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4worldlovers: In the last article, we discussed the timeline of Jesus and the physical dealings that were involved. Now we will move on to the time of the Apostles.

Recall that the Apostles received the Holy Spirit back in Acts 2 because Jesus had promised this to them. Because God was still dealing with the Jews during this timeline, you will notice that the dealings of the Holy Spirit were primarily physical because the Jews were a physically inclined people. Such dealings include the laying of hands, speaking in tongues, and water baptism.

During the time of the Apostles, however, you will notice the beginnings of a transition from Jew to Christian. When God deals with non-Jewish it is spiritual and as such, there is a switch from physical to spiritual dealings.

Acts 10:43-48 “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. “

Peter speaks about believing in Jesus Christ and once a person does, they receive forgiveness of sins. This faith-only salvation plan is spiritual. Now, if we look back to verse 1, we see who Peter is speaking to when he says this, an Italian man or a non-Jew. In this case, when the Holy Spirit is given to non-Jews, it will not come through something physical (laying of hands, speaking of tongues, water baptism, etc) but through a spiritual means, by simply having faith, and we see this in verse 44.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”

Here we see that for the non-Jews, the Holy Spirit was given to them when they believed in Jesus Christ. Nothing physical here. The physical signs came after they received the Holy Spirit.

“And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The Jews were surprised because the Gentiles also received the Holy Spirit. Here we see another transition from Jew to non-Jew.

“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?“

Notice that physical things came after receiving the Holy Spirit. This is different from Acts 2, where the Jews received the Holy Spirit through physical means (laying of hands, water baptism, speaking in tongues). Another example of the gradual transition from Jew to non-Jew. We know it is gradual because the Jews were not cut off right away due to God’s mercy, so God was still primarily dealing with the Jews during this time with hints of non-Jew.