Acts 10:34-43
Why did God accept the uncircumcised Gentile household of Cornelius? Because of how he blessed the seed of Abrham (vs.2, 22, 34-35; Matt. 25:31-46). This is not out of line with the kingdom program of Israel (Isa. 56:3-8). Is this how Gentiles are accepted by God in the dispensation of the grace of God (contrast Acts 10:35 with Titus 3:5)? Our salvation has nothing to do with blessing the seed of Abraham (Eph. 2:11-18).
Peter briefly rehearsed what God had been doing in Israel beginning with the baptism of John. He does not preach anything to the household of Cornelius that he had not already been preaching. There is nothing new in this message.
What Peter states in v.43 is in harmony with what the prophets had spoken. Salvation is only to be found in the Messiah (Isa. 45:20-25). This can't be the same gospel that Paul received by revelation of Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). People read Paul's gospel into this passage because Peter said, "whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." But he also said, "he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." They were to believe that Jesus is the risen Christ and coming Judge. Notice that Peter does not say "Christ died for your sins."
Acts 10:44-48
This baptism with the Holy Ghost is the same baptism that the apostles experienced in Acts 2 which is not the same spiritual baptism that Paul writes about in his epistles (1 Cor. 12:13).
Baptism with the Holy Ghost Baptism by the Spirit
Christ is the Baptizer The Spirit is the Baptizer
Spoken by the prophets A mystery revealed thru Paul
Supernatural manifestations No supernatural manifestations
For power For salvation
This astonished the Jews that were present because the Holy Ghost was poured out for the first time before water baptism. The Lord interrupted Peter's message before he could say, "Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). The Gentiles receiving the Holy Ghost before the salvation of Israel was not in line with the order of how things are going to happen according to prophecy, but it did not contradict prophecy ("all flesh" could include Gentiles, Joel 2:28-32).
Peter immediately commanded them to be baptized with water because he had been sent to baptize (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15-16). Water baptism was part of the gospel of the kingdom, but it is not part of the gospel of the grace of God (1 Cor. 1:17). There is no record of Paul ever commanding water baptism. In light of the fact that Paul only baptized a few and could not even remember for sure who all he baptized (1 Cor. 1:14-16), I don't see how anybody who recognizes Paul's distinct ministry can say that water baptism is an ordinance in this age.
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