"And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"
Today's quote relates how when Peter returned to Jerusalem, the Jews in the Church challenged him because he had eaten with the Gentiles, and act which by Hebrew law, was considered unclean and in violation of Mosaic law. Peter then explained to them the vision whereby God had sent him to the house of Cornelius.
In verse thirteen and fourteen of today's quote, in part, Peter verified that Cornelius clearly defined God's purpose for calling on him by quoting God's instructions: "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved."
Peter's divine mission was to go to Cornelius and tell him, "words", whereby he and all his house should be saved."
God's plan of salvation was preached by Peter, and during that sermon, Cornelius and those in his house were saved AND they received the Holy Ghost.
Peter said, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." (This happened during the sermon, it did not occur after a water baptism following the sermon) "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;" (God had ALREADY given them the "gift" before the sermon was over.)
Peter very clearly demonstrated that the baptism whereby salvation and the Holy Ghost came was the baptism of the Holy Ghost as provided by Jesus Christ Himself. The implied baptism was NOT a baptism into water. Peter clearly defined that difference when he referred to he baptism of John the Baptist, "John indeed baptized with WATER; but ye shall be baptized with the HOLY GHOST."
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the baptism into Jesus Christ that is intended in Galatians 3:26-27: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (The reason we are children of God "by faith" not because we are baptized into water, it is because we are baptized INTO JESUS CHRIST.)
One becomes a child of God by being baptized into Jesus Christ by the overcoming of the Holy Ghost. Water baptism has nothing to do with the eternal salvation of the soul.~
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