Luke the physician wrote how Peter told the Jewish “apostles and believers” in Jerusalem, “three men were already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter. Who shall tell you words, whereby you and all your house shall be saved”, and in chapter eleven and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the Jewish believers, “as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them” where we read:
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
The verse begins, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, ...” Luke began with the words, “and as I began to speak” which means “and during the time I, Peter, started and initiated speaking and making declarations to the Gentiles which were Cornelius and the people in his home”, “the Holy Ghost” or “the sacred, pure, morally blameless and ceremonially and religiously consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “fell on them” which means “descended upon the Gentiles”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the Jewish “apostles and believers” how the “Holy Spirit” descended upon the “Gentiles” while he was speaking to them.
The verse continues, “... as on us at the beginning.” Luke added the words, “as on us” which means “even and indeed like the Holy Spirit fell upon Peter and the other disciples and believers” “at the beginning” or “at the origin or initiation of the descending of the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the Jewish “apostles and believers” that the descending of the “Holy Spirit” upon the “Gentiles” was the same as when He fell upon them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” told the Jewish “apostles and believers” about the falling of the “Holy Spirit” upon the Gentiles. God's love was being poured out upon non-Jewish people, and though this was a surprise to the Jews, it was not to God. He desires to have a personal relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus, and when they submit themselves to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life regardless of whether the are Jews or Gentiles. In other words, let all who read these words submit to Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Peter tells the Jewish believers how he remembered Jesus saying, “John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost”, 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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