**And Matt and Mark and Luke and John.**
There was no remission of sins until the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:16,17, and 10:15-18). And there was no pouring out of the Holy Ghost, until Jesus departed: “..for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you”. Jn 15:7
**Did Peter jump at the opportunity to witness to Cornelius as part of the great commission to go to all nations? No. He had to be given a vision about this. And he even questioned that.**
The story of the vision God gave Peter has some undeniable facts:
1. Peter did NOT know anything about Cornelius, or the messengers that were sent, BEFORE the vision.
2. The vision was given to Peter thrice.
3. God did NOT afterwards reveal what the vision meant, he simply told him about the three men and to go with them.
4. He WENT with them, no holding back.
5. Peter preached to them Christ crucified, and resurrected.
**And he STILL told Cornelius that it was unlawful for a Jew to “keep company” or “come unto one of another nation” BUT God had SHOWED him to go.**
Read the whole verse 28, and notice:
That Peter, knowing enough about Cornelius (he had just walked and probably talked, for about 40 miles with his messengers), that he knew Cornelius was aware of Jewish separation from Gentiles, said: “YE (I repeat ‘YE’) know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
Then in verse 29, Peter anounces: “Therefore came I unto you WITHOUT GAINSAYING, AS SOON AS I WAS SENT FOR: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?”
Cornelius told his story, and Peter responded: “Of a truth I perseive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Peter preached Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost fell, and Peter commanded them baptized in the name of the Lord (which was what the Lord commanded in his commissions).
And Paul, after seeing the goings on of the followers of Christ, persecuted them. He had to get the smack down on the road to Damascus to even admit he needed to be changed (I notice that you skirted his witness of his detailed conversion. AND you STILL won’t go to Acts 19).
The baptism of the Holy Ghost was, and has always been since Pentecost, a supernatural experience. That’s the stumblingblock so many folks have.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16.
Both of these are examples of the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, preached by John the Baptist and Christ BEFORE Christ's crucifixion.
The reason this is important is the anyone who was there and who was convicted of sin KNEW what they MUST do to be saved: REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED. No doubt about that. Right?
The baptism of repentance for the remission of sins was part of the "Great Commission" given to the 12 by Christ. Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16 are clear. Right?
And so it was also preached AFTER Christ's crucifixion and resurrection and ascencion, as Acts 2:38 CLEARLY states. Right? The "great commission" demanded repentance AND baptism for sins to be remitted.
I'm not sure WHAT point you're trying to make with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You'll have to be clearer.
As far as Peter and Cornelius, you are not understanding what I'm saying here. The Great Commission states: "AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. That they were to go into all the world was clear. There was no misunderstanding. right? So, why did Peter need a vision about unclean things? And why did he doubt in himself what that vision meant? And what did it matter? There was nothing in the great commission about clean and unclean things, it was about preaching the gospel to all the world. Right? Then why did Peter hesitate? WHy did he question the Lord? The great commission says "go". Why did Peter hesitate? He was filled with the Holy SPirit, right?