1 There wasG2258 a certainG5100 manG435 inG1722 CaesareaG2542 calledG3686 CorneliusG2883, a centurionG1543 ofG1537 the bandG4686 calledG2564 the ItalianG2483 band, 2A devoutG2152 man, andG2532 one that fearedG5399 GodG2316 withG4862 allG3956 hisG846 houseG3624, whoG5037 gaveG4160 muchG4183 almsG1654 to the peopleG2992, andG2532 prayedG1189 to GodG2316 alwaysG1275. 3He sawG1492 inG1722 a visionG3705 evidentlyG5320 aboutG5616 the ninthG1766 hourG5610 of the dayG2250 an angelG32 of GodG2316 coming inG1525 toG4314 himG846, andG2532 sayingG2036 to himG846, CorneliusG2883. 4AndG1161 when he lookedG816 on himG846, he wasG1096 afraidG1719, andG2532 saidG2036, WhatG5101 is itG2076, LordG2962? AndG1161 he saidG2036 to himG846, ThyG4675 prayersG4335 andG2532 thyG4675 almsG1654 are come upG305 forG1519 a memorialG3422 beforeG1799 GodG2316. 5AndG2532 nowG3568 sendG3992 menG435 toG1519 JoppaG2445, andG2532 call forG3343 one SimonG4613, whoseG3739 surname isG1941 PeterG4074: 6HeG3778 lodgethG3579 withG3844 oneG5100 SimonG4613 a tannerG1038, whoseG3739 houseG3614 isG2076 byG3844 the sea sideG2281: heG3778 shall tellG2980 theeG4671 whatG5101 thouG4571 oughtestG1163 to doG4160. 7AndG1161 whenG5613 the angelG32 whoG3588 spokeG2980 to CorneliusG2883 had departedG565, he calledG5455 twoG1417 of hisG846 household servantsG3610, andG2532 a devoutG2152 soldierG4757 of them that waited onG4342 himG846 continuallyG4342; 8AndG2532 when he had declaredG1834 all these thingsG537 to themG846, he sentG649 themG846 toG1519 JoppaG2445. 9 On the next dayG1887, as theyG1565 were going on their journeyG3596, andG2532 drew nearG1448 to the cityG4172, PeterG4074 went upG305 uponG1909 the housetopG1430 to prayG4336 aboutG4012 the sixthG1623 hourG5610: 10AndG1161 he becameG1096 very hungryG4361, andG2532 wouldG2309 have eatenG1089: butG1161 while theyG1565 made readyG3903, heG846 fellG1968 intoG1909 a tranceG1611, 11AndG2532 sawG2334 heavenG3772 openedG455, andG2532 a certainG5100 vesselG4632 descendingG2597 toG1909 himG846, asG5613 it had been a greatG3173 sheetG3607 knitG1210 at the fourG5064 cornersG746, andG2532 let downG2524 toG1909 the earthG1093: 12InG1722 whichG3739 wereG5225 all mannerG3956 of fourfooted beastsG5074 of the earthG1093, andG2532 wild beastsG2342, andG2532 creeping thingsG2062, andG2532 fowlsG4071 of the airG3772. 13AndG2532 there cameG1096 a voiceG5456 toG4314 himG846, RiseG450, PeterG4074; killG2380, andG2532 eatG5315. 14ButG1161 PeterG4074 saidG2036, Not soG3365, LordG2962; forG3754 I haveG5315 neverG3763 eatenG5315 any thingG3956 that is commonG2839 orG2228 uncleanG169. 15AndG2532 the voiceG5456 spoke toG4314 himG846 againG3825 G1537 the second timeG1208, WhatG3739 GodG2316 hath cleansedG2511, that callG2840 notG3361 thouG4771 commonG2840. 16ThisG5124 was doneG1096 three timesG1909 G5151: andG2532 the vesselG4632 was received upG353 againG3825 intoG1519 heavenG3772. 