Was the salvation of the Gentiles in Acts 10 based on repentance and baptism or on hearing and believing?
The Gentiles in Acts 10 were saved by hearing and believing Peter's message, not by repentance and baptism. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard and believed. They had not yet been baptized. Peter then commanded water baptism afterward, because they had already received the Holy Spirit.
Les explains that these Gentiles 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. God had to prove to Peter and the 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, still tied to the Jewish economy, then said they must be baptized. This was after the fact, not before as in Acts 2, because they had already received the Holy Spirit. It is not a contradiction; it is 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
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.