Acts 11:4-17

Peter’s defense of his conduct 11:4-17

Luke recorded Peter’s retelling of these events to his critics to impress the significance of this incident on his readers further. Peter stressed particularly God’s initiative (vv. Acts 11:8-9; Acts 11:12; Acts 11:15-17 a) and his own inability to withstand God (Acts 11:17 b).

Cornelius and his household were not saved from God’s wrath until they heard and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ that Peter proclaimed to them (Acts 11:14; cf. Acts 10:43).

Peter was speaking of the day of Pentecost when he referred to "the beginning" of the church (Acts 11:15; cf. Acts 2:4). Clearly the baptism of the Holy Spirit is what he referred to (Acts 11:16). Peter justified his actions in Caesarea by appealing to what God had done (Acts 11:17 a). Note that Peter identified believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only necessary prerequisite to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:17 a). Spirit baptism was not an experience subsequent to salvation for Cornelius and his household but something that happened simultaneously with salvation.

"Peter’s defense did not rest on what he himself did, but on what God did. God had made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, so how could Peter?" [Note: Toussaint, "Acts," p. 382.]