HOUSE OF CORNELIUS (Acts 10:1-47)
As a result of three visions given to him on a housetop in Joppa, Peter was constrained by the Spirit to go to Caesarea to the house of Cornelius. When he inquired of Cornelius why he had sent for him, Cornelius related to him how an angel had told him to send to Joppa and ask Peter to come to speak to them. As Peter began to preach,
The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word. And they of the circumcision which believed
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, be-
cause that on the Gentiles also was poured out the
gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak
with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered
Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should
not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost
as well as we? And he commanded them to be bap-
tized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44-48).
The Pentecostal would emphasize the fact that the reason the Jews with Peter knew that the Gentiles had received the BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT was that they heard the EVIDENCE of speaking with tongues; however, it is difficult for the Pentecostal to prove that this BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT was subsequent to an experience of SALVATION. The angel had promised Cornelius that Peter would tell them words by which he "and all thy house shall be saved," and as Peter preached, the Holy Spirit fell on them.
In his defense before the apostles at Jerusalem concerning his preaching to the Gentiles, Peter rehearsed for them the story of his visions and also the angel's visit with Cornelius:
And he showed us [Peter and the Jews with him]
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 thee
words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be
saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell
on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remem-
bered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John
indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave
them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on
the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could with-
stand God (Acts 11:13-17).
The most important difference between the experience of the BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT as received by those at the house of Cornelius, and the other recorded experiences, is that they received the experience before they were baptized in water. Therefore, it is difficult to establish a doctrinal position in which SALVATION and/or the BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT is/are imparted in water baptism. Also, it is difficult to point out a single method whereby one may receive the BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. As Oral Roberts says, "God uses a variety of methods to baptize individuals in the Holy Spirit."
The usual answer to these difficulties is that each of the recorded occurrences of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that does not conform to a preconceived doctrine is an unusual situation: the Samaritan's experience was unusual in
that they were a mixed race--Jew and Gentile; the situation at Cornelius' house was unusual since this was the beginning of salvation for the Gentiles; and the next recorded instance of the outpouring of the Spirit is unusual since it involves persons who knew only the baptism of John the Baptist.
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