles through him; even as He was poured out into themselves.
2. The LXX uses ἵστημι with the διαθήκη, ὅρκος, and λόγος or ἐντολή of Yahweh. Its sense is always “to set up,” “to appoint,” “to make valid and inviolable.” It makes plain that God’s word and work establish a fact which has validity, on which one may rely, and which possesses the character of a divine statute.5
Kittel, G., Bromiley, G. W., & Friedrich, G. (Eds.). (1964–). Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 7, p. 641). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
Formed from the root aor. the pres. ἵστημι, fut. στήσω, aor. ἔστησα, has the basic sense a. “to cause to stand still,” “to stop.”
Kittel, G., Bromiley, G. W., & Friedrich, G. (Eds.). (1964–). Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 7, p. 639). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
We see later that at least six men accompanied Peter, but there may have been more. Only six were at the Jerusalem council to collaborate these events. Regardless of the amount of men who traveled with Peter, each of them were struck with shock and awe, mixed with joy, in the unexpected outpouring of the power of God being pressed into these Roman soldiers that were loyal to Cornelius. The Spirit came as a gift to be received in the expression of repentance by glorying in the excellence of God. Faith and repentance are a gift that is wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, using the reasoning of God to convict the conscience of sin and to acquit the conscience of guilt, through the knowledge of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ (1Cor.2:14; Isa.1:18). By “this gift” they were empowered to “lay hold of,” by faith, the justification that is in Jesus Christ. The gift was not something that these men have earned or even searched for, but what was “pressed” into them through the fore-working and Providences of God. God breaks a person down to a place that the gospel is readily to be received. He does this through the hardness of life and various disciplines that have resulted from sin. God uses the conscience of men to educate them in the knowledge of sin and the futility of life. God works all these various things together, to make a man sick and weary in his pursuit of the gratification of his fleshly nature, and causes him to be aware of the void and emptiness in his heart that sin is powerless to fill. The sinner must have this eternal void filled with the eternal nature of the living God or he will starve to death under the condemnation (and imputation) of sin (Gen.1:2; 3:22; Ecc.3:11; 7:29).
John 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Do you know this gift? Have you been given the living water of God’s own life sustaining substance? Are you fooled by the perception of your own flesh that you are alive? You may look into the mirror and have a perception of beauty and of life in the image of your own flesh, BUT YOU ARE DEAD; if you know not “this gift.” This woman was staring eternal life right in the face and did not recognize the need to be filled from the well of His life giving soul (Jn.6:63; 1Cor.15:45). He had no beauty according to the flesh that would identify Him as the living spring that feeds the tree of life (Isa.53:2), but His words were powerful to save (Isa.63:1).
Romans 5:15–21 (NKJV)
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:1–10 (NKJV)
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ . . . 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
vs.46
. . . for they were hearing them speaking multiple languages and exalting the excellence of God. Then Peter discerned, questioning, . . . (MAST)
Because the Spirit had been ekkechytai (poured out) like living water into the souls of these men, they immediately began to speak of the excellence of God in various languages. It was as if all that they had collected in their theology had finally come together in fruition, to make reasonable sense, as the Holy Spirit epepese (pressed) or "crowded in on" them to the point of releasing all that had built up the pressure of their consciences (in sin). They were enabled to rightly understand the gospel of justification and God in His most holy excellence (in Christ). This all came in the form of a singular "gift" of multiple languages that was not earned or learned to receive. This was an unexpected and miraculous "gift" to immediately impart these men with the ability to know more than the common Latin and Greek, but also the Hebrew and Aramaic, and possibly others for the work of ministry to the nations. They would have been able to study the Scriptures in the original Hebrew and would have now been able to communicate the Excellencies of God to all who travel through Caesarea; and wherever they may have had to relocate in the event of Roman battle.
