When the believers in Judea heard that Peter had preached to Gentiles, they were surprised and offended. The next time they saw Peter, they strongly condemned him: “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!” ULe 53.6
Peter related his experience—the vision, the command to go to the Gentiles, the coming of the messengers, his journey to Caesarea, and the meeting with Cornelius. He told about talking with the centurion, who had told him of the vision by which God had directed him to send for Peter. ULe 53.7
“As I began to speak,” he said, “the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” ULe 53.8
The brethren were silenced. Convinced that their prejudice and exclusiveness were completely contrary to the gospel, they said, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” ULe 53.9
In this way prejudice was broken down, exclusiveness abandoned, and the way opened for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. ULe 53.10