Acts 10:45

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they of {G1537} the circumcision {G4061} which believed {G4103} were astonished {G1839}, as many as {G3745} came with {G4905} Peter {G4074}, because {G3754} that on {G1909} the Gentiles {G1484} also {G2532} was poured out {G1632} the gift {G1431} of the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All the believers from the Circumcision faction who had accompanied Kefa were amazed that the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh was also being poured out

Berean Standard Bible

All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

American Standard Version

And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 10:45 profoundly captures a watershed moment in early church history, depicting the astonishment of Jewish believers who accompanied Peter as they witnessed the Holy Spirit being poured out directly upon Gentiles. This unprecedented event unequivocally demonstrated God's impartial grace and intention to include all nations in His covenant people, shattering long-held religious and cultural barriers and validating the Gentiles' newfound faith through the tangible manifestation of the Spirit's presence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 10:45 is situated at the climax of a pivotal narrative in the book of Acts, immediately following Peter's preaching of the Gospel to Cornelius's household. The preceding verses detail the divine preparation for this encounter: Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, receives a vision instructing him to send for Peter ([Acts 10:1-8](/acts/10-1-8 "Cornelius's Vision")). Simultaneously, Peter experiences a transformative vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals, hearing a voice command him to "kill and eat," teaching him not to call anything God has cleansed "common" or "unclean" ([Acts 10:9-16](/acts/10-9-16 "Peter's Vision of Unclean Animals")). These supernatural preparations dismantle Peter's deeply ingrained Jewish prejudices, enabling him to enter a Gentile home and proclaim the good news. The outpouring of the Spirit on the Gentiles in [Acts 10:44](/acts/10-44 "The Holy Spirit Falls on Gentiles") occurs even as Peter is still speaking, making the event undeniable and setting the stage for the astonishment described in verse 45.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical and cultural backdrop of Acts 10 is one of profound division between Jews and Gentiles. For centuries, Jewish identity was meticulously defined by adherence to the Mosaic Law, including practices like circumcision, dietary laws, and strict separation from Gentiles, who were often considered ritually unclean. "They of the circumcision" refers specifically to Jewish Christians who, even after believing in Jesus, maintained their commitment to these traditional practices and largely assumed that Gentiles would need to convert to Judaism (including circumcision) to be fully accepted into God's covenant community. The very act of Peter, a devout Jew, entering the home of a Gentile like Cornelius was a radical departure from established norms. The astonishment of Peter's companions underscores the magnitude of this paradigm shift: God was directly extending His Spirit and salvation to uncircumcised Gentiles without requiring them to first become Jewish proselytes, challenging the core assumptions of their religious worldview.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 10:45 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Acts and broader New Testament theology. Foremost is the theme of **God's Impartiality**, explicitly stated by Peter in [Acts 10:34-35](/acts/10-34-35 "God Shows No Partiality"), demonstrating that God accepts people from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. This event marks a crucial turning point in the **Inclusion of Gentiles** into the nascent Christian community, showing that the Gospel is for all humanity, not exclusively for the Jewish people. It confirms that the Holy Spirit is the **Seal of Faith and Membership** in God's new covenant people, regardless of ethnic background or prior religious practice. The outpouring of the Spirit, often accompanied by miraculous signs like speaking in tongues ([Acts 10:46](/acts/10-46 "Gentiles Speak in Tongues")), served as irrefutable divine validation of their acceptance, mirroring the experience of Jewish believers at Pentecost ([Acts 2:1-4](/acts/2-1-4 "The Day of Pentecost")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **astonished (Greek, _exístēmi'_):** From G1839, meaning "to put (stand) out of wits, i.e. astound, or (reflexively) become astounded, insane." This word conveys a sense of profound shock, amazement, and even bewilderment. It highlights the unexpected and counter-cultural nature of God's action from the perspective of the Jewish believers, who were utterly unprepared for such a direct and unmediated outpouring of the Spirit on uncircumcised Gentiles.
* **Gentiles (Greek, _éthnos'_):** From G1484, referring to "a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)." This term explicitly identifies the recipients of the Holy Spirit as non-Jews, emphasizing the breaking down of the long-standing ethnic and religious barrier between Israel and the nations. The use of this word underscores the revolutionary nature of the event for the early church.
* **poured out (Greek, _ekchéō'_):** From G1632, meaning "to pour forth; figuratively, to bestow." This verb, often used in the Septuagint and New Testament to describe the abundant giving of the Holy Spirit (e.g., [Joel 2:28-29](/joel/2-28-29 "Joel's Prophecy of the Spirit")), signifies an overflowing, generous, and undeniable bestowal. It implies a divine act of lavish grace, not a mere trickle or a limited measure, but a full and unreserved outpouring of God's presence and power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished":** This phrase identifies the specific group of observers: Jewish Christians who still adhered to the practice of circumcision as a marker of covenant identity. Their "astonishment" (exístēmi) signifies a profound shock and bewilderment, indicating that this event radically challenged their theological presuppositions about who could receive the Holy Spirit and how.
* **"as many as came with Peter":** This clarifies that the astonishment was shared by all the Jewish companions who had traveled with Peter from Joppa to Caesarea. Their collective witness adds weight to the miraculous nature of the event and ensures that the testimony of Gentile inclusion would be widely affirmed within the Jewish Christian community.
* **"because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost":** This clause provides the explicit reason for their astonishment. The Holy Spirit, referred to as "the gift" (dōreá), was "poured out" (ekchéō) upon the Gentiles. The word "also" (kai) is crucial, implying that the Gentiles received the Spirit in the same manner and with the same validating manifestations as the Jewish believers had at Pentecost, confirming their full and equal status in God's eyes.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 10:45 employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. There is significant **Narrative Irony** at play: the Jewish believers, who embody the traditional understanding of God's covenant exclusivity, are the ones who witness the radical expansion of that covenant to include Gentiles. Their "astonishment" is a direct result of this ironic reversal of expectations. The "gift of the Holy Ghost" serves as powerful **Symbolism**, representing not just an internal spiritual experience but a tangible, observable sign of divine acceptance and inclusion, much like the visible manifestations at Pentecost. Furthermore, the entire narrative of [Acts 10](/acts/10 "The Conversion of Cornelius") and specifically this verse functions as a **Turning Point** in the book's overarching plot, marking the decisive shift from a predominantly Jewish Christian movement to a global, multi-ethnic church. This event also serves as a **Foreshadowing** of the future missionary endeavors of Paul and others, who would extensively preach the Gospel to Gentiles, building upon the precedent set here.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 10:45 stands as a monumental theological declaration, affirming God's universal redemptive plan and dismantling the barriers that once separated humanity. It teaches that salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are not contingent upon ethnic origin, cultural practices, or adherence to the Mosaic Law, but solely upon faith in Jesus Christ. This event definitively established that Gentiles do not need to become Jewish proselytes to be part of God's people, paving the way for the church to become a truly global body. The astonishment of the Jewish believers underscores the radical nature of this divine initiative, challenging deeply entrenched prejudices and revealing the breadth of God's grace that transcends all human distinctions.

