“And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as It had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He had said, ‘John Baptized with water, but you will be Baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” Acts 11:15-17

The apostles and the believers in Judea heard that the Gentiles accepted Christ, so when Simon Peter goes to Jerusalem they ask him, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” They do not ask this question angrily. They simply want to know how a good Jewish Christian can eat Gentile food and be in community with Gentiles.

Peter answers mildly as to how this came about, with six believers (men or women) accompanying him to Cornelius’ home after an Angel told Cornelius to send for Simon called Peter who ‘will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be Saved.’ v. 14 Saved with full Christian salvation in this world and in the world to come.

Peter’s emphasis is on ‘when we believed’ in v. 17, for it is not whether they are circumcised but it is that they believe in Christ. The Holy Spirit falls into believer’s hearts. Just as this our Communion Table is open, as are our hearts, to any age person who believes. Who are we to hinder God? For only God gives the repentance that leads to Life in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.