Luke the physician wrote how Peter told Cornelius and the people in his home, “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 showed him openly. Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins”, and in chapter ten and verse forty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Holy Ghost fell on all them” where we read:
While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
The verse begins, “While Peter yet spoke these words, ...” Luke began with the words, “while Peter” which means “during the time that Peter whose name means a little rock or stone and was one of Jesus' disciples” “yet spoke these words” or “still and even now was speaking, uttering and declaring the words about Jesus forgiving the sins of people who put their faith and trust in Him” the following occurred. Luke shared how “Peter” was still speaking to “Cornelius” and the people in his home when the following happened to them.
The verse goes on to say, “... the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Luke continued with the words, “the Holy Ghost” which means “the sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “fell on all them” or “seized, took possession of and embraced each, every, the whole and everyone” “which heard the word” which means “who was endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding the speaking, uttering and declaring of Jesus forgiving the sins of people who believe in Him”. Luke shared how God's “Holy Spirit” came “upon” each of the people within the house of “Cornelius” when they “heard” the “words” of “Peter”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “God's Holy Spirit” descended upon “Cornelius” and the people in his home even while “Peter” was still communicating the “gospel” of Jesus Christ to them. This “coming upon” people by the “Holy Spirit” was before they were baptized in water, prayed for or any other normal religious pattern, and God was demonstrating His power to bless believers in His Son in a different way than every seen before. God is a God of “salvation”, and when people “hear and perceive” that His Son Jesus died for their sins and rose from the grave three days later so they could be saved, the moment they “receive” Him, He will bless them with His Spirit. God loves people, and He wants to pour out His “Spirit” upon all people. Anyone who surrenders their life to Jesus will be granted the gift of the “Holy Spirit”, and those who are wise yield themselves to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how, “they of the circumcision which believed were astonished”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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