Because of the error in the church today surrounding this topic of "speaking in tongues" it will be good to clarify any presuppositions attached to this text. Luke is not talking about angelic forms of language or some man-made gibberish that has no meaning or unintelligible characteristic. Luke is referencing “the languages of the nations” in which they were given in a “singular” super-natural way called the “gift” of the Holy Spirit. These languages were given apart from common study and the ordinary labor of learning. These men were not seeking God for an added blessing called the gift of tongues; however these languages were thrusted upon these men by the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit because of the great need to enter into the great commission at this providential dispensation of grace. The giving aspect of the gift of languages has been suspended since the apostolic age and possibly will be opened again during the time Jacob’s trouble (Jer.30:7,11; Rev.11:3,9). The gift of languages alone, however, has certainly not ceased in the aspect of its application; for languages have not ceased nor has knowledge; and God still desires His children “to be filled” with this gift for the purpose of going into every nation, tribe, and tongue with the Gospel (1Cor.12:31; 13:8; 14:39-40). The giving of this gift was the defibrillator of the church in the departure of the Christ in His ascension to the right hand of God. It was vital at this point in history for the church to have this gift be given in this manner, immediately, after the crucifixion of the Son, to fan the flame of His passion throughout the known world and expand His fame and the reputation of His Name. Therefore this gift validated all that God accomplished in Christ.
Nowhere in the Bible does this gift give the contextual liberty to demand 'ecstatic' speech. Luke certainly gives no liberty in this context for that assumption. We know this, because Peter apekrithe (answered) ‘this’ with discernment. The Greek root of this verb is krino (to judge), which leads us to Peter's rhetorical question in the following verse. Peter is actually answering his own question out of the discernment of what he has observed these men proclaim with their tongues. They were exalting the glory of God in Jesus Christ, as Peter and the other men of the circumcision in Joppa, all heard, that is, "understood" these men speaking these languages. This wasn't gibberish or angelic speech that was unintelligible or even "foreign" to what the men of Joppa already understood. In fact, what caused these men to be in awe was more of the content of the speech than the ability to speak in multiple languages. Therefore, Peter’s question is really a rhetorical statement that expects - no - for an answer.
vs.47
“Perhaps any of the water could forbid anyone from the Baptism of these, who the Spirit of the Holy One received; even to the degree that we had been?” (MAST)
Though this is a rhetorical question, it is still out of the motivation of an authority that is not limited to the apostleship. Peter gives everyone "of the water," which is to say "everyone who is a member of the church," an opportunity to give an objection to the inclusion the Gentiles among the number of the circumcised of heart. Not only were these men who traveled with Peter of the circumcision (Jewish) group but were of the water and membership of the church as well. In other words, they were baptized in the doctrine of repentance from dead works apart from the righteousness in Christ to the living hope of the resurrection in God.
But Peter, as a guide, reminds them, in the rhetorical thought of the question, that these men have just been received by the Holy Spirit in the likeness and manner as they themselves had been. He is exhorting the circumcision to examine their objections carefully, in the proper observation of things, like a good defense attorney would. He also is taking advantage of the, shock and awe, response of the soldiers to remind them that these men have attained to the knowledge of the Excellencies of God in the same (kathos) degree and likeness as they themselves received. If their only objection was the dietary and sanitary customs of the Jewish law, their objections would be overruled in the Gospel as the final Judge and Arbiter of repentance.
2531 καθώς [kathos /kath·oce/] adv. From 2596 and 5613; GK 2777; 182 occurrences; AV translates as “as” 138 times, “even as” 36 times, “according as” four times, “when” once, “according to” once, “how” once, and “as well as + 2532” once. 1 according as. 1a just as, even as. 1b in proportion as, in the degree that. 2 since, seeing that, agreeably to the fact that. 3 when, after that.
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
The original language uses the definite article (tou Baptisthenai) referring to the prospect of those who had received the gift of the Holy Spirit to be baptized in water. Peter is merely equating the two baptisms as one full baptism for membership in the church. Just as the two, the man and the woman, become one in the membership of marriage; the baptism of the Holy Spirit
and the baptism of the water become one Baptism as a membership into the heavenly body of Christ within the visible body of Christ on earth. So when the apostles use this term with the definite article, it should most always be considered as the Baptized Body of Christ or the Baptism (tou Baptisthenai).
vs.48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Afterward they inquired of him to abide for some days.
