Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, ³⁵but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. ³⁶"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) ³⁷you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. ³⁸"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. ³⁹"We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross (tree, wood or timber, 3586 Gk. xulon). ⁴⁰"God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, ⁴¹not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴²"And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³"Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." ⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷"Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" ⁴⁸And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days (Ac. 10:34-48, NASB; emphasis added).

The disciples of Messiah were firsthand witnesses to the fact that he fulfilled those aspects of the OT prophecies, which proved Christ was the one sent to provide mankind with reconciliation to the Father (Mt. 5:17). In addition, the disciples were given certain gifts such as healing, in order to add authority to what they were teaching about Christ (Ac. 5:15; 19:11-12) and the revelation that salvation was available to gentiles.

Return to Questions