The Holy Spirit’s Response
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10:44-48
These questions remain:
I saw the link between speaking in tongues and praising God. Is that always the case?
There appear to be two kinds of tongues. One is for praying and one is for praising God. Both are for communication. On the one hand in communication to the Father in worship. In that case the purpose appears to be always linked to giving praise to God. On the other hand there are tongues for the purpose of prayer. It can be either be prayer using a known language or prayer using an unknown language. That unknown language can either be “heavenly” or it can be a human language which the speaker has never intentionally learned. The purpose in this case is to act as a prophetic statement (or a word of knowledge) to impact the hearers. If it is a heavenly unknown language (which needs interpretation if it is in a corporate situation) then it is for the purpose of praying specific personal things on behalf of the recipient in prayer while the prayer knows nothing of what they are praying.
Allow me to share with you a testimony sent from a translator colleague in response to the Gems I wrote on tongues. Some time ago I listened to a testimony of a young woman from Nigeria, She visited a church in London where, during the service, someone started speaking in tongues. It was God speaking directly to her in tribal language in Nigeria. Of course nobody else understood thinking no doubt the person was just speaking in [heavenly] tongues.
Did Peter baptise them? But doesn’t it say somewhere that the Apostles didn’t baptise?
There is much debate as to whether Peter actually baptised Cornelius and his household. The words Luke wrote: [Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.”] don’t actually exclude the possibility that Peter baptised these people himself. It could mean that he ordered water for baptism to be brought, I.e. he called for water and then he baptised them. It could mean the command was directed to Cornelius and his household to be baptised. Or alternatively it could signify that the command was directed to a third unknown party from the readers point of view to baptise them. There is much debate among the commentators as to who actually did the baptising. a) Peter, b) Someone other than Peter, c) One of the Jewish brothers with Peter, or d) Phillip. Your guess is as good as mine but I believe Peter did it. Some day you will be able to ask him if it is still important to you.
As to the matter of whether the Scripture says that Apostles didn’t baptise I have collected for you the verses which give some insight on this matter. You can work it out for yourself as to what is being said. Or more importantly how we should interpret it. Should Apostles baptise or should they not, on the basis of these verses below? Are these verses prescriptive or descriptive?
- John 4:2 (though Jesus Himself didn’t baptize them—His disciples did).
- Acts 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
- Acts 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
- Acts 19:4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
- Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
- 1Cor 1:13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
- 1Cor 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
- 1Cor 1:15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.
- 1Cor 1:16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
I will leave you to come to your own conclusion but I think we can agree the Kingdom of God doesn’t rise or fall on the outcome of your conclusion.
Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.
Laura Hutabarat
You are a custom design. You are tailor-made. God planned you before you were born.
Max Lucado
Our ability to adapt to others and understand our differences is what makes humans so unique.
Paola Mayte Zaraz?a
Ask for a Towel not a Title.
Mathias Grehn