Gifts of The Holy Spirit and Cornelius
GIFTS OF HOLY SPIRIT AND CORNELIUS
Several years after the apostles had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2), Cornelius, a Gen-tile, received a miraculous "gift of the Holy Spirit." The divine record is found in Acts, Chapters 10 and 11. Cornelius, a good, devoutly religious man, but not a Christian, was told to send to Joppa and get Peter, who was an apostle and a Jew, who would tell him, "words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thy and thy house."
In the process of time, God performed a miracle before Peter's eyes, convincing him that he should call no man "common or unclean," preparing him (a Jew) to preach the gospel to a Gentile. Peter knew that Gentiles were looked upon with disfavor by the Jews, and, no doubt, realizing he would have to give an account of his actions, he carried along with him six Jewish brethren. This fact, itself, is important to an understanding of the reason for the special administration of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius.
Gentiles Receive Holy Spirit
Peter, the apostle, proclaimed the gospel of Christ to Cornelius, having introduced his sermon by stating, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35).
What a glorious thought! The gospel is for all. He is Lord of all! The Gentiles are now to become Christians, beginning with Cornelius. But, my friends, be not misled by any theory of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which makes it applicable to Cornelius and all other people of the world, so much that it is essential to salvation. Cornelius, a Gen-tile, like the Jews on Pentecost, had to hear, believe, and obey the gospel in order to be saved. Remember, he was told to send and get Peter, "Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 11:14). This special gift of the Holy Spirit had nothing directly to do with his salvation. Yes, it was a miracle, like the miracle on Pentecost, when the 3, 000 were saved, but this special administration of the Holy Spirit had nothing directly to do with the conversion of the converts.
On Pentecost the purpose of the miraculous administration of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to guide the apostles in the revelation of the gospel, as already pointed out. At the house of Cornelius, the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit was evident in two ways. First, the Holy Spirit directed Peter, without prejudice, to preach the gos-pel to the people of another nation, to "make known among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," to prove to the Jews that the Gentiles were a part of "every creature," a part of "all flesh," who should obey the gospel of Christ and be saved. Secondly, the miraculous "gift of the Holy Spirit" was poured out on Cornelius, a Gentile, to convince the Jews that salvation in Christ was also granted unto the Gentiles.
When Peter related these facts to his Jewish brethren, they were accepted as God-given and all criticisms were silenced. "When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
Poured Out Gift of Holy Spirit In Acts 10:44-48 it is recorded that, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which be-lieved were astonished, as many as came with Peter, be-cause that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." In this text it should be observed that the divine record reveals "that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit." Later, when the apostle Peter reported the matter, Acts 11:15, he said, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning."
Not Baptism of Holy Spirit For Cornelius As we study this text, with reference to the miraculous appearance of the Holy Spirit, we must observe the statement of Peter when he said, "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" (Acts 11:16).
Our first thought might be that Peter was concluding that Cornelius had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit as did the apostles. But, let us look at his statement more carefully and in view of other related references to the matter.
Peter reported that he remembered the miraculous out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit "fell on them," that is, Cornelius and his household. This miraculous incident carried Peter back to that eventful day when they, the apostles, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as had been promised by Christ, and 3,000 believers were baptized in water for the remission of sins and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This "like gift" came upon the Gentiles that believed in a miraculous way, but it was not the baptism of the Holy Spirit, like the apostles received, neither was it for the same purpose. This was a miraculous administration of the Holy Spirit, not merely the Holy Spirit as a gift, which all believers receive when they obey the gospel.
Cornelius received this special "gift of the Holy Spirit" before Peter had finished speaking the word of the Lord; before he was commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. This was a miraculous incident which reminded the apostle of the miraculous incident they experienced on Pentecost at the beginning.
Like Gift The "like gift" the apostle refers to, no doubt, was the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues. In Acts 10:44-46 it is revealed that the Jews who came with Peter were astonished "because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." There seems to have been different members of the early church with the gift of speaking in tongues, but it also seems evident that all speaking in tongues was not by the same measure of the spirit and not for the same purpose.
