In Acts 10, Gentiles received the Holy Spirit while Peter was still speaking, as soon as they heard and believed the word — before baptism.
At Cornelius's house, Peter was still preaching when the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard the word (Acts 10:44). None had been baptized yet, and afterward Peter asked, 'Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?' (Acts 10:47). The Jewish believers with Peter were astonished and recognized the Spirit's arrival because the Gentiles spoke with tongues and magnified God.
Acts 10:44-47 — This passage directly records the moment the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles and shows that baptism followed afterward.
Acts 10:44 says, 'While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.' The people hearing were Gentiles, and verse 45 says the Jewish believers who came with Peter were astonished 'because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.' Verse 46 explains how they knew: 'For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.' Then verse 47 records Peter's response: 'Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?' Earlier, in Acts 2:38, Peter told the Jews, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.' Scripture thus shows a different order of events at Pentecost and at Cornelius's house.
Les Feldick emphasizes that in Acts 2, the order was repentance and baptism first, and then receiving the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10, that order was totally reversed. Peter had not even finished preaching, let alone baptized anyone or heard their repentance, when the Holy Spirit fell. Then, after the fact, Peter directed that the Gentiles be baptized.
In Acts 2:38, Peter told the Jews to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Les points out that the prerequisite was repentance and baptism, and that the message mentioned only the name of Jesus — not the death, burial, and resurrection. In Acts 10, Peter had not finished preaching when the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, and baptism came afterward. Les calls this a total reversal and explains that Acts is a transitional book, moving from the Judaic system of law toward God dealing with the whole race in grace.
The Bible says the Jewish believers heard the Gentiles speak with tongues and magnify God. Les explains that the six believing Jews who came with Peter from Joppa were already believers that Jesus was the Christ, but they were utterly astonished that Gentiles were hearing a salvation message and believing it. God gave these Gentile believers the ability to speak in other languages to prove to the seven Jewish witnesses that He was doing something totally different — saving Gentiles directly upon hearing and believing the word.
After seeing that the Gentiles had already received the Holy Spirit, Peter said in Acts 10:47, 'Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?' Les comments that Peter did this 'after the fact.' The Holy Spirit was not given because they were baptized; rather, they were baptized because the Spirit had already been poured out on them.
The Acts 2 prerequisite: repentance and baptism first
Les explains that in Acts 2:38, repentance and baptism were the prerequisites for receiving the Holy Spirit, and that message mentions only the name of Jesus — not the cross.
Total reversal in Acts 10
Les contrasts Acts 2 with Acts 10, showing that in the Gentile house the Spirit came before baptism and even before Peter finished preaching, and baptism followed after the fact.
Jewish believers astonished
Les stresses that the Jewish believers with Peter were astonished because the Holy Spirit was poured out on Gentiles, something they had not expected.
Holy Spirit fell while Peter spoke
Les notes that the Holy Spirit fell on 'all them who heard the word' while Peter was still speaking, and the six believing Jews with him were astonished.
The setting in Cornelius's house
Les sets the scene: Peter was in the house of Cornelius, a Roman officer, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and the Spirit fell on that house full of Gentiles.
God's proof to the seven Jews
Les says God proved to the seven Jewish witnesses that He was doing something totally new by making these Gentiles speak in other languages.
How the Jews knew
Les explains the Jewish believers knew the Spirit had been given because they heard the Gentiles speaking in tongues and magnifying God.
Peter still preaching when the Spirit fell
Les points out that the house contained only Gentiles except for a few Jews, and that while Peter was preaching the Spirit fell on all who heard.
Acts 10:44: While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
This records the exact moment the Holy Spirit came on the Gentile listeners.
Acts 10:45: 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.
Shows the Jewish believers' astonishment that Gentiles received the Spirit.
Acts 10:46: For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Explains how the Jews knew the Spirit had fallen.
Acts 10:47: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Shows Peter called for baptism after the Spirit had already been given.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Establishes the earlier order for Jewish believers in Acts 2.
Before. According to Acts 10:44-48, the Holy Spirit fell on them while Peter was still speaking, and only afterward did Peter say they should be baptized. He asked, 'Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?'
Les teaches that God did this to prove to the seven Jewish believers with Peter that He was doing something entirely new — saving Gentiles. The Jewish believers heard them speak with tongues and magnify God, and they were astonished because the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: What Must I Do to Be Saved? Acts 2 vs. Acts 16 Explained