Who noticed the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles before Peter did in Acts 10?
The six believing Jews from Joppa who accompanied Peter—referred to as they of the circumcision who believed—noticed the Holy Spirit was in evidence on the Gentile listeners before Peter realized it. They were astonished that the Spirit fell on Cornelius and the Gentiles as Peter spoke.
In Acts chapter 10, while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word, namely Cornelius and the Gentiles. Verse 45 identifies “they of the circumcision who believed” as those who noticed. Les explains these were the six believing Jews Peter brought from Joppa, making seven with Peter. Even before Peter realized it, these Jews were noticing that the Holy Spirit was in evidence on the Gentile listeners. They were believers that Jesus was the Christ, and they were astonished at what happened.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Why were the Jewish believers with Peter astonished at Cornelius's house?
The Jewish believers accompanying Peter were astonished because they witnessed the Holy Spirit being poured out on Gentiles, something unprecedented. Until then salvation had been exclusively Jewish, so Gentile conversion was unexpected. Acts 10:45 records their astonishment at this evidence of Gentile salvation.
How did the Jews with Peter know the Gentiles had become believers?
The Holy Spirit came down and signified to those seven Jews that the Gentiles had become believers. This happened while Peter was still preaching, before any repentance or baptism, as the Gentiles evidenced salvation by faith alone, not yet Paul's gospel.
More Questions
Who first noticed the Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles in Acts 10?
The Jewish believers with Peter noticed the Holy Spirit on the Gentile listeners even before Peter realized it.
What happened to the circumcised Jewish believers with Peter in Acts 10:45 when the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles?
The six circumcised Jewish believers who came with Peter were astonished when they saw the Holy Spirit falling on the Gentile listeners, even though they already believed that Jesus is the Christ.