In the book of Acts are several accounts of sinners and their salvation from sin. One such group is described as sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, greedy, drunkards, revilers, swindlers – and the apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, “and such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11). The conversion of the Corinthians is recorded in Acts 18:8

The person whose conversion we are examining now was a man named Cornelius. He was not a sinner like the Corinthians – but nonetheless he was a sinner: he needed to hear “a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:14). We may conclude that Cornelius was not sexually immoral, or a swindler, etc. – but we MUST conclude that he was a sinner, because only sinners need to be saved (Romans 6:23).

As we study this conversion, several things come into view. Probably most outstanding is the presence of Almighty God. Some think that the direct intervention of God was necessary for the salvation of Cornelius. With appearances by an angel and the Holy Spirit, and then the Holy Spirit falling on all who heard the word, many are sure that salvation had happened, without a “message” of salvation. For their benefit let us look at the record more closely.

The Miraculous Occurrences in this Account

The first was in Acts 10:1-8. We meet a God-fearing man named Cornelius, and read of the vision of an angel which he saw at about nine o’clock in the morning. He was terrified, but the angel’s words calmed him, and the angel’s instruction – go get Simon – motivated him. He called three “from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa”. This is the first miracle, and things are looking good – but Cornelius is still a sinner. The first miracle told the sinner where to find a preacher.

At about midday of the next day, Peter went upon the housetop to pray; but a great sheet was let down, containing “all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘By no means Lord, for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’” Peter was told three times, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” So, this second miracle was to assure Peter that Gentiles were “clean”, in the sight of God; in other words, to tell the preacher where to find an eligible sinner, Acts 10:9-16. But Cornelius is still a lost sinner.

The third episode involves Cornelius’ messengers coming to Peter, their journey back to Caesarea and the beginning of Peter’s preaching. Both tell of their obedience to the visions. Cornelius concludes his remarks with the strong statement, “Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord” (:33). In compliance with Cornelius’ request, Peter began to preach about Jesus, testifying of His ministry and His death and His resurrection. As he spoke ”the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word” (:44). There have been now, three (count ‘em, three) miracles recorded in the conversion of Cornelius. But, no salvation.

It may be objected that we make an unsupported assertion that no salvation has accompanied these miraculous occurrences; we do not. There is complete support for the conclusion in the command voiced by Peter immediately after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (verses 47, 48).

The Command Voiced by Peter

Consider Peter’s statement:
First of all, it was a command – not an option or some kind of suggestion, not a “Christian responsibility” because these people were not Christians at this time. If they wanted to be saved, and this was the direction of the message of Simon Peter (11:14), then they must obey this command.

Then, it was a command to be baptized. What had happened to the household of Cornelius (“the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles”) was the choice of God, not of man – but now Peter is calling for the choice of man to be exercised...

It was a command to be baptized in water. Since baptism is commanded, then the element in which one is to be immersed is also a matter of command – and Peter removes that from doubt by asking, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing ...”. The Ethiopian had made this plain by his question in Acts 8:36, “... See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

Finally, it was a baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ”. The man speaking to Cornelius and his household on this occasion had been the preacher on the day of Pentecost. On that day, having presented the evidence that the “Jesus” they had crucified was indeed the son of God, he summed it up saying “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Not unexpectedly, “when they heard this they were cut to the heart” and asked what they could do. Peter’s answer was, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ..” (Acts 2:37, 38). The name of Jesus Christ, “for the forgiveness of your sins”.

This is how we know that no salvation had been received by Cornelius and his household even though miraculous things had happened all around them: Peter’s command that they be baptized in water which is baptism in the name of Christ for the remission of sins. Why give such a command, if their sins had already been forgiven?

Infant Baptism

What about all those children? What children? Some are sure that there must have been children baptized in the households of the Philippian Jailor, and Lydia, and Cornelius – after all, aren’t there children in all households? There are problems associated with the idea of there being infants in these households.

Such as, the description of the people who obeyed the gospel in Samaria, Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

WHEN were they baptized? “When they BELIEVED”. = No infants, because they could not believe.

WHO was baptized? “Men and women”.= No infants, but rather men and women.

And then, Jesus (Matthew 7:21), answering the question ‘who will enter the kingdom of heaven’, by saying “the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”. No babies in that answer.

Why the Holy Spirit Fell on the Gentiles in Acts 10, 11

“Holy Spirit baptism”is thought to be the baptism of salvation in some circles, even though it is promised, but never commanded, and administered only by Jesus (John 1:33).

When Peter got back to Jerusalem “the circumcision party” (Acts 11:2) criticized him for his association with Gentiles. Peter explained what had happened, as recorded in Acts 10, recounting the miraculous activities, and summed up in Acts 11:15, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.” His critics, hearing these things, “fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life’” (Acts 11:18). The third miraculous occurrence in the conversion of Cornelius was God’s testimony that the gospel is for all. Later, Peter will emphasize this by saying that “God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:8, 9).

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not always for the same purpose: on the day of Pentecost it was to endow the apostles with power, Acts 1:8, 2:4; in the account we have just read it was to indicate the willingness of God for all to be saved, Acts 10, 11.

Baptism in the name of Christ, the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4, in every instance was for forgiveness, to bestow the remission of sins, Acts 2:38, 3:19.. If you are a lost soul, Holy Spirit baptism is nowhere promised to you; but baptism in water in the name of Christ for the remission of sins, is commanded.