Acts 10:48Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” After he had defended himself, he then commanded them to be baptized, teaching them by the deed itself. So hateful did the Jews regard this matter.

Therefore he first defends himself, although the deeds spoke for themselves, and only then commands. “Then they asked him to remain with them for several days.” After this, naturally, he no longer hesitates and remains.

“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).

Since the ecclesiastical rule requires believers to be baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, one asks how Luke throughout this book affirms that baptism is given only in the name of Jesus Christ. Blessed Ambrose explains this by saying that the mystery is fulfilled in the unity of the name. Either you name Christ, and with Him God the Father, by whom the Son was anointed, and the Son Himself, who was anointed, and the Spirit, by whom, as you have indicated, He was anointed. For it is written: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 10:38). Or you speak of the Father, likewise naming both His Son and the Spirit, provided you understand this in your heart.

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.

What does it mean to be “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”? It means to be baptized according to the commandment and command of Christ.

Likewise, to be “baptized into Moses” meant to pass through the cloud and the sea under the guidance and leadership of Moses (1 Cor 10:2).

But Christ commanded the Apostles to baptize all in the name of the Holy Trinity (Mt 28:19). Therefore baptism according to Christ’s commandment, that is, in His name, is baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

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.

He commanded them to be baptized: evidently he did not baptize them himself, but one of those who came with him did. For performing the mystery of baptism was not an indispensable duty of the apostles themselves (1 Cor 1:17). In the name of Jesus Christ: see the note on Acts 2:38. They asked him, and so forth: he, of course, fulfilled their request and remained with them several days. As is clear from what follows in Acts 11:3, he ate food with them. Certainly during these several days Peter confirmed them in the Christian faith. The author of Acts reports nothing more about Cornelius. According to Church tradition, Cornelius later became bishop in Caesarea, preached Christ in various lands, and died as a martyr.

“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.