Purpose
Surely there can be no doubt about the purpose of this miraculous administration of the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was to convince the Jews that God had "also to the Gen-tiles granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). The convincing evidence, resulting from the "gift of the Holy Spirit" upon the Gentiles, that brought this conviction to Peter and his Jewish brethren, even so much as to astonish them, was the fact that "they heard them speak with tongues" (Acts 10:45-46).
Baptism of Spirit, Not "Tongues" Only The object of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which the apostles received, was more than the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues. It was to guide the apostles in revealing all truth (John 14:25-26; John 16:13). The baptism of the Holy Spirit, which was promised to the apostles (Acts 1:2; Acts 1:4-5), enabled them to be divine "witnesses" for Christ "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
The baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to speak with "tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" and "every man heard them speak in his own language" (Acts 2:4; Acts 2:6). There can be no doubt that this was divine revelation!
Furthermore, the apostles who had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, could impart the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit to other Christians by the laying on of hands. It was necessary for the apostles, Peter and John, to go to Samaria and lay hands on the disciples to confer the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17). No one else had the power to confer this miraculous gift of the Spirit. There certainly is no evidence that Cornelius had the power to confer the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. Neither is there evidence that he could pro-claim the gospel in its fullness, divinely guided by the Holy Spirit, by speaking in tongues so that men could hear and understand in different languages, as did the apostles. The. reason: he did not receive the same baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit as did the apostles.
Cornelius Not Promised Baptism of Holy Spirit In the first place Cornelius was not among those who had been promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the next place he was at the wrong place, Caesarea, and not the right place, Jerusalem, which the Lord designated as the place where His promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be administered. Furthermore, Cornelius was not included among those who were told to wait for this power by which they would be clothed (Holy Spirit baptism), to be received "not many days hence," all of which would enable them to witness for the Lord and confirm the word by miraculous works by the power of the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit. Surely, there can be no doubt that there were mi-raculous gifts of the Holy Spirit in New Testament times, in addition to the gift of the Holy Spirit received by all who obeyed the gospel. According to Acts 6:2-8, Stephen and Philip received the miraculous gift of the Spirit through the laying on of the apostles' hands, which enabled them to perform miracles. But, it must be observed that they had already received the Holy Spirit as a gift. One qualifi-cation for service, before the laying on of the apostles' hands, was "...brethren . of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom ."
Later we find Philip, a man "full of the Holy Spirit ," who had also received the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit, by the laying on of hands of the apostles, preaching at Samaria and performing miraculous works. Multitudes, attracted by "the signs which he did," heard the word and obeyed the gospel. Although he had the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit, which enabled him to perform miracles, he was not an apostle and could not confer that special gift to others. It was necessary for the apostles, Peter and John, to come to Samaria and confer the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Samaritans through the laying on of their hands (Acts 8:4-17).
My friends, there can be no doubt about it. There was a definite distinction in the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit received by the apostles, in a baptismal measure, and the power of the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit received through the imposition of the apostles' hands. Both Cornelius of Caesarea and the Samaritans received the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit. The difference was: the "gift of the Holy Spirit" came miraculously and directly from heaven upon Cornelius and his house; whereas, the miraculous power of the Spirit was received by the Samaritans through the laying on of the apostles' hands.
Cornelius did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit neither did, the Samaritans. They received a miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit. In the case of Cornelius, this miraculous power included the gift of speaking in tongues which served the purpose God intended, which was to convince the Jews that: no man is "common and unclean;" that God is no respecter of persons; that the Gentiles were to become citizens of the Lord's kingdom.
