Why did the Holy Spirit fall on the Gentiles while Peter was still preaching?
The Holy Spirit fell because the Gentiles had become believers while Peter was still preaching; they believed his word, and the Spirit manifested their faith. This occurred before repentance or baptism was mentioned, showing Gentiles could be saved without adhering to Judaism’s ritual or proselytizing, which astonished the Jewish believers.
Les explains that while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word because they had become believers—they had believed what Peter was saying. Peter had spoken of remission of sins through His Name to whosoever believes, and he had not yet said anything about repenting or baptizing. The Spirit therefore manifested their faith. Les points out that the Jews of the circumcision who believed were astonished; six Jews had gone with Peter, making seven. If Gentiles had been saved for the last six, seven, or eight years, they would not be astonished, but this was the first instance. It was astonishing that Gentiles could be saved without adhering to the ritual of Judaism and proselytizing. Peter then had them baptized, asking whether any man could forbid water for those who had received the Holy Spirit.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
More Questions
What did Peter preach to the Gentiles before the Holy Spirit fell in Acts 10?
Peter's preaching to the Gentiles in Acts 10 was about who Jesus was, what had happened to Him, and how He had risen from the dead.