The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit Part 4 of 4

by John Lowe
(Laurens SC, USA)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE AND SPECIAL NOTES:

{1] (Acts 11:12) The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry about their being Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon arrived at the home of the man who had sent for us.

{2] (Acts 11:14) He will tell you how you and all your household will be saved!

{3] Even the angel of Rev, 19:10; 22:9 refused such gestures of worship. Such strict monotheism was absolutely essential in a Gentile culture where humans were often revered as being related to divinities.

{4] (Acts 14:14-15) But when Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, "Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings like yourselves! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

{5] Such behavior would not be unusual for a Gentile like Cornelius. Prostrating one’s self at the feet of another was a common Near Eastern gesture of respect, and Cornelius surely identified Peter with his angelic vision, and may well have seen him as more than an ordinary man. Bowing as an act of reverence is particularly frequent in Matthew (See 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; 18:26; 20:20; Lk. 8:41; Acts 9:4; 22:7)

{6] No specific law forbade Jews from associating with Gentiles, but the purity regulations rendered close social interaction virtually impossible.

{7] For dazzling garments representing heavenly beings see Lk. 9:29; 24:4; Acts 1:10.

{8] (Lk. 8:21) Jesus replied, "My mother and my brothers are all those who hear the message of God and obey it."

{9] (Rom. 2:9-11) There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

{10] (Isa. 52:7) How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

{11] (Isa. 57:19) Then words of praise will be on their lips. May they have peace, both near and far, for I will heal them all," says the LORD.

{12] (Eph. 2:17) He has brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and to us Jews who were near.

{13] (26:26) And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!

{14] (Lk. 3:22) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.”

{15] (Lk. 4:18) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors,

{15] (Isaiah 61:1) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

{16] (Acts1:22) from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us into heaven. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus' resurrection."

{17] (Acts 5:30) The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by crucifying him.

{18] (Acts 17:18) He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, "This babbler has picked up some strange ideas." Others said, "He's pushing some foreign religion."

{19] (Acts 1:8) But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

{20] (eschatological) any system of doctrines concerning last, or final, matters, as death, the Judgment, the future state, etc.

{21] (Lk. 24:46-48) And he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day. With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.' You are witnesses of all these things.

{22] (Acts 8:17-18) Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people's heads, he offered money to buy this power.

{23] (Acts 19:6) Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.

{24] (Acts 11:17) And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?"

{25] (Acts 8:36) As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?"

{26] (Lk. 24:39) Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it's really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do!"

{27] (Acts 2:38) Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

{28] (Acts 8:19) The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

{29] (Acts 19:5) As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

{30] (Micah 6:8) No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

{31] (Ge. 12:1-3) Then the LORD told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you."

{32] (Acts 11:15) "Well, I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning.

{33] (Rom. 4:25) He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.