17NowG1161 whileG5613 PeterG4074 greatly perplexedG1280 inG1722 himselfG1438 whatG5101 this visionG3705 whichG3739 he had seenG1492 should meanG302 G1498, beholdG2400 G2532, the menG435 whoG3588 were sentG649 fromG575 CorneliusG2883 had made enquiryG1331 for Simon’sG4613 houseG3614, and stoodG2186 beforeG1909 the gateG4440, 18AndG2532 calledG5455, and askedG4441 whetherG1487 SimonG4613, whoG3588 was surnamedG1941 PeterG4074, lodgedG3579 thereG1759. 19WhileG1161 PeterG4074 thoughtG1760 onG4012 the visionG3705, the SpiritG4151 saidG2036 to himG846, BeholdG2400, threeG5140 menG435 seekG2212 theeG4571. 20AriseG450 thereforeG235, and go downG2597, andG2532 goG4198 withG4862 themG846, doubtingG1252 nothingG3367: forG1360 IG1473 have sentG649 themG846. 21ThenG1161 PeterG4074 went downG2597 toG4314 the menG435 whoG3588 were sentG649 toG4314 himG846 fromG575 CorneliusG2883; and saidG2036, BeholdG2400, IG1473 amG1510 he whomG3739 ye seekG2212: whatG5101 is the causeG156 forG1223 whichG3739 ye have comeG3918? 22AndG1161 they saidG2036, CorneliusG2883 the centurionG1543, a justG1342 manG435, andG2532 one that fearethG5399 GodG2316, andG5037 of good reportG3140 amongG5259 allG3650 the nationG1484 of the JewsG2453, was warned from GodG5537 byG5259 an holyG40 angelG32 to sendG3343 for theeG4571 intoG1519 hisG846 houseG3624, andG2532 to hearG191 wordsG4487 fromG3844 theeG4675. 23ThenG3767 he calledG1528 themG846 inG1528, and lodgedG3579 them. AndG1161 on the next dayG1887 PeterG4074 wentG1831 withG4862 themG846, andG2532 certainG5100 brethrenG80 fromG575 JoppaG2445 accompaniedG4905 himG846. 24AndG2532 on the next dayG1887 they enteredG1525 intoG1519 CaesareaG2542. AndG1161 CorneliusG2883 waited forG4328 themG846 G2258, and had called togetherG4779 hisG846 kinsmenG4773 andG2532 nearG316 friendsG5384. 25AndG1161 asG5613 PeterG4074 wasG1096 coming inG1525, CorneliusG2883 metG4876 himG846, and fell downG4098 atG1909 his feetG4228, and worshippedG4352 him. 26ButG1161 PeterG4074 tookG1453 himG846 upG1453, sayingG3004, Stand upG450; IG2504 myselfG846 alsoG2504 amG1510 a manG444. 27AndG2532 as he talkedG4926 with himG846, he went inG1525, andG2532 foundG2147 manyG4183 that had come togetherG4905. 28AndG5037 he saidG5346 toG4314 themG846, YeG5210 knowG1987 G5613 that it isG2076 an unlawful thingG111 for a manG435 that is a JewG2453 to keep companyG2853, orG2228 come toG4334 one of another nationG246; butG2532 GodG2316 hath shownG1166 meG1698 that I should notG3367 callG3004 anyG3367 manG444 commonG2839 orG2228 uncleanG169. 29ThereforeG1352 G2532 I cameG2064 to you willinglyG369, as soon as I was sent forG3343: I askG4441 thereforeG3767 for whatG5101 intentG3056 ye have sent forG3343 meG3165? 30AndG2532 CorneliusG2883 saidG5346, FourG5067 daysG2250 agoG575 I wasG2252 fastingG3522 untilG3360 thisG5026 hourG5610; andG2532 at the ninthG1766 hourG5610 I prayedG4336 inG1722 myG3450 houseG3624, andG2532, beholdG2400, a manG435 stoodG2476 beforeG1799 meG3450 inG1722 brightG2986 clothingG2066, 31AndG2532 saidG5346, CorneliusG2883, thyG4675 prayerG4335 is heardG1522, andG2532 thyG4675 almsG1654 are had in remembranceG3415 in the sightG1799 of GodG2316. 