If Cornelius should have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as did the apostles, then he should have been able to speak by divine revelation, and he should have been able to impart the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying of hands. According to the Bible, only the apostles had such power of the Holy Spirit! We must conclude that the "gift of the Holy Spirit" upon the Gentiles, of Acts 10 th and 11th chapters, was a miraculous demonstration directly from heaven, which, in particular, enabled them to speak in tongues and it fulfilled its purpose in that it convinced the Jews that the Gentiles were subjects of the gospel. The "gift of the Holy Spirit" to the Samaritans of Acts 8 th chapter was also miraculous, but through the imposition of hands of the apostles. Neither Cornelius, nor the Samaritans received the baptism of the Holy Spirit as did the apostles. Furthermore, it must be concluded that basically the purpose of the miraculous administration of the Holy Spirit in each case was not the same, but each purpose was divinely performed and fulfilled. Later, we shall consider in more detail the purposes of "speaking in tongues."
From all the evidence we have considered we would therefore, conclude that Peter's statement, that he remembered the word of the Lord, referred to the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. The "ye" in the Lord's promise referred to the apostles and not Cornelius.
Ladies and gentlemen, it had been some ten or fifteen years since Peter and the other apostles had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost; yet, he goes back to that time of the miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit when he makes reference to any other occasion of such miraculous administration of the Holy Spirit. If anyone else had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit previously, why did not Peter say, "Can any man forbid water that they should not be baptized, which have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as well as those two weeks ago , a year ago, or 5 years ago, at different places?"
My friends, Peter went back some ten or fifteen years in the past to the occasion of the apostles' Holy Spirit baptism, because there had been none other since that time. Ladies and gentlemen, hear it! Are you listening? There is no record of any Holy Spirit baptism since the record of Acts, chapter 2. Today there is only "one baptism". One thing is most peculiar! All religious groups who make claim to baptism of Holy Spirit today also practice some form of water baptism. One thing is certain: that is, Holy Spirit baptism is one and water baptism is one. One plus one equals two; therefore, two baptisms! But Paul says there is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). Don't you know that Paul is right?
The overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit, the mighty miracle, had come to the Gentiles, as on the Jews, the apostles, "at the beginning"; not for the same purpose, but a miraculous measure of the same Spirit. The Jewish brethren with Peter were witnesses. The Gentiles are now to be recipients of the glorious, new-born gospel of salvation. The Jews are convinced. Peter would not be disgraced by preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, or by eating with them. The dawn of a new day had come, breaking the long night of heathen darkness! Gentiles are now a part of the body of Christ. "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6).
Spirit Directed Gospel
Peter, beginning with John's ministry, and reviewing the ministry of Christ, boldly proclaimed the doctrine of the resurrection and the hope of salvation. He preached the gospel of Christ, including the Lord's conditions of the gospel of salvation, given in the great commission. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." (Mark 16:16). We know Peter preached the gospel for he said, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be bap-tized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?. ...And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:47-48). Now, all men are sub-jects of the gospel. Being convinced that the Gentiles were subjects of the gospel of Christ, Peter commanded water baptism in the name of, by the authority of, Christ. How like the 3,000 on Pentecost. They were told, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). One Lord, one Savior, one gospel, one way of salvation for all men!
Miraculous Measure of Holy Spirit No More The day of Pentecost, the beginning of the gospel dispensation, the inauguration of the kingdom among the Jews, with the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, has never been and never will be duplicated again. The miraculous administration of the Holy Spirit at the house of Cornelius and the inauguration of the Kingdom among the Gentiles has never been and will never be duplicated! The baptism of the Holy Spirit, having endued the apostles with all truth and having borne public testimony that the gospel is for "all nations," "every creature," "all flesh," there is no longer need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the administration of the affairs of the kingdom of God and its mission in the world. The miraculous administrations of the Holy Spirit has never occurred since those of New Testament times, and will never happen again.
QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION 1. Did Cornelius receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit , or the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit?
2. What was the purpose of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius?
3. What was the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost?
4. To whom was the baptism of the Holy Spirit promised?
5. What was the difference in the baptism of the Holy Spirit of Acts 2 nd chapter and the gift of the Holy Spirit of Acts 10 th chapter?
6. Was the gift of the Holy Spirit a condition of the salvation of Cornelius?
7. What did Peter command Cornelius do to be saved?
8. If Cornelius received the "baptism of the Holy Spirit," as did the apostles, should he not have been able to speak by inspiration as did the apostles?