Acts 10 records what many have described as the “Gentile Pentecost.”

You are likely familiar with the story. At Caesarea, the Roman centurion Cornelius had a vision to send for Peter, that he might receive from him the words whereby he and all his house “shall be saved” (Acts 11:14).

The next day, some 30 miles away at Joppa, Peter had his own vision, preparing him for the task ahead. His famous vision of the sheet descending from heaven with what Peter felt was “common and unclean” (Acts 10:14) animals, would be the final means by which the Lord would teach Peter that the Gentiles, whom he considered unclean, were to be welcomed with open arms into the body of Christ.

While Peter was pondering the meaning of the vision, the messengers sent by Cornelius to fetch Peter arrived and the Holy Spirit instructed Peter to “go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them” (Acts 10:20).

Peter obeyed, and about four days later he arrived at the home of Cornelius. In the interim, with much anticipation concerning the words he would hear from Peter, Cornelius had filled his house with “his kinsmen and near friends” (Acts 10:24).

With Peter now standing before him, Cornelius said, “… we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Acts 10:33).

With an eager and receptive audience before him, Peter “opened his mouth” (Acts 10:34) and began to preach.

Peter, no stranger to preaching Christ, laid the Gospel down in its purest and simplest form. In only a few words recorded in Acts 10:34-43, he preached the man Jesus Christ, His ministry and miracles, His death, burial, and resurrection, and His position as Judge of all.

Peter, wrapping up his introductory remarks, and finally realizing that Gentiles could be a part of this mysterious body of Christ, said “whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).

I say Peter’s introductory remarks because in chapter 11, at Jerusalem, when he gives an account of what happened, he said “… as I began to speak …” (Acts 11:15).

Peter seems to be implying that he was just getting started with his message.

Campbell Morgan said, “One can imagine when Peter reached this point, that he had but laid down the lines of his address and indicated the outstanding facts, and that he was intending to elaborate on them; but his was an interrupted speech.”

What Peter said couldn’t have taken more than a few minutes, and what preacher only preaches a few minutes.

Peter was just getting warmed up, having only laid the foundation, before being interrupted.

But as Morgan went on to say, “… his was an interrupted speech. But it was yet a complete speech; complete in its matter, for it spoke of Christ only, fully, and clearly. It was complete in its method. It was a message delivered in obedience to the instruction of the Spirit …”

You know the rest of the story. Peter’s message was interrupted by the Holy Spirit. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Act 10:44).

In my sanctified imagination I picture those Gentiles hanging on every word Peter said, and when they heard the words “whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins,” they thought to themselves, and may have even looked at each other and said, “I’m whosoever, and I believe.”

However it happened, what is clear is that they believed the message, and that was enough, for immediately the Holy Spirit fell on them all.

As I studied this familiar account, I was reminded of the simplicity and effectiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we can fall into a trap of complicating things, especially us preachers.

Please don’t misunderstand me. There are complexities to God’s Word we can never understand. There is great benefit to diligent study and having a robust understanding in areas of theology and doctrine.

As Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say, “The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning, and deep enough for theologians to swim in without ever reaching the bottom.”

But in regards to presenting the gospel, how often do we find ourselves inadvertently trying to play the part of the Holy Spirit?

Do we think our knowledge of the Bible and ability to quote Scripture will lead a sinner to repent?

Do we think a well crafted presentation or sermon will surely be the thing to convince a sinner he needs to be saved?

Do we think strong preaching against sin and warnings about hell will lead one to saving faith in Jesus?

Those things are wonderful and necessary, but we must remember a very important truth: We are not the Holy Spirit.

God can, and does, use those things to lead people to Jesus. But we need to be reminded that we are mere vessels in that process, and whatever good comes of it is not of us, but of God.

I think Peter, standing before the Gentiles, had much more to say, possibly thinking it would take a lot of work to convince those once-pagan people that Jesus is Lord.

But nothing more from Peter was needed. He had presented the Gospel plainly and simply. The Holy Spirit broke in before he could say another word.

We should stand in awe and praise God for His inexhaustibility. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

At the same time, we should praise God for the simplicity of salvation.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).