Notice that while Peter was still speaking, Cornelius and his household were not only saved,
but were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues — without waiting, agonizing, or
struggling.
How did the Jewish believers know the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles?
"For they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God..." (Acts 10:46).
Is It Scriptural To Tarry for the Holy Ghost?
We make a mistake by thinking that things have to be done a certain cut-and-dried way. God
doesn't have any cut-and-dried methods. While Peter was yet preaching, these Gentiles
received the Holy Ghost.
In ministering the baptism in the Holy Ghost to believers, many Pentecostal or Charismatic
church people want everyone to follow the same formula. They want to cut everyone's
experience out with the same cookie cutter, so to speak.
Saul of Tarsus
Paul, who laid hands on these folks in Acts chapter 19, was previously known as Saul of
Tarsus. The account of his experience of receiving the Holy Ghost is found in Acts chapter 9.
ACTS 9:11,12
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and
enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on
him, that he might receive his sight.
Ananias said to Saul, ". . . [Jesus] hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and BE
FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST" (Acts 9:17). And Saul received the Holy Spirit right then.
We know that Paul received the Holy Spirit because he later said, "I thank my God, I SPEAK
WITH TONGUES more than ye all" (1 Cor. 14:18).
Notice in this passage of Scripture that there was no suggestion of the need for Saul to tarry or
wait to be filled with the Holy Ghost; Saul was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit when
Ananias laid hands on him. It is most probable that Saul didn't know a thing in the world about
the Holy Ghost until Ananias came in and laid hands on him But Ananias obeyed the Lord and
Saul was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Ephesian Disc