Therefore the great gift, attesting the divine acceptance of him and the rest of the hearers, came at once.
There had been no confession of their faith, much less had there been baptism, or laying on of Apostolic hands. The sole qualification and condition for the reception of the Spirit which John lays down in his Gospel when he speaks of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive,' was present here, and it was enough. Peter and his brethren might have hesitated about baptizing an uncircumcised believer. The Lord of the Church showed Peter that He did not hesitate.
So, like a true disciple, Peter followed Christ's lead and though they of the circumcision' were struck with amazement, he said to himself, Who am I, that I should withstand God?' and opened his heart to welcome these new converts as possessors of like precious faith,' as was demonstrated by their possession of the same Spirit. Would that Peter's willingness to recognise all who manifest the Spirit of Christ, whatever their relation to ecclesiastical regulations, had continued the law and practice of the Church!
