Acts 10:47Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See how Peter also defends himself on this occasion. As for what he answers after such an event, listen to the evangelist, who narrates thus: “Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’” Do you see toward what he directed the matter, and how he desired to accomplish it? Thus he already had this in mind beforehand. “Water,” he says, “who can forbid?” He almost refutes those who opposed it and asserted that this should not be done. Everything has taken place, he says. The most necessary thing has been fulfilled, that is, the baptism with which we also were baptized. Therefore he prepares a speech about the Gentiles, in which he shows that they were no longer Gentiles once faith had appeared in them.

“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized?” And what need was there of water, when the Holy Spirit had come down upon them? I shall show its necessity and explain this hidden mystery to myself. In it the divine symbols are fully expressed: the tomb and dying, resurrection and life. As it is easy for us to be immersed and to emerge, so it is easy for God to bury the old man and reveal the new. This is done three times so that you may learn that all this is accomplished by the power of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That what has been said is not merely a simple conjecture, listen to Paul, who says, “We were buried with Him by baptism into death” (Rom 6:4). And again: “Our old man was crucified with Him” (Rom 6:6). And again: “We were united in the likeness of His death” (Rom 6:5).

By these words he showed that he would not have gone with them if he had not been commanded. Likewise, he would not have baptized them so readily if he had not heard them prophesying, for the Holy Spirit was upon them.

Therefore he said, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” At the same time he persuaded those present.

He also showed that, if the Holy Spirit had not been upon them, there would have been someone who would not have admitted them to Baptism.

Since man consists of two parts, soul and body, the cleansing is also twofold: bodiless for the bodiless, and bodily for the body. Water cleanses the body, and the Spirit seals the soul, so that we may draw near to God with the heart sprinkled and the body washed with pure water. Whoever is baptized with water but has not been made worthy of the Spirit does not possess perfect grace. And even if he is good by reason of his works, if he has not received the seal through water, he will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The saying is bold, but it is not mine, for Jesus has so determined. Receive proof of these words from divine Scripture. Cornelius was a righteous man, who was deemed worthy of an angelic vision. His prayers and alms formed a splendid pillar before God in heaven.

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.

Who can forbid, and so forth: from the fact that the Holy Spirit came down upon those gathered in the house of Cornelius, Peter draws an undoubted conclusion. There is no obstacle to their joining the Christian community through baptism, without any mediation of other Jewish cultic institutions. Just as no one could prevent the Holy Spirit from coming down upon them, so no one can prevent them from receiving baptism. Every doubt about the lawfulness of receiving them into the Church of Christ through baptism is removed by the Holy Spirit’s descent upon them before baptism. Peter considers baptism necessary even for those who have already received the Holy Spirit, according to the immutable commandment of the Lord (Mt 28:18).

“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.