Acts 10:44-48 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, (47) "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.”
In the third instance quoted above, the apostle Peter, due to the revelation that he had received from the Lord, was preaching the gospel to the gentiles for the first time. While he was preaching the salvation message he got to the point where those who heard him believed in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. At that instant they were born-again and baptized into Christ. The moment that that happened God the Father then acknowledged them as His children and baptized them in the Holy Spirit. We know that this is the sequence of events, because Peter explained this incident in more detail later when he spoke about it to the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 15:7-8). And then finally Peter and his fellow Jewish brethren baptised the newly converted gentiles in water.
Michael E.B. Maher
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