What is the meaning of Acts 10:46? For they heard them - The “they” refers to the Jewish believers who came with Peter to Cornelius’s house (Acts 10:45). - Hearing, not merely seeing, provided undeniable evidence that something supernatural was happening, echoing 1 John 1:1, “what we have heard… we proclaim.” - God arranged audible proof so these witnesses would later testify, just as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8 that His followers would “be My witnesses.” - The immediate conclusion the group drew parallels Peter’s reflection in Acts 11:17: if God granted Gentiles the same gift, “who was I to hinder God?” speaking in tongues - The manifestation matches Acts 2:4 and Acts 19:6, where Spirit-given languages accompany the Spirit’s arrival. - Mark 16:17 had foretold, “they will speak in new tongues,” tying this sign directly to gospel advance. - Key purposes: • Sign to Jewish believers that Gentiles truly received the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:22). • Visible (and audible) seal of equal standing in Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18). • Empowerment for worldwide witness, fulfilling Genesis 12:3 that all nations be blessed through Abraham’s seed. and exalting God - The content of the tongues was worship: “exalting God.” This mirrors Luke 1:46-47, “My soul magnifies the Lord,” and Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” - Genuine Spirit-prompted speech always aligns with God-honoring praise; 1 Corinthians 14:16 speaks of giving thanks in the Spirit. - Their praise demonstrated hearts already transformed before any ritual act, confirming salvation precedes baptism (Romans 10:9-10). Then Peter said - Hearing the sign, Peter immediately applied the implication: “Can anyone withhold water to baptize these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:47-48). - His question echoes Acts 2:38, where repentance, Spirit reception, and baptism belong together—now extended to Gentiles. - Peter’s decision also anticipates the Jerusalem council’s conclusion in Acts 15:8-9: God made “no distinction” between Jew and Gentile after giving the Spirit. - Practical outcomes: • Gentiles are incorporated without circumcision or Mosaic law (Galatians 3:2). • The church gains a clear precedent for welcoming all who believe (Romans 3:29-30). • Peter’s leadership models prompt obedience to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19. summary Acts 10:46 spotlights the instant, audible evidence that Cornelius’s household had received the Holy Spirit: Spirit-enabled languages filled with praises to God. This sign convinced Jewish witnesses and Peter himself that God had already cleansed these Gentile believers, compelling Peter to baptize them without hesitation. The verse signals the breaking of ethnic barriers, affirms the Spirit’s impartial gift, and demonstrates that true faith is marked by Spirit-empowered worship and obedience. |
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