16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:16–17.
Who was I that I could stand in God's way...
God's way...
What are they referencing here, "God's way?"
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."
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 10:47–48.
It's important to go back to the story of what happened.
Peter was told by the Holy Spirit to go to the house of a Gentile, Cornelius to be exact. Once there he preached to the Gentiles the gospel message and as he was preaching the Holy Spirit fell on them.
Now the Jews up until this point felt the gospel was only for the Jews (and partially the Samaritans, who were partial Jews) as is evidenced by their response to Peter's actions, You ate with Gentiles and entered their home?!
But what action in particular are they referencing?
Peter in v.16 explains: And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Now the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and them without any prayer or intervention at all from Peter, so that can't be what is referenced here. But what was Peter's immediate reaction once he and his group saw the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit?
“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.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 10:47–48.
Can anyone withhold water for baptizing...
God's way is water baptism. The Jews were upset that Peter not only entered a Gentile's home and ate with him, but that he also baptized them into the body of believers, which they felt up until that point was only for Jews. This leads just a couple of chapters later to the "Jerusalem Conference" where it is finally determined by all that Gentiles should not have to become Jews and follow the Law to "be saved."
God's way of salvation is faith in Him leading us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9) leading to water baptism where we die to our flesh (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12) and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37-38, "What should we do? REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED everyone of you FOR the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:16–17.
Who was I that I could stand in God's way...
God's way...
What are they referencing here, "God's way?"
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."
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 10:47–48.
It's important to go back to the story of what happened.
Peter was told by the Holy Spirit to go to the house of a Gentile, Cornelius to be exact. Once there he preached to the Gentiles the gospel message and as he was preaching the Holy Spirit fell on them.
Now the Jews up until this point felt the gospel was only for the Jews (and partially the Samaritans, who were partial Jews) as is evidenced by their response to Peter's actions, You ate with Gentiles and entered their home?!
But what action in particular are they referencing?
Peter in v.16 explains: And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Now the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and them without any prayer or intervention at all from Peter, so that can't be what is referenced here. But what was Peter's immediate reaction once he and his group saw the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit?
“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.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 10:47–48.
Can anyone withhold water for baptizing...
God's way is water baptism. The Jews were upset that Peter not only entered a Gentile's home and ate with him, but that he also baptized them into the body of believers, which they felt up until that point was only for Jews. This leads just a couple of chapters later to the "Jerusalem Conference" where it is finally determined by all that Gentiles should not have to become Jews and follow the Law to "be saved."
God's way of salvation is faith in Him leading us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9) leading to water baptism where we die to our flesh (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12) and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37-38, "What should we do? REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED everyone of you FOR the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
