Baptism In The Holy Spirit - Five

The Conversion of Cornelius and His Household

Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica, devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly. One afternoon about three o’clock, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him, “Cornelius.” He looked intently at him and, seized with fear, said, “What is it, sir?” He said to him, “Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 

Now send some men to Joppa and summon one Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with another Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from his staff, explained everything to them, and sent them to Joppa.

On the following day he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together.

Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word [that] he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 

This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people,

but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?” He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for a few days. Acts 10:

PRAYER FOR GRACE:

Jesus my Lord, I confess to you and to all the world my need for your presence in my life. I am alone and in darkness without you. I am influenced and controlled by the many forces that surround me. Even though I struggle against them, it is sin that so easily dominates my life. Who can save me but you alone, my Lord and my God. Deliver me from the Evil One. Touch my life with that power which flows from your resurrection. Cause your Holy Spirit to be born in me anew. Prince of Peace and Lord of Glory reign now in my heart. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and Fire. Raise me up to a New Life in you.

POINTS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PRAY:

• Once again, see how the Spirit is causing these events to happen.
• Remember the words of Jesus before his death; " I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Jo:14"
• See how the Spirit is taking them beyond their expectations.
• Notice how the action of the Holy Spirit is manifest. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit produces results that are discernible. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Acts 1:8"
• The gift of Tongues is experienced.
• The charismatic gifts, what are they; are they experienced today? See 1 Corinthians 12:

COLLOQUY: Dear Lord ..... (here, I express the thoughts of my heart)

REVIEW OF PRAYER:

• Was there a time in your prayer that evoked a change in the way you were feeling?
• Were you able to picture the event in your imagination?
• Did you identify with any particular person in the passage?
• Was there anything in your prayer that touched your heart?
• Can you name the feelings you experienced?
• Did you hear the Spirit, in your mind's ear, speaking to you?
• What areas of your personal life seemed to be coming to mind as you prayed?
• Do you have a desire to return again to this passage and prayer?
• Described what you have learned.
• What questions do you now have following your prayer?

We generally think of Pentecost as that day the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus' disciples gathered in the upper room. But Luke, in his Acts of the Apostles, tells us that, this same outpouring of the Spirit of Pentecost, was experienced by many throughout this whole apostolic  period, as the Spirit worked to bring to life Christ' Church. We might actually sight five Pentecost experiences described by Luke.

1. The day of Pentecost with the disciples in the upper room. (Acts 2:1)
2. The baptism of the Ethiopian and the Spirit coming upon the Samaritans. (Acts 8:1)
3. The conversion of St Paul. (Acts 9:1)
4. The Gentile Pentecost and the baptism of Cornelius and family. (Acts 10:1)
5. The baptism of the disciples of John the Baptist. (Acts 19:1)

In each of these accounts, we see the effects of the Holy Spirit at work in these people. These effects are evident and clearly perceptible, to those being baptized in the Spirit, as well as those who are witnessing this extraordinary gift.

On Pentecost day: 

• Those being filled with the Holy Spirit broke out in joyful praise of God, seen and heard by everyone around them. So uninhibited and expressive was their praising, that some thought they had been drinking.  
• They experienced the charism on speaking discernible languages they had not learned, so that other could understand them.
• They showed no fear of reprisal where earlier they had been in hiding. 

The Baptism of the Ethiopian Official and the Spirit Coming Upon the Samaritans:

• The charism of the True Christian Faith comes through the Spirit filled preaching of Philip, under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
• The Samaritans had been baptized in the name of Jesus, but were yet to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The Conversion of St. Paul:

• Paul sees the apparition of the glorious, risen Christ.
• He hears the Lords voice speaking to him. His companions also heard his voice.
• The physical effect of temporary blindness was experienced by Paul.
• The zealot Paul became humble and docile to the direction of the Spirit.
• Paul is given his true vocation by the Spirit.
• Visions are seen by Paul and Ananias.
• The True Christian Faith is born in Paul.  

The Conversion of Cornelius and the Gentiles.

• Peter is taught of the plan of universal salvation through visions.
• Visions prepare Cornelius for Peter's coming.
• Everyone in the household is filled with the gift of the Spirit.
• The charism of Praise and Tongues was manifested.
• The gift of True Christian Faith was given to all.

The Baptism of John the Baptist Disciples:

• They had been baptized in John's baptism.
• At Paul preaching they baptized in the name of Jesus.
• When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

At the bottom of these post, at the footer, there is an informative video discussing the history and experience of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.