Acts 10:43,44 - The Holy Spirit came on all who heard

10:43

“To Him all the prophets bear witness”. The Old Testament is pointing forward to Jesus. “That everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name”. In most of the prophets we find an awful lot of condemnation of Israel (and other nations), a judgement upon sin, but then we also find promises of restoration for Israel, and for other nations. We need forgiveness, Jesus died on the cross in order to gain forgiveness for us. And this forgiveness comes only through believing in His name.

10:44

So far we have had God taking the initiative in sending an angel to Cornelius, and Peter receiving the vision of the unclean food. Then we had Cornelius and Peter both responding obediently to the visions from God. Now we see God acting directly again. This sort of pattern is how things often work. We receive revelation from God, this does not need to be a vision or something dramatic like that. It will normally be through His word, but may sometimes involve a vision. Then we get on with implementing the word, and at some point during our obedience God will intervene directly again. (God is actually involved at all stage and continually, but sometimes it is obvious!). Indeed, if God does not intervene directly nothing lasting will happen. Suppose the Holy Spirit had not fallen on Cornelius and his relatives and friend? If we preach or evangelise or teach, unless the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives we will have achieved nothing much.