* [Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "Isaiah's Prophecy of Light to the Gentiles") - "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
* [Ephesians 2:14-18](/ephesians/2-14-18 "Christ Breaking Down the Wall of Hostility") - "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us... that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross..."
* [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "No Jew or Gentile in Christ") - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 10:45 offers profound lessons for believers today, challenging us to examine our own biases and embrace the expansive nature of God's love and kingdom. Just as the Jewish believers had to confront their preconceived notions about who God would accept, we are called to actively dismantle any walls of prejudice—whether based on race, socioeconomic status, nationality, or cultural background—that might exist within our hearts or our communities. This verse reminds us that the Holy Spirit is freely given to all who believe, empowering us for witness and service, and that the church's mission is inherently global and inclusive. It encourages us to celebrate the diversity within the body of Christ, recognizing that God delights in uniting people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into one family. Our astonishment should not be at God's radical inclusivity, but at any lingering reluctance within ourselves to fully embrace it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What preconceived notions or cultural biases might I hold that could limit my understanding of God's inclusive love?**
* **How can my local church more fully embody the "no partiality" principle demonstrated in Acts 10, actively welcoming and integrating people from diverse backgrounds?**
* **In what ways does the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles in Acts 10:45 encourage me about the universality of the Gospel and God's desire for all to come to faith?**

### FAQ
**Why were the Jewish believers astonished by the Holy Spirit's outpouring on the Gentiles?**

Answer: The astonishment of the Jewish believers stemmed from deeply ingrained religious and cultural expectations. For centuries, Jewish identity was intrinsically linked to the Mosaic Law and practices like circumcision, which distinguished them from Gentiles. They believed that Gentiles needed to convert to Judaism and adopt its customs to be fully accepted by God. The direct outpouring of the Holy Spirit on uncircumcised Gentiles, without any prior adherence to Jewish law, was a radical departure from their understanding of God's covenant. It was an undeniable divine affirmation that God was accepting Gentiles on the basis of faith in Jesus alone, bypassing the traditional Jewish requirements, which profoundly challenged their worldview and theological framework.

**What was the "gift of the Holy Ghost" that was poured out on the Gentiles?**

Answer: The "gift of the Holy Ghost" refers to the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, which manifested tangibly among the Gentiles in Cornelius's household. As described in the very next verse, [Acts 10:46](/acts/10-46 "Gentiles Speak in Tongues"), they were heard "speaking with tongues, and magnifying God." This miraculous manifestation was the unmistakable evidence that God had indeed accepted them, mirroring the experience of Jewish believers at Pentecost ([Acts 2:4](/acts/2-4 "The Day of Pentecost")). It signified their spiritual regeneration, their inclusion into the body of Christ, and their empowerment for Christian life and witness. This "gift" is the same Spirit promised by Jesus to His followers, enabling them to live according to God's will and to proclaim the Gospel effectively.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 10:45 is a profound testament to the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that the blessings of the new covenant, inaugurated by Jesus's death and resurrection, are for all humanity. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles is a direct consequence of Christ's atoning work, which "broke down the middle wall of partition" between Jew and Gentile ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Christ Breaks Down the Wall")). Through His sacrifice, Jesus established a new humanity, reconciling both groups to God in one body ([Ephesians 2:16](/ephesians/2-16 "Reconciliation Through the Cross")), making ethnic distinctions irrelevant for salvation. The Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send from the Father ([John 14:16-17](/john/14-16-17 "Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit")), is the tangible sign of this new covenant, extending the blessing of Abraham to the Gentiles through faith in Christ ([Galatians 3:14](/galatians/3-14 "The Blessing of Abraham Comes to Gentiles")). Thus, Acts 10:45 is not merely about Gentile inclusion but about the universal reach of Christ's saving power, creating a new community where all are one in Him ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "No Jew or Gentile in Christ Jesus")) and fulfilling God's ancient promise to bless all nations through Abraham's seed, who is Christ ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "God's Promise to Abraham")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 10:23

Then called he them in, and lodged [them]. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 3:13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Colossians 2:13

¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Colossians 2:14

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Acts 11:15

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.