Acts 10:45

45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,

Acts 10:45 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 10:45

And they of the circumcision which believed
Or "of the Jews that believed", as the Ethiopic version renders it; the circumcised Jews who believed in Jesus Christ:

were astonished, as many as came with Peter;
who were six brethren, as appears from ( Acts 11:12 ) these were amazed,

because that on the Gentiles also was poured out of the gift of the
Holy Ghost;
which they before thought was peculiar to the Jews; and this was according to their former notions, and the sentiments of the whole nation, that the Shekinah does not dwell without the land, and only in the land of Israel F15; yea, they sometimes say, only upon the families in Israel, whose genealogies are clear F16: the same they say of prophecy F17, which is one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and was one of those which were now bestowed. They own, that before the giving of the law, the Holy Ghost was among the Gentiles, but from that time ceased to be among them F18: hence even these believing Jews wonder at the pouring it forth upon them; which they needed not, had they known that the legal dispensation was now at an end, and the Gospel dispensation had taken place; in which it had been foretold the Spirit should be poured forth on the dry ground of the Gentiles.


FOOTNOTES:

F15 Zohar in Gen. fol. 118. 4. & in Exod. fol. 2. 3. & 70. 2. Maimon. Kiddush Hachodesh, c. 4. sect. 12. & Jarchi in Jonah i. 3.
F16 T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 70. 2.
F17 Zohar in Gen. fol. 128. 4.
F18 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 21. p. 59.

Acts 10:45 In-Context

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,
46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said,
47 "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.