Acts 10:45Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Behold the divine economy of God. Peter had not yet finished his speech, and the baptism of Cornelius and those with him had not yet been performed at his command. But since they showed a wondrous disposition of soul, received the beginning of the teaching, and believed that forgiveness of sins is surely given in baptism, the Spirit came down upon them. God does this in order to give Peter a strong defense. They not only receive the Spirit, but also begin to speak in tongues, which astonished those who came with Peter. Why is the matter arranged in this way? For the sake of the Jews, because they looked upon this with great hostility. Thus everywhere everything is done by God.

Observe the divine economy of God. God did not allow Peter’s speech to be brought to its end, nor baptism to be performed by Peter’s arrangement.

But as soon as He saw that their minds were filled with wonder, that instruction had begun, and that they had fully believed that baptism is the remission of sins, the Spirit came down.

Moreover, they began to speak in different tongues, which amazed those who had gathered. Meanwhile, in this God was arranging beforehand a great apology for Peter.

All the preceding extraordinary circumstances clearly showed everyone that, by the will of God, the Gentiles had to be received into the Church of Christ without the mediation of circumcision or other rites of Judaism. Yet this exceedingly important truth had to be witnessed and confirmed still more in the consciousness of Peter, and especially of the brethren from Joppa who were present there, and afterward of all Christians. Therefore the Spirit of God came down upon the Gentiles who were being instructed while Peter was still continuing his speech. This was made evident to all in the gift of tongues that was imparted to them.

The Holy Spirit came down upon Peter’s hearers without any mediating action on the Apostle’s part, without the laying on of his hands, and without anointing with chrism. But this cannot be considered a confirmation of the false teaching that the Holy Spirit is generally given without the mysteries, or that visible actions are unnecessary. At that time, during the first preaching of Christ’s Apostle to the Gentiles, there was an occurrence never repeated, under unique circumstances. The Apostle Peter was not only disinclined to impart the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. He even regarded close contact with them as forbidden for himself; see verse 2:8.

While Peter continued to explain on the basis of the prophets that all who believe in Him must receive forgiveness of sins through His name, that highest inspiration suddenly came down upon these unbaptized Gentiles, as also upon the Jews who were present. It gave them the gift of tongues, just as it had given it to the apostles at Pentecost: “The Holy Spirit fell upon all.” This meant that Christ did not reject the Gentiles. It meant that the doors into His Kingdom were opened to them also. In that case, what prevented them from being baptized? And the Apostle did indeed baptize at once all who believed in Christ. He remained for several days with these newly converted Christians from the Gentiles, strengthening them in the faith and guiding them in life.

Upon the believers from the circumcision who had come with Peter from Joppa, cf. verse 23, that is, upon Jews, this descent of the Holy Spirit upon those gathered in the house of Cornelius made an especially strong impression. They were amazed, exceedingly astonished, that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out also upon the Gentiles. For them this was unexpected and inexplicable. Until then there had been no special revelation about receiving Gentiles into the Church of Christ without the mediation of Judaism. As was expressed especially afterward, cf. Acts 11:1ff. and especially Acts 15, there was a conviction that Gentiles had to be received into the Church of Christ as proselytes to Judaism. This explains the amazement of the Jewish Christians who came with Peter.

“Behold the divine economy of God,” writes Saint John Chrysostom. “Peter had not yet finished his speech, and the baptism of Cornelius and those with him had not yet been performed at his command. But since they showed a wondrous disposition of soul, received the beginning of the teaching, and believed that forgiveness of sins is surely given in baptism, the Spirit came down upon them. God does this in order to give Peter a strong defense. They not only receive the Spirit, but also begin to speak in tongues, which astonished those who came with Peter. Why is the matter arranged in this way? For the sake of the Jews, because they looked upon this with great hostility. Thus everywhere everything is done by God.