Thus, what happened at the house of Cornelius does not fit the modern Pentecostal doctrine and gives no support to it at all. In fact, to make what happened there equivalent to what supposedly happens to charismatics today is to …
• Devaluate the true (Linguists, e.g., can see that if what is happening today is what happened then, there was nothing to that either!)
• Robs the event of its vital and unique significance.
Did Cornelius receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Why some believe Cornelius was baptized in Holy Spirit:
• Peter said the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius “just as” He did on the apostles on Pentecost. 11:15 (Also 15:8)
• It reminded Peter of Holy Spirit baptism. 11:16
• Peter said Cornelius received the “same gift” (“like gift” KJV, ASV) as the apostles did. 11:17
• This was necessary to the fulfillment of Joel 2:28 (Ac. 2:17) — “all flesh.”
But, did Cornelius receive Holy Spirit baptism? Consider the following...
? Holy Spirit baptism was for special witnesses (give them power to carry out their mission) - Ac. 1:4-5,8.
Cornelius was not one of those witnesses. Ac. 10:39-41
? Holy Spirit baptism enabled to know all truth - Ac. 1:4,5 (“which you heard of from me”) ... Jn 16:13.
Cornelius still needed teaching after the Holy Spirit fell on Him. 11:14,15
? Holy Spirit baptism gave power to apostles that Cornelius did not have. Ac. 1:4,5...8. They could speak in tongues, Ac. 2:4, 1Co. 14:18, heal, Ac 3, raise the dead, Ac 20:9,10, cast out spirits, Ac 16:16-18, survive the bite of deadly serpents, Ac. 28:3-5, prophesy, Rev. 1:3, had the word of wisdom, 2Pt. 3:15, 1Co. 2:6,7, the word of knowledge, Eph. 3:3-5, 1Co. 2:12,13.
The only thing it is said Cornelius could do was speak in tongues. If Cornelius received what the apostles received (i.e., if “same gift,” 11:17 [“like gift” KJV, ASV] = Holy Spirit baptism apostles received), should he not be able to do what they did?
? “Baptism” connotes overwhelmingness. “Holy Spirit” is put by metonymy of cause for effect, i.e., the power the Holy Spirit would give these men. Thus, they would be overwhelmed with power. They were empowered to reveal the truth, all of it, Jn. 16:13. Their miracle working power served to identify them as apostles, 2Co. 12:13. Only they had the power to pass on the power to work miracles, Ac. 8:14-18. None other had their power. None other were “baptized” in the Holy Spirit.

Suggestion: “Just as” at the beginning (11:15) = in the same manner, i.e., without intervention of human hands. In the time intervening between Pentecost and now, anyone other than the apostles who received the Holy Spirit’s power to do supernatural deeds did so by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, Ac. 8:14-18. This is why this event reminded Peter of baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was administered by Christ, not by man, Mt. 3:11. And this is Peter’s argument when justifying his conduct before his Jewish brethren back in Jerusalem: It was God’s choice, not Peter’s. Note the emphasis on this in 11:17,18; 15:7-10.

Note: those who advocate that Cornelius was baptized in the Holy Spirit make “just as at beginning” refer to MEASURE; but MANNER meets all the demands of the context and avoids the incongruities mentioned above if Cornelius received Holy Spirit baptism.
Cornelius received “the same gift as He gave to us”

Compare Peter’s conclusions 10:34,35...47; 11:17, and the Jewish brethren at Jerusalem’s conclusions, 11:18. Did they not conclude the same thing?
Complete the following parallel between 11:17 with 11:18.

Acts 11:17 -----------------------Acts 11:18
“God therefore gave”--------- “God has granted”
“to them” -------------------------“to the Gentiles”
“the same”---------------------- “also”
“gift” “-------------------------"____________________”

Thus interpreted, the “same gift” refers to salvation by faith in Christ, which is the point of the whole series of events. Compare 15:7b,9,11.
Note: those who believe Cornelius received Holy Spirit baptism maintain “same gift” refers to Holy Spirit baptism. But if “same gift” refers to salvation by faith in Christ it meets all the demands of the text and avoids the incongruities of having Cornelius baptized with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was deeply involved in the conversion of Cornelius and his friends. He sent Peter and He fell on the Gentiles, and it is possible He caused the visions that Cornelius and Peter saw. Let no one rob you of your prize by bringing these historical events down to the level of the subjective, varied, and emotional experiences of today. The conversion of Cornelius is important to you. The case of Cornelius means YOU and I can be saved! It means we can be saved regardless of color, race, or culture! It means we can be saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ! So...Rom 15:8…13!


Quick Quiz
Choose all correct answers in the following.

1. The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household
a. To save them
b. To remove their depraved nature
c. To assure them they were saved
d. To show that it was God’s will that Gentiles could be saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ

2. “Just as upon us at the beginning” (Ac. 11:15)
a. Can refer to manner rather than measure
b. Points to the unique fact that these two cases (apostles, Cornelius) are the only ones in which men received supernatural power from the Holy Spirit without the intervention of human hands from the day of Pentecost until this event
c. Indicated it was God’s choice the Gentiles should receive the gospel, not Peter’s, or any other man (Ac. 15:7,8)
d. Is not referring to “baptism” in the Holy Spirit, but to how men (specific men, not all men) received supernatural power from the Holy Spirit.

3. “The same gift as He gave to us” refers to
a. Holy Spirit baptism
b. Salvation through faith in the gospel of Christ
c. Apostleship
d. Salvation for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews

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