Augustine of Hippo, on Acts 11:18

“Having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying: God then hath also to the Gentiles given repentance unto life.”

“"Zion heard and was glad." What did Zion hear? That all God's angels worship him? Yes, to be sure; but what else did Zion hear? This is what it heard: "The heavens have proclaimed his justice, and all nations have seen his glory. Let all who worship graven images be put to shame, those who boast of their idols." The church had not yet extended to the Gentiles, you see. Some of the Jews in Judea had come to believe, but these Jews imagined that they alone belonged to Christ. Then the apostles were sent to the Gentiles, and the word was preached to Cornelius. He believed and was baptized, and his companions were baptized with him. You know what happened to lead them to baptism.… An angel was sent to Cornelius; the angel sent Cornelius to Peter, and Peter came to Cornelius's house. But Cornelius was from the Gentiles, so he and his friends were uncircumcised. In order, therefore, that Peter and his companions might have no hesitation about delivering the gospel to uncircumcised persons, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and the others even before they were baptized; the Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in tongues. Until this time the Holy Spirit had never fallen upon any unbaptized person; but he fell on these before their baptism. Peter might well have hesitated over whether to baptize the uncircumcised, but the Holy Spirit came, and they began to speak in tongues. The invisible gift was conferred and removed any doubt about the visible sacrament, so they were all baptized.Now you find it recorded in Scripture that "the apostles and the brothers in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God, and they glorified God." It is this thanksgiving on their part that is mentioned in our psalm: "Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judea leaped for joy."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.