The first Gentile to become a Christian was Cornelius, a Roman centurion, who was “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway”. He also knew of Jesus’ teaching and works, as Peter said to him: “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) that word, I say, ye know... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him”. Peter then told Cornelius of the death and resurrection of Christ and how Jesus was ordained to be the Judge of the living and the dead, and also “that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins”.
While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and the rest of his household. This clear confirmation from God of their acceptance prompted Peter to ask his fellow Jewish Christians: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?”. Then “he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord”. It is very important to note the emphasis on the requirement for baptism. The Lord sent Peter to tell Cornelius what he ought to do; and Peter told him to be baptized. Even though Cornelius’ character pleased God, his prayers were responded to by God, he believed the gospel, and he was a recipient of God’s Holy Spirit, yet he still had to be baptized! Why then should any other believer refuse or neglect to do the same?
The acceptability of the Gentiles to God was shown to Peter in a vision of unclean animals, with the declaration: “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common”. Peter later understood the significance of this, saying: “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean”. This good news for Gentiles was expressed by Peter: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him”.
Jesus preached the gospel to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” only (Matthew 15:24)Waiting for response for Matthew 15:24 and initially he instructed his disciples to do the same (Mathew 10:5-6). This was because the offer of eternal life was first to be made to Israel (Acts 3:26),Waiting for response for Acts 3:26 but God knew beforehand that most of them would reject it, and therefore he had declared through his Old Testament prophets that salvation would be extended to the Gentiles. This was a difficult concept for the first disciples to accept because, as Jews, they were brought up to view the Gentiles as unclean. Therefore Jesus specifically affected the thinking of Peter who had the responsibility of using the key of the kingdom to open the door of salvation for the Gentiles (Matthew 16:19).Waiting for response for Matthew 16:19