To this end, Peter begins, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him, and works righteousness is accepted with Him. The Word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all). That Word, [I say] ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." (Acts 10:34-38)
Peter is preaching the message of salvation. At the time, the vision that he had just seen was being shared for the first time. That is, God is no respecter of persons. Each and every one of us will bow down and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, and indeed, Lord of all. That same Word -- JESUS -- says Peter was published throughout the countryside after the baptism John preached. (John 1:1-18) As we know, John's water baptism was repentance, a form of cleansing and purifying the outside. But as we also are aware, John always pointed to the Lamb of God who would come after him -- Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. (John 1:29)
Why do we equate Jesus with the Word that Peter spoke of? We look to the first chapter of John which states: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:4)
The Lamb of God was the promised Messiah, the prophesied Christ which was to come. God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) God coming forth as a mighty man to bring salvation to those without hope. (Isaiah 42:13) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) God Himself (who knew no sin ) became sin when He willingly became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
Peter continues, saying, "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him God raised up the their day and showed Him openly -- not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. To Him give all the prophets witness that through HIS NAME whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:33-43)
And His Name? JESUS.
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
Peter was sharing the good news gospel, walking those who were listening through the old testament (which many would have known) into this new dispensation of grace. The very same message that Peter (standing with the eleven) preached on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:36-47) Therein, those who gladly received the Word -- JESUS -- into their hearts repented and were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as a consequence, the first 3,000 souls were saved, and the new testament church established.
Thus, while Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word. (Acts 10:44) They of the circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter -- because that on the Gentiles also poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Was that sufficient for salvation? Was confessing our sins and magnifying God, and speaking in tongues enough to grant us eternal life? Keep reading.
Then said Peter, "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he COMMANDED them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:45-48)
Wait a second. At a time when the traditions of men and the religious culture are telling us that water baptism is no longer necessary, here is the Lord Himself who commanded Peter and the apostles commanding us to be baptized in the Name of the Lord.
Again, what was the reason for Peter coming? The scripture states -- "To hear all things that are commanded thee of God." (Acts 10:33) Thee -- us -- you and I to this day hearing all things that are commanded thee of God.
Note that Peter wasn't there by chance. He had already been with a certain man in Caesara called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band], who was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house. Note that Cornelius had also invited together his kinsmen and near friends for Peter coming. While they spoke, many more came together. At the time, Peter had just seen the vision whereby God showed him that he should not call any man common or unclean.
[For those who may not know, in that vision, there came a voice telling Peter to "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." And the voice spoke unto him a second time, stating, "What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common." (Acts 10:1-15)]
You see, God is not a respecter of persons. He loved each and every one of us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross. Repentance and water baptism in the Name of Jesus as the answer of a good conscience is the salvation message. Together, hand in hand and not one without the other.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?" 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." (Acts 2:36-38)
Not because we have to but because our heart desires to respond to His precious love -- the love that He declared for us by laying down His humanity on the cross for you and I.
"The like figure where unto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ ..." (I Peter 3:21)
The salvation message in full -- repenting and declaring Jesus to be Lord of all in our heart, and being water baptized in the Name of Jesus -- so that ye SHALL receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
And this very same message consistent throughout the book of Acts. Then, as Peter did, sharing the good news gospel of Jesus Christ to Cornelius and his household, the people who gladly received the Word could similarly understood the principles of the doctrine of Christ. (Hebrews 6:1-2)
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." (Hebrews 6:1-3)
And as the Lord revealed to both Peter and the apostles -- "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more but judge [this] rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way. I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. " (Romans 14:12-18)
Let him who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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