Acts 10

Acts 10:21-33

Saying, Stand up; * I myself also am a man. 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 common or unclean. 29. Therefore came I unto you without gunSaying, 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 falling until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, ‘a man stood before me’ in bright clothing. 31. And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine aims are had in remembrance in the fight of God. 32. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon whole surname to Peter; he is lodged in the hands 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 bear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Peter, having received full satisfaction, went down without delay to the messengers.

1. Having told them he was the person whom they sought, he denied to be informed of the cause of their coming; and they said, Cornelius the entarcism, a girl man, eminent for his probity and integrity among men, and one that feareth God, though a Gentile, a worshipper of the God of Israel, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, who respect his amiable and exemplary character, was warned of God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to bear words of thee concerning the things that make for his everlasting peace.

2. Peter courteously hereupon received and lodged the messengers that night, and as the merrens went away with them for Galway, accompanied by certain brethren from Joppa, who might desire to be present at this interview, or more probably went at Peter’s request, that they might be wrought for him, if at any time he should be blamed by his Jewish brethren for visiting a Gentile family. Note, (1.) It becomes misuse and all Christians to be hospitable. (2.) When there is danger that our conduct may be censured, or our conversation misrepresented, it is prudent to have witnesses for what passes, to whom we can appeal.

3. The second day, in the afternoon, Peter and the messengers entered Celarea, where Cornelius with eager expectation waited his arrival, having called his business and near friends to share with him the blessing of Peter’s discourse. Note, The greatest kindness we can shew our friends is to invite them to partake with us our spiritual mercies, and to join in our religious exercises.

4. Cornelius received the Apostle with deepest reverence and respect, and paid him honour which Peter thought excessive; he fell at his feet, as he entered the house, and was kept him, prostrate before him, as if he had been the mightiest potential. But the apostle, too humble and modest to accept such profound admiration, took him up, and would not suffer him to lay in that position, saying, Stand up, I myself am able a man, a poor forbid worm, though honoured with this office of apostleship. And thereupon familiarly conversing with him, he entered into the house, where a number of persons was assembled, desirous to hear Peter’s words, and affording him a larger field of usefulness than he might have expected. Note, It is a great encouragement to speak where we meet a large and attentive audience.

5. Peter enquires the cause wherefore Cornelius sent for him, saying to him and the company, Ye know that it is unlawful, and looked upon as an abominable thing, for one that is a Jew, as I am, to run company in some state of another nation in any way of familiar intercourse. But, though I long thought so, God had of late shewed me, that I should not call any man common or unclean, on account of his being of a different nation. Obedient therefore to the admonition of God, came I unto you, without gunSaying, as soon as I was sent for; perfectly persuaded of his will in this matter. I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? that I may be able suitably to improve the present opportunity, to God’s glory, and for your good.

6. Cornelius relates the late occurrences, which occasioned the present meeting. Four days ago I was falling unto the bear, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, when the evening sacrifice was effecting, the usual hour of prayer; and behold, in answer to my requests for divine direction and guidance, a man stood before me in bright clothing, an angel in a human turne, and, addressing me, said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine aims are had in remembrance in the fight of God: Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whole surname to Peter; he is lodged in the hands of one Simon, a tanner, by the sea-side, who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee, and give thee the direction thine art destitute. Immediately therefore, without delay, I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come; we regard it as a singular kindness done to us, and doubt not but it will be highly pleasing to God.

Now therefore are we all here present before God; met in his fear, hoping for his mercy, and expecting his special presence and blessing, seriously disposed to hear, and desirous to embrace and obey all things that are commanded thee of God, whom we wish all reverence receive as a messenger expressly sent from him to lead us in the way of salvation. Note, (1.) The gospel then comes with effect, when those who sit under it: they solemn attention and seriousness, receiving it not as the word of man, but as the word of God. (2.) They who are sincere with God desire to bear and know all his will; not merely what he promises, but what he commands, however disposing it may be to flesh and blood.

34. ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, ‘Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. 35. But ‘in every nation, ‘he that feareth him, and ‘worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, ‘preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all). 37. That word (I say) you know, which was published throughout all Judea, and ‘began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached: 38. How ‘God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghoft, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for ‘God was with him. 39. And ‘we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem: whom they saw and hanged on a tree: 40. ‘Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly. 41. ‘Not 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 preach unto the people, and to testify that ‘it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge’ of quick and dead. 43. ‘To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name ‘whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of him.

Acts 10:34-43

Peter, on comparing his own vision with that which Cornelius related, was now fully persuaded of God’s gracious designs towards the Gentiles; and therefore with great warmth of affection, delight, and earnestness, addressed this attentive auditory.

1. He expresses his full persuasion, notwithstanding all his former prejudices, that the Lord had now abolished all national distinctions, and designed his gospel should indiscriminately be preached to Jews and Gentiles. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, on account of any external circumstances of birth, rank, or country; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Not that we are to conceive that any unenlightened Gentile was capable of fearing God or working righteousness by any power in himself, or that there are the ground of acceptance before God: no: they are only the fruits of faith, and are descriptive not of the conditions of acceptance with God, but of the person who is in a state of favour with him. The meaning of the Apostle seems to be, That Gentiles, as well as Jews, though uncircumcised, were capable of partaking of God’s favour through the gospel, and their works were accepted through faith. Of this number Cornelius was one, who had known so much of the gospel doctrine as a preselyte, as to build his hopes thereon, and act agreeably thereunto: and God in mercy therefore was now leading him into fuller discoveries of the truth, as it is in Jesus.

2. He refers them to the reports that had been every where spread of the life, miracles, doctrines, death and redistribution of Jesus. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, the glad tidings of reconciliation with an offended God through him, (He is Lord of all, the self-existent Doity, God over all, and as Mediator incarnate invested with all power in heaven and earth) that word, I say, you know, which was published throughout Judea, after the baptism which John preached, by Jesus himself and his disciples, the same of which could not but have reached them; Here God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghoft and with peace, authorising and enabling him to perform the most astonishing miracles in proof of his divine mission; who went about doing good to the bodies and souls of men, by his heavenly doctrine with all their own, and by his miracles of grace healing all that were oppressed of the devil, under whatever disease or tumour, or corporal profession, they laboured: for God was with him, mightily supporting him, and testifying his high approbation of him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, having been his constant followers and disciples; whom they saw and hanged on a tree, a death the most painful and ignominious, in hatred of his pretensions as the promised Messiah, because he corresponded not with their carnal notions of his character and office: him God raised up the third day, on their

confusion,

confusion, and in testimony of his perfect satisfaction in this divine Redeemer’s undertaking, and shewed him openly, after his resurrection; not to all the people, who had so obstinately rejected the clearest evidence of truth; but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did not and dried with him after he rose from the dead, and, from the fullest conviction of our senses, were assured of his resurrection, and were appointed by him to bear our testimony thereto. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was endeavored of God to be the Judge of quick and dead, before whom all must appear, and give an account of the things done in the body. To him give all the prophets witness, from the beginning speaking of him as the great subject of their discourses, and pointing to him under various types and figures, that through his name, through his sacrifice and obedience unto death, whoever believed in his God receive remission of sins, justified freely and fully from all his transgressions, whether he be Jew or Gentile, and thus prepared to stand before his judgment—fear with confidence of acceptance. Note, (1.) The remission of sins is the first and great gospel promise, and the door of admission to all the rest. (2.) If we believe that Jesus shall indeed shortly be our Judge, we cannot but be anxiously solicitous to secure an interest in his favour.