CORNELIUS - GENTILE PENTECOST

Cornelius - the Gentile Pentecost

We listen closely to what the Bible says.

"And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God." Acts 10:30-31

" And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." Acts 11:15


1. The Simple Gospel.

The one practically certain thing about the early Church is that all the Churches, by whomever founded or taught, largely agreed upon the Fact. And they seem to have echoed Paul about the explanation as much as he agreed with them about the Fact (Death, Burial, Resurrection of the Christ). Romans 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:1-4.

a) Peter preached Christ (the Fact) to Cornelius.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;" Acts 10:38-40

b) Paul said: "Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts 26:17-18

Paul added: "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:"


2. The Holy Spirit proved that God had accepted Cornelius.

a) "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" Acts 11:14-17

b) "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 10:45

On the Day of Pentecost those present "heard them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God" Acts 2:11. In the same way here Cornelius and the others spoke with tongues and magnified God. But these are Gentiles who would not have the same knowledge of the Old Testament songs and words.

c) "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

"Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;" Zech. 9:12

d) "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." 2 Cor. 13:14

"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you." Petersen on 2 Cor. 13:14

"Whoever has 'the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,' has also 'the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,' and 'the love of God'; and vice versa. For the three are inseparable, as the three Persons of the Trinity. [CHRYSOSTOM]—Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary