Acts 10

1. Cornelius. Cornelius was the name of a large Roman clan, including several noble and distinguished families.

hand. Or, “cohort” (corresponding nearly to our regiment), composed of natives of Italy; distinguished from the rest of the troops under Roman command, which were raised in the province.

2 a devout man. There were at this time many persons who had forsaken idolatry for the worship of the one true God. To this class Cornelius, and

3 evidently. That is, “distinctly,” or while awake (see also ver. 7): not in a dream or a trance (ver. 10; xxii. 17).

about the ninth hour of the day. At three p.m., the hour of evening prayer (iii. 1). As the mission of Peter was an answer to his prayers (31), it is probable that he had been asking Divine instruction respecting the claims of Jesus, of whom he had heard (37).

5. Joppa. A distance of thirty miles. The messengers started the same evening, and arrived at Joppa the next afternoon.

6 whose house is by the sea side. The business of a tanner was regarded by the Jews as almost unclean, and was not allowed to be carried on within the walls of cities.

7 a devout soldier. Like his master, and therefore fully informed of the purpose of his errand.

9 upon the housetop. See note on 1 Sam. ix. 25.

about the sixth hour. About noon, the second hour for prayer.

10 he fell into a trance. The form of the vision corresponded with Peter’s hunger.

11 knit at the four corners. Lit., “tied by four ends,” i.e., or cords, reaching into the heavens above. The Spanish version (Hispano-Americana) has “bajalo por las quartas puntas” (“let down by the four corners”).

13 kill, and eat. Making no distinction between clean and unclean: see Lev. xi., and notes.

16 thrice. See a reason for such a repetition in Gen. xli. 32.

17 before the gate. Or, “at the porch” or “vestibule,” forming the entrance to the inner court.

20 doubting nothing, etc. Making no difficulty about visiting a Gentile; “for I have sent them.”

22 the centurion. Rather, “a centurion”; not yet known to Peter.

24. And Cornelius waited for them. Rather, “Now, Cornelius was waiting for (or, expecting) them.”

25 as Peter was coming in. Rather, “When Peter had come in.”

worshipped. Cornelius recognises in Peter an ambassador of the true God, and, in conformity with Roman ideas, renders him Divine honour. Peter, however, makes it clear that not even a Divine commission could entitle its bearer to receive worship. Such honour must be reserved for God alone. Our Lord did not decline it.

27 talked with him. Or, “conversed with him” familiarly.

28 unlawful. The distinction between clean and unclean meets, and the prohibition of alliances and marriages between the Israelites and heathen nations (Lev. xi. 1-47; Deut. vii. 1-8), had come to be regarded as forbidding all social intercourse with Gentiles. See Josephus, Cont. Ap. ii. 28; Juvenal, Sat. xiv. 103; Tacit. Hist. v. 5.

30 fasting. This word is omitted by the best authorities.

34. God is no respecter of persons, etc. A new and important application of an old truth: see Deut. x. 17; Gal. ii. 6.

35 accepted with Him. Or, as R.V., “acceptable unto Him.”

36. The word which [God] sent, etc. This verse is connected in sense with the preceding. God receives the pious of every nation; for though He first sent His “word” to the children of Israel with its glad news of peace through Jesus Christ, yet Christ is the appointed and predicted Lord of all men, not “of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles” also: see Psa. ii.; lxxii. 8-11; Isa. lv. 4, 5; Dan. ii. 44; vii. 13, 14.

37 that word. The word here rendered “word” differs from that in ver. 36. Meaning “the matter” or actual facts, as compared with “the history.” Philip’s preaching (viii. 40) had made the gospel well known at Cassarea.

38 with power. His Divine goodness, working through His Divine power, to break Satan’s tyranny over men’s bodies (Luke xiii. 16) and souls (2 Tim. ii. 26) was the true evidence that Jesus was God’s anointed (Isa. lxi. 1-3), and that God was with Him.

39 whom they slew and hanged, etc. Better as R.V., “whom also they slew, hanging Him.”

on a tree. A cross, or gibbet; lit., “on a piece of wood”; the Spanish version has “en un madero.”

41 not to all the people. Before His death our Lord taught and wrought His miracles in public; but when the people by rejecting Him had shown that no evidence could affect them (see Luke xvi. 31; John xii. 37), the ocular proof of His resurrection was given only to Divinely chosen and competent witnesses. See note on Matt. xxviii. 1.

42 quick and dead. That is, “the living and the dead”: see 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17; 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52.

44 the Holy Ghost fell on all them. The gift of the Holy Spirit on this occasion (“while Peter was yet speaking”) was attended by many of the same signs as at Pentecost (see ver. 46; xi. 15). This Divine interposition conclusively proves that outward rites, whether Jewish or Christian, are not essential to admission to gospel privileges.

47. Can any man forbid (the) water, etc.? It was not for men to withhold the baptism of water when God had given the baptism of the Spirit.

48 he commanded, etc. See notes on John iv. 2; 1 Cor. i. 17.