Two other events in Caesarea (Acts 10:1–48 and Acts 11:1–30) and in Ephesus (Acts 11:1–30) also point to a comparable moment of a special breakthrough of God’s Word and Spirit to the non-Jews. When Peter is preaching Christ in Caesarea with Cornelius, the Holy Spirit fell on them, and the miracle of Pentecost repeats itself. They speak in tongues and are extolling God (Acts 10:44–48). After that they were baptized. It becomes clear that the Spirit had already done some preparatory work with Cornelius beforehand.
When Peter is preaching Christ in the house of Cornelius, the Spirit falls on the listeners. He descended (epi-petomai). The Jewish believers who were there with Peter see, to their astonishment, that the gift of the Holy Spirit is poured out (ek-cheo) on these heathen people! For they hear them speak in strange tongues and praise God (Acts 10:44–46).
When Peter later explains these events in Jerusalem and defends the baptism of Cornelius and those who were with him, he says the Spirit fell on them (epi-petomai), as happened to us in the beginning. Peter thinks back to what Jesus had promised: for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now
(Acts 1:5). God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ
(Acts 11:17).
Two points of attention:
In the house of Cornelius, it becomes Pentecost with the same signs as on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.
The receiving of the Spirit is equal to the baptism with the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit.
After looking at Acts 10:1 – 11:30 we could say that the people in Samaria were also filled with the Spirit, though Luke does not mention the special signs of Pentecost. We ought to therefore leave that in the middle.
Paul also experiences a similar Pentecost miracle in Ephesus: a group of twelve recently converted Christians who knew only the baptism of John (Acts 19:2–7). They were—so to speak—stuck at the forerunner of Jesus. When Paul calls them to believe in Jesus, they let themselves be baptized in Jesus’ name. After the laying on of hands, the Spirit descends on them (erchomai epi). They begin to prophesy and to speak in tongues. A repeat of the Pentecost miracle in Jerusalem in this small group in Ephesus. There in Ephesus, this is also remarkable in connection with the breakthrough of the kingdom under the heathens, a new junction between Jerusalem via Samaria to Rome (compare the travel route in Acts 1:8).
In Samaria they receive the Holy Spirit after the prayer of the apostles. We do not read that they now also speak in other tongues and prophesy. Luke does not mention this, while he did so for Caesarea and Ephesus. So, we must leave this alone for now. It surely could have happened, as Simon saw the Spirit fell on them. That refers to something that must have been immediately visible.
They received the Holy Spirit
was obviously immediately clear and visible. Simon is also present at that church meeting and sees how the Holy Spirit is given and that they are filled with the Spirit (Acts 8:18). The verb to give
(didomai) especially accentuates the gift of the Spirit. Subsequently, Simon is especially interested in the magical
laying on of hands and would like to be able to do that himself. But what did Simon see in the people themselves?
Does he perhaps see special gifts, expressions, and signs such as on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem? We do not know as Luke does not tell us that! In any case, it will be with powers and gifts whereby the believers can show that they are enthusiastic for the Lord and want to live together: loving one another, praising God, and serving the neighbour. Visible fruits of the Spirit are coming out! So, it becomes clear that the Spirit is visibly at work in everyone; the Spirit lives in the congregation.
In the book of Acts, we see that, as a rule, the people receive the Spirit and his gifts when they come to faith and are baptized. In that connection there is this order: faith – baptism – Spirit. With Cornelius, the Spirit comes first. First there is the outpouring of the Spirit and then baptism (Acts 10:44–48). In Samaria, it is an exception to the rule and that marks the unique situation.
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,