Daily Devotional Friday 27th March 2020
by William Moody
Acts 10:44–48
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
(ESV)
In this short passage we see clearly how salvation comes to people. As Peter preached the message of Christ the Holy Spirit fell on the hearers bringing them to new life and faith in Christ (v44). Salvation is not caused by human persuasion or by human decision but is a Sovereign act of God’s Spirit transforming people as the Word of God is preached.
The Jews with Peter are amazed and they see the reality that God has no favouritism as they see these Gentiles receiving the Spirit (v45-46).
The gift of tongues was a God-given ability to speak in other languages (Acts 2 v4-11). The gift of tongues was a sign to show that the Gospel was moving from the Jews to the Gentile nations (see 1 Cor. 14 v21-22; Isaiah 28 v11-12).
These new believers now receive baptism as a sign of their salvation and entrance into the church (v47-48).
It is because salvation is a sovereign act of the God who does not show favouritism between different types of people, that we should be confident in sharing the Gospel to all types of people. God can save anyone.
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