Because there were no objections, Cornelius's men were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord. This Baptism is merely the formalization of what had already taken place in their hearts, as they received the Word of God, and as the Holy Spirit confirmed the Word within their hearts. By repeating the Excellencies of God, in various languages, the men already understood the high reputation of the Name of the Lord and how serious it was to protect and defend His Name. These men are now required to defend this Name with the possibility of losing the reputation of their own name. And therefore they requested Peter to remain with them for a few more days to further expound to them the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
Does this describe your heart? Do you desire for the prophets of God to abide with you, to exhort you to love God more deeply, to correct your presumptions and lead you away from error and even self-destruction? This was the heart of these men who received Peter's words as the very Word of God. "Abide with us Peter, tell us more of your experiences with God," they begged. This is the heart of a beginner and of a true disciple of Christ. Their inclination is to know more of Him and they are driven to share with others about what has been made know to them; even to the degree that they themselves have attained. This kind of heart shares Christ in the same measure that has been poured out on itself (Lk.6:38).
It wasn’t an option for these men to be baptized; it was a command. But because they had received the Holy Spirit it was a joyful duty of obedience in love for their new Sovereign. Their conscience had been freed from the slavery that it was under as a Roman citizen and slave of Caesar. They were now able to disobey orders of an immoral dictator that would require them to go against a moral and honorable conscience in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 7:19–24 (NKJV)
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
These men were able to build their consciences in the freedom laid forth in the church of God, for their circumcision or uncircumcision and other cultural customs meant nothing in the churches of God. But they were not free from the commandments of God in Jesus Christ. Their moral responsibility was to the Sovereign Master who purchased them with blood according to the gospel of Peter. These men were not bought with anything that men consider valuable, like money or gold, which corrupts the heart of man; but with the priceless and invaluable blood of Christ, which purifies the heart of man. These soldiers were to conduct themselves in the fear of the reputation of the Name of “this man” Jesus Christ; for he is Judge of the living and the dead.
1 Peter 1:17–19 (NKJV)
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Peter points out that the traditions of their fathers has corrupted each man’s conscience and that they are no longer citizens of this current world; and therefore are to remain in the corruption of their bodies as pilgrims in the fear of God; until the time of their stewardship is taken into account.
1 Corinthians 3:10–17 (NKJV)
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Paul is writing to the Corinthian church about the necessity of taking care of how each one builds their conscience. If the collective body of the church is building its conscience on the wealth of its people against the Word of God, the Day of the Lord will declare it, but there is a reward to the one who remains faithful to the foundation which is in Jesus Christ. The man of God will be judged in how he builds the consciences of those entrusted to him, for if he defiles a man’s conscience against the Word, God will destroy him (vs.16). In other words, these men are not slaves to another man’s conscience, such as Peter or even their current earthly master, Cornelius; but are captives to the “written” Word of God that never changes. If anything is to be changed, it is their conscience, collectively and corporately, as the temple of God, being conformed to the Word of God; as it has been laid forth by Jesus Christ Himself and the Apostles in the written account of both the New and Old Testaments.
Titus 1:9 (NKJV)
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
John 10:35 (NKJV)
35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
Acts 8:35 (NKJV)
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Acts 17:2 (NKJV)
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 17:11 (NKJV)
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Acts 18:28 (NKJV)
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Peter 1:20 (NKJV)
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
2 Peter 3:16 (NKJV)
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Notice that both the Old Testament and the written, not the oral, sayings of the Apostles are regarded as Scripture; and that they have unity and a common testimony of Jesus Christ that is not to be contradicted in the fallible mind of men; for the written Words are the infallible Word of God and the faithful and true sayings of God in Christ:
Revelation 19:11–13 (NKJV)
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
Paul tells Timothy that all of Scripture is breathed out by the Holy Spirit in God and that the Word is for more than just reproof, but also for “correction.” When one is in error regarding interpretations of the Word, the Word in Jesus Christ is the “corrector.” Jesus Christ searches and tests the hearts in the interpretation and application of His Word; be sure you have consulted Him before you correct another or you may fall by your own error(s). Our application here is to continue in Him and examine ourselves daily in the working out of our consciences from the Word of God.
Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
