Acts

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NASB	Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
AMPLIFIED 2015	Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the believers who were throughout Judea heard [with astonishment] that the Gentiles also had received and accepted the word of God [the message concerning salvation through Christ].

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Subject: Scripture is clear if we are open, right

Bible Note: Ray,
I think you may be a bit quick to assume from the scripture which Sharp quoted "that we must speak in tongues to prove that we have received the Holy Spirit". The focus here is upon HOW Peter and all the circumcised believers KNEW that Cornelius and his close friends and relatives (Acts 10:24) had received the Holy Spirit. Verses 45 and 46 clearly state how, [45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.] NASU. God used signs and wonders to begin His church (Acts 2:43, 4:29-30,5:12, 6:8, 14:3, Rom 15:18-19 and Heb 2:4) first with the Jews Acts 2:1-4, and then with the Gentiles starting with Cornelius, (see Rom 1:16) . This was promised by Jesus in Mark 16:17, ["These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;] NASU

However, this was not to be the case for all believers as Paul relates in 1 Cor 12:30 [All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?] NASU. Furthermore, Perter stated in Acts 2:38, ["Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.] He did not include speaking in tongues OR that tongues that appear as fire must fall upon those receiving salvation even though that very thing had just happened to him and his fellow believers that very day! Some may contend that the gift of the Holy Spirit which Peter refers to means the sign of tongues but that seems to be disputed by Paul's statement above and the gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to tongues. The term "gift of" for both phenomena seems to separate them as all other gifts are separated, and no other gift is expected to be immediately evident for salvation. Every believer receives the "gift of" the Holy Spirit to be sealed and to be enabled for ministry by receiving gifts of the Spirit, [1 Cor 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. and 1 Cor 12:8-10, 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.] NASU. So although God chose to show evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit in the early church by pouring out the gift of tongues upon salvation, He did not continue the sign to all believers.

As for being baptised in the name of Jesus, Peter is clearly stating that requirement. Paul finds a group of followers in Acts 19 who were in need of this very thing, [Acts 19:1-6, 1 ... Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.] NASU. These believers help to explain that water baptism does not save as they were baptized into John, [Matt 3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.] NASU. John told the people to "believe in Him who was coming after him" which is what places us into the baptism of Jesus. It is by belief (trust) in Jesus that we are baptised into Jesus name, [Rom 10:9-10, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.] NASU. By the way, these believers also prophesied but no one claims that prophesy must be an evidence of salvation.
If I have helped at all, to God be the Glory, Phillip