Does God purify the hearts of the Gentiles by faith or by becoming proselytes?
God purifies the hearts of Gentiles by faith, not by becoming proselytes of Judaism. Peter declares that God put no difference between Jewish believers and Gentile believers, giving them the Holy Spirit and purifying their hearts through faith, apart from the law or proselyte status.
Les explains that Peter refers to the Holy Spirit coming upon the Gentiles before they were baptized, showing that God knows the hearts and bears witness to them. God put no difference between Jewish and Gentile believers, purifying their hearts by faith, not by becoming proselytes of Judaism. Peter then warns against tempting God by putting a yoke on the Gentile disciples that neither the fathers nor the Jews were able to bear, because even Israel could not handle the law; it was severe bondage. Salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jews and Gentiles alike.
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.