¹⁷ “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” ¹⁸When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

Peter drives the point home! The believers in Jerusalem understood what happened at Pentecost as a “gift” that God had given them. And it came “after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is what happened to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ home as well. Even though Peter was an apostle, quite well respected by all, he had no right to disagree with God! He was not exercising authority as though he were a pope, the vicar of Christ, as some today would believe him to have been. He and the other apostles did not create the doctrine that Gentiles were to be included in the Christian movement. These “decisions” were not theirs to make. Truth comes from God, and God alone! The apostles’ role was to testify to what they saw and heard (Acts 1:8). And that is what Peter was doing. How could he do otherwise? To do or say anything else would be to stand in the way of God; woe to the man who would do so.

The gospel message is intended for Jews and non-Jews alike. The Lord was opening the floodgates of redemption. The movement could not be controlled by mere men, whether by the apostles or the legalists in Jerusalem who wanted to hold onto the customs of the Mosaic Law. Too many times, Christians have wanted to control the Holy Spirit. We either resist Him, grieve Him, deny Him, or make claims on Him. But, as Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

Of course, the Lord was speaking of being born again, the conversion of a person from death into new life in Christ. This same “new birth” is now extended to the Gentiles, and that was a complete surprise to the Jewish believers. All that was required was repentance, not keeping the law. This was the gift of the Holy Spirit—the gift of repentance and life.

The strong reaction of those who heard, which we assume included “the apostles and the brethren” and “those who were circumcised” (Acts 11:1–2), is implied by their final response: after hearing Peter’s explanation, “they quieted down.” Their objections had been quelled, but not just with reluctant acceptance. They rejoiced by glorifying God, speaking of how great and amazing God is that He was extending the gift to all people.

Lord, help me not to hoard the gift of eternal life for my own enjoyment, but to share the good news widely so that others may enjoy the gift as well.