Acts 11:15

Listen to Acts 11:15
15 As I began to speak, 1the Holy Spirit fell on them 2just as on us at the beginning.

Acts 11:15 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 11:15

And as I began to speak
, That is, whilst he was speaking; the word "begin" with Luke, both, in his Gospel and in this history, is used not to denote the time or order of any action, but the thing itself; as in ( Luke 4:21 ) ( 20:9 ) ( Acts 1:1 ) for otherwise it was towards the close, and not at the beginning of his discourse, that what follows happened:

the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning;
of our ministry, since the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ; meaning on the day of Pentecost, and that the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and those that were with him, in a like visible form, and in the same kind of gifts, as speaking with tongues, as on them.

Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now

Acts 11:15 In-Context

13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household. ’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ’
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way? ”

Cross References 2

  • 1. 11:15 ch. 10:44
  • 2. 11:15 ch. 2:4
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025