Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he sha…
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not wo…
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to you…
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to d…
Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Acts 11:1-18
The preaching of the gospel to Cornelius was a thing which we poor sinners of the Gentiles have reason to reflect upon with a great deal of joy and thankfulness; for it was the bringing of light to us who sat in darkness. Now it being so great a surprize to the believing as well as the unbelieving Jews, it is worth while to enquire how it was received, and what comments were made upon it. And here we find,
I. Intelligence was presently brought of it to the church in Jerusalem, and thereabouts; for Cesarea was not so far from Jerusalem but that they might presently hear of it. Some for good-will, and some for ill-will, would spread the report of it; so that before he himself had returned to J…
Then remembered I the word . . . John . . . baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then, &c.--that is, "Since God Himself has put them on a level with ourselves, by bestowing on them what the Lord Jesus pronounced the higher baptism of the Holy Ghost, would it not have been to withstand God if I had withheld from them the lower baptism of water, and kept aloof from them as still 'unclean?'"
Adam Clarke on Acts 11:16
Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost - These words are very remarkable. The words of our Lord, as quoted Act 1:5, to which St. Peter refers here, have been supposed by many to be referred to the apostles alone; but here it is evident that St. Peter believed they were a promise made to all Christians, i.e. to all, whether Jews or Gentiles, who should believe on Jesus Christ. Therefore, when he saw that the Holy Ghost fell upon those Gentiles, he considered it a fulfillment of our Lord's promise: ye, that is, all that will believe on me, shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost - not many days hence, i.e. in a short time this Spirit shall be given, which is to abide with you for ever. Hence w…
Saying to them, "Who have received the Holy Ghost even as we." And not content with this, he reminds them also of the words of the Lord: "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." He means, that no new thing has happened, but just what the Lord foretold.
The people received John, who was lesser than Christ, supposing and pondering "whether perhaps he himself were the Christ"; but him who came as "greater" than John they did not receive. Do you wish to know the reason? Learn it: John's baptism was visible, Christ's baptism was invisible. "For I", he says, "baptize you with water; but he who comes after me is greater than I, and he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire". When does Jesus baptize "with the Holy Spirit", and again, when does he baptize "with fire"? Does he baptize both "with the Spirit and with fire" at one and the same time, or at a distinct and different time? "But you", he says, "shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence". The apostles were baptized "with the Holy Spirit" after his ascension into the heavens; but that they were baptized "with fire", Scripture does not record. But just as John, beside the river Jordan, awaited those coming to the baptism, and drove others away, saying: "brood of vipers" and the rest, while those who confessed their vices and sins he received, so the Lord Jesus Christ will stand in the river of fire beside the "flaming sword", so that whoever, after the departure from this life, desires to pass over to paradise and has need of cleansing, he may baptize with that stream and send across to the things longed for; but him who does not have the sign of the earlier baptisms he will not baptize with the fiery washing. For it is fitting that one first be baptized "with water and the Spirit", so that, when he comes to the fiery river, he may show that he has kept both the washings of water and of the Spirit, and then may deserve to receive also the baptism of fire in Christ Jesus: to whom is glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Peter — Originally called Simon (=Simeon, i.e., “hearing”), a very common Jewish name in the New Testament. He was the son of Jona (Matt. 16:17). His mother is nowhere named in Scripture. He had a younger…
Baptism · General references — General references
Baptism With The Holy Spirit · Promised to saints — Promised to saints
Faith · Through it is: The gift of the Holy Spirit — Through it is: The gift of the Holy Spirit
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,.... Just before his ascension, Acts 1:5.
John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost; as they were on the day of Pentecost, and as now Cornelius and his family were; and since they had the greater baptism, the baptism of the Spirit, the lesser baptism of water could not be denied them.
John Calvin on Acts 11:1-18
Acts 11:1-18
1. And the apostles and brethren which were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had embraced the word of God. 2. And when Peter was gone up to Jerusalem, those which were of the circumcision reasoned with him, 3. Saying, Thou wentest in unto men uncircumcised, and hast eaten with them. 4. And Peter began, and expounded to them in order, saying, 5. I was in the city Joppa praying; and being in a trance, I saw a vision, to wit, A certain vessel coming down from heaven like a great sheet, tied by the four corners, which came even unto me: 6. Which, when I considered earnestly, I saw then four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the hea…
Peter reviewed the sequence of events, explaining that the whole development was the result of God’s initiative (11:12). Peter had eaten with Gentiles because God had made it clear that he should (11:4-12). Peter had then observed the Holy Spirit’s definite action of coming upon Gentiles, and he realized that they were being accepted and blessed by God just as Jewish believers had been (11:15-17; see 1:5). Peter was submitting to God’s will in admitting Gentiles to the church.
