How did God save the Gentiles in Acts 10?
In Acts 10, God saved Gentiles by the Holy Spirit falling on all who heard Peter's message the moment they believed, before baptism or Law. They were not saved on the basis of repentance and baptism; after they had already received the Holy Spirit, Peter then agreed they should be baptized.
Les explains that while Peter was still speaking, before he finished his message, the Holy Spirit fell on all the Gentiles who heard the word. They all believed. They had not been baptized yet, and they had not even heard anything of the Law. The moment they believed Peter's message, the Holy Spirit came down. God had to prove to Peter and six other men—seven Jews—that He was doing something totally new: saving Gentiles, not on the basis of repentance and baptism, but the moment they heard the Word and believed. Peter was still tied to the Jewish economy, so after the fact he said they had to be baptized. In verse 47 he asked whether any man could forbid water that these should not be baptized, who had already received the Holy Spirit. Les teaches this is not a contradiction of chapter 2 but a change of events: Acts 10 is Gentiles, Acts 2 is Jews.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
More Questions
Why did the Holy Spirit fall on the Gentiles in Acts 10?
God made the Holy Spirit fall on the believing Gentiles in Acts 10 to prove to Peter and the six other Jewish men with him that He was doing something totally new: saving Gentiles.
Did the Gentiles in Acts 10 receive the Holy Spirit before they were baptized?
In Acts 10, the Gentile hearers had not yet been baptized, but the moment they believed Peter's message the Holy Spirit came down on them.
Had the Gentiles in Acts 10 been baptized before the Holy Spirit fell on them?
In Acts 10, the Gentile hearers had not been baptized and had not even heard anything of the Law, but the moment they believed Peter's message the Holy Spirit fell on them.