Yes — the Jewish believers were astonished because God poured out the Holy Spirit on Gentiles for the first time.
They had never before seen a Gentile come to salvation by hearing and believing the gospel. Even ten years after Pentecost, these believing Jewish men were shocked because God was doing something totally new — turning to the Gentiles. God proved the new work by causing the Gentiles to speak in languages they had not learned.
Acts 10:44 — This verse shows the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles while Peter was still preaching, before anyone was baptized.
Acts 10:45 — This verse explicitly records that the believing Jews with Peter were astonished when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles.
Acts 10:46 — This verse reveals the evidence they saw and heard — the Gentiles speaking with tongues and magnifying God.
In Acts 10:44, while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Ghost fell on all the Gentiles who heard the word. Then Acts 10:45 says that the Jewish believers who came with Peter were astonished, 'because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.' The next verse shows how they knew: 'For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.' Later, after Peter returned to Jerusalem, Acts 11:2–3 records that 'they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.' These scriptures show that the early Jewish believers saw the Gentile salvation as something completely unexpected.
Les Feldick explains that Peter and the other eleven apostles were operating only on what God had revealed through the Old Testament program. The Church Age was a secret held in the mind of God, so none of them had any idea that God would turn to the Gentiles for an undetermined period of time. As Les says, 'Peter has no concept of God turning to the Gentiles for 1900 and some years. He had no idea of that. None of them do, and it wasn't their fault.' Even ten years after Pentecost, the Jewish believers were still thinking in Jewish terms. When Peter went to Cornelius's house, he took six believing Jews with him, making seven witnesses. These men were true believers that Jesus was the Christ, but they were astonished when the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles. Les's explanation is that 'it had never happened before. They'd never seen Gentiles come to a knowledge of salvation.' God proved to these seven Jews that He was doing something totally new by causing the Gentiles to speak with other languages. The Jewish believers heard them speak with tongues and magnify God, and that demonstrated that God was now saving Gentiles.
Les Feldick emphasizes that up to this point God was dealing only with the nation of Israel. Peter and the other eleven apostles operated only on the Old Testament program, and God had not revealed that He would turn to the Gentiles. So when the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household, these believing Jews had no category for it — it was completely new. As Les says, 'It had never happened before. They'd never seen Gentiles come to a knowledge of salvation.'
Acts 10:46 says, 'For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.' Les teaches that God used this supernatural gift of languages to prove to Peter and the six Jewish men with him that He was doing something totally different. The Jews heard the Gentiles speaking in other languages and magnifying God, and that is how they knew the Holy Spirit had been poured out on them.
Les repeatedly points out that Peter took six believing Jews with him, making a total of seven. God used these seven men as witnesses to the brand-new work of Gentile salvation. When the Holy Spirit fell and the Gentiles spoke in languages, God proved to these seven Jews that He was saving Gentiles — 'something totally new.'
Scripture records that when Peter returned to Jerusalem, 'they that were of the circumcision contended with him' (Acts 11:2), saying, 'Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them' (Acts 11:3). This reaction from Jewish believers shows how unprecedented the inclusion of Gentiles was, even after the events at Cornelius's house.
The Secret Hidden in God's Mind
Les explains that the Church Age was a secret held in the mind of God, so Peter and the other eleven operated only on Old Testament revelation and had no idea God would turn to the Gentiles.
Seven Jewish Believers Utterly Astonished
Les shows that Peter and the six believing Jews with him were utterly astonished that Gentiles were hearing a salvation message and believing it; God proved the new work by making the Gentiles speak in other languages.
It Had Never Happened Before
Even ten years after Pentecost, Jewish believers were astonished that Gentiles could be saved because they had never seen it happen before; proselytes like the Ethiopian eunuch had religion but not salvation.
The Seven Witnesses See the Spirit Fall
The six believing Jews with Peter noticed the Holy Spirit in evidence on the Gentile listeners and were astonished when the Spirit fell.
A Never-Before-Seen Shock
Gentile salvation was shocking to these believing Jews because nothing like it had ever happened before; God used the gift of languages to make the new work undeniable.
Proof Through Speaking in Tongues
The Jewish believers knew the Holy Spirit had come because they heard the Gentiles speak with tongues and magnify God — proof that God was doing what they thought impossible: saving Gentiles.
God Doing Something Totally New
The Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles before baptism and before any instruction in the Law, and God used the seven Jewish witnesses to show that He was doing something totally new — saving Gentiles.
The Order Changed from Acts 2 to Acts 10
Les contrasts Acts 2, where Jews repented, were baptized, and received the Spirit, with Acts 10, where the Spirit fell on Gentiles while Peter was still speaking — before baptism.
Acts 10:44: While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
This records the moment the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles while Peter was speaking.
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.
This is the key verse showing the Jewish believers' astonishment at the Spirit being poured out on Gentiles.
Acts 10:46: For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
This explains how the Jewish believers recognized that the Holy Spirit had come upon the Gentiles.
Acts 11:2: And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
This shows the Jewish believers' continuing objection after Peter returned.
Acts 11:3: Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
This records the specific accusation against Peter for associating with uncircumcised Gentiles.
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.
This shows the earlier order for Jewish believers — repent, be baptized, then receive the Holy Spirit — which contrasts with what happened in Acts 10.
Yes. Acts 10:45 calls them 'they of the circumcision which believed,' and Les emphasizes that they, along with Peter, had recognized that Jesus was the Christ.
According to Les, no. This was the first time. The Jewish believers were astonished because it had never happened before; they had never seen Gentiles come to a knowledge of salvation.
Les teaches that God used speaking in other languages as proof to Peter and the six Jewish men with him. They heard the Gentiles magnify God, and that convinced them God was saving Gentiles.
In Acts 2, Peter told Jewish hearers to repent and be baptized, and then they would receive the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10, the Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles while Peter was still speaking—before they were baptized.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Church Age Is Hidden in the Old Testament