Salvation comes to the Gentiles.
We see Cornelius a God fearing man who is told how to find the truth in a vision. We still hear of this happening today in many Muslim countries as they pray for God to show them truth during Ramadan. Many missionaries have told stories of men coming to their house seeking the truth about God. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” When we fear God and seek after God, God will show up. When we seek self and the ways of self a God in our image in our likeness will show up.
Cornelius sends men to Peter to find the truth as given to him by God. Peter is prepared by God to share the gospel with the Gentiles. The Gentiles were the people the Jews were to stay away from. The Gentiles worshiped false gods. They were considered “dogs”. Remember God is not cancelling out the Jewish practice; the Jewish practice of keeping the sacrificial law was fulfilled in Christ. However, the Jews still did not like the Gentiles, just like we enjoy beating the Russians today. Peter accepts the words from God and proceeds to share the message to Cornelius.
Cornelius and his congregation were ready to receive Jesus, they just needed someone to tell them who Jesus is. Peter shared everything and told them if they believed. Right after the gospel was finished they received the Holy Ghost. They believed completely and surrendered completely without the prayer, for the prayer was in their hearts. Then they got baptized, there is much importance given to baptism in the book of Acts. The first step of following the Lord is baptism after salvation and this should not be taken lightly.
Yes they spoke in tongues. The word tongue means language and they spoke as the apostles did in other languages. There was no laying on of hands, no asking or seeking the Spirit, it just happened. This was more of a sign to Peter and all that came with him. This allowed them to know that the gospel was for the entire world. Everyone can be saved and filled with the Holy Ghost if they will repent and receive Jesus Christ’ death, burial and resurrection as payment for their sins. The Holy Spirit was evident to the Jews, to the Samaritans and now to the Gentiles. One more “tongue” event to those who still followed only the baptism of John.
The point in all of this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Cornelius would have died and spent eternity in hell without Jesus. Yes that is hard to understand. But this is the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God sends us into a world to share this wonderful gospel to everyone we come into contact with. This is more important than our culture, our nationality, and even our lives. Share Jesus today.
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