New Testament Commentary - Acts 10

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 10 An angel ministers to Cornelius—Peter in a vision is commanded to take the gospel to the Gentiles—Gospel taught by witnesses—Holy Ghost falls upon Gentiles.
1 THERE was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much ^aalms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a ^avision ^bevidently about the ninth hour of the day an ^cangel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the ^ahousetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a ^atrance, 11 And saw ^aheaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet ^bknit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or ^aunclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath ^acleansed, that call not thou ^bcommon.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the ^aSpirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and ^ago with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was ^awarned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a ^aman. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, 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 ^acommon or ^bunclean. 29 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?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was ^afasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a ^bman stood before me in bright clothing^a, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.	30^a a man stood before me in bright clothing This testimony as to the form and nature of an angel, that he is a 'man', head, shoulders, knees and toes; eyes, hears, mouth, and nose; speaks volumes as to the very nature and being of God. For if God's angels and even the angel of the Lord is in the form and shape as man is, then are not they and we of the same shape and form? Are we not in their image, which may be deduced to be the very image of God after whose image we are made after?
34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no ^arespecter of persons: 35 But in every ^anation he that ^bfeareth him, and ^cworketh ^drighteousness, is ^eaccepted with him. 36 The ^aword which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God ^aanointed Jesus of Nazareth with the ^bHoly Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were ^coppressed of the devil; for ^dGod was with him.
39 And we are ^awitnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God ^araised up the third day, and ^bshewed him openly; 41 ^aNot to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to ^apreach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ^bordained of God to be the ^cJudge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets ^awitness, that through his ^bname whosoever ^cbelieveth in him shall receive ^dremission of sins.
44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the ^aGentiles also was poured out the ^bgift of the Holy Ghost. qq
46 For they heard them speak with ^atongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the ^aHoly Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be ^abaptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.