32SendG3992 thereforeG3767 toG1519 JoppaG2445, andG2532 call hereG3333 SimonG4613, whoseG3739 surname isG1941 PeterG4074; heG3778 lodgethG3579 inG1722 the houseG3614 of one SimonG4613 a tannerG1038 byG3844 the sea sideG2281: whoG3739, when he comethG3854, shall speakG2980 to theeG4671. 33ImmediatelyG1824 thereforeG3767 I sentG3992 toG4314 theeG4571; andG5037 thouG4771 hast wellG2573 doneG4160 that thou hast comeG3854. NowG3568 thereforeG3767 we areG3918 G2249 allG3956 here presentG3918 beforeG1799 GodG2316, to hearG191 all thingsG3956 that are commandedG4367 theeG4671 fromG5259 GodG2316. 34ThenG1161 PeterG4074 openedG455 his mouthG4750, and saidG2036, InG1909 truthG225 I perceiveG2638 thatG3754 GodG2316 isG2076 noG3756 respecter of personsG4381: 35ButG235 inG1722 everyG3956 nationG1484 he that fearethG5399 himG846, andG2532 workethG2038 righteousnessG1343, isG2076 acceptedG1184 with himG846. 36The wordG3056 whichG3739 God sentG649 to the childrenG5207 of IsraelG2474, preachingG2097 peaceG1515 byG1223 JesusG2424 ChristG5547: (heG3778 isG2076 LordG2962 of allG3956:) 37That wordG4487, I say, yeG5210 knowG1492, which was proclaimedG1096 throughoutG2596 allG3650 JudaeaG2449, and beganG756 fromG575 GalileeG1056, afterG3326 the baptismG908 whichG3739 JohnG2491 preachedG2784; 38ThatG5613 GodG2316 anointedG5548 JesusG2424 ofG575 NazarethG3478 with the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 andG2532 with powerG1411: whoG846 G3739 went aboutG1330 doing goodG2109, andG2532 healingG2390 allG3956 that were oppressedG2616 byG5259 the devilG1228; forG3754 GodG2316 wasG2258 withG3326 himG846. 39AndG2532 weG2249 areG2070 witnessesG3144 of all thingsG3956 whichG3739 he didG4160 bothG5037 inG1722 the landG5561 of the JewsG2453, andG2532 inG1722 JerusalemG2419; whomG3739 they slewG337 and hangedG2910 onG1909 a treeG3586: 40HimG5126 GodG2316 raisedG1453 the thirdG5154 dayG2250, andG2532 showedG1096 himG846 openlyG1717 G1325; 41NotG3756 to allG3956 the peopleG2992, butG235 to witnessesG3144 chosen beforeG4401 byG5259 GodG2316, even to usG2254, whoG3748 ateG4906 andG2532 drank withG4844 himG846 afterG3326 heG846 roseG450 fromG1537 the deadG3498. 42AndG2532 he commandedG3853 usG2254 to preachG2784 to the peopleG2992, andG2532 to testifyG1263 thatG3754 it isG2076 heG846 whoG3588 was ordainedG3724 byG5259 GodG2316 to be the JudgeG2923 of the livingG2198 andG2532 the deadG3498. 43To himG5129 giveG3140 allG3956 the prophetsG4396 witnessG3140, that throughG1223 hisG846 nameG3686 whoeverG3956 believethG4100 inG1519 himG846 shall receiveG2983 remissionG859 of sinsG266. 44While PeterG4074 was yetG2089 speakingG2980 theseG5023 wordsG4487, the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 fellG1968 onG1909 allG3956 them who heardG191 the wordG3056. 45AndG2532 they ofG1537 the circumcisionG4061 who believedG4103 were astonishedG1839, as many asG3745 came withG4905 PeterG4074, becauseG3754 that onG1909 the GentilesG1484 alsoG2532 was poured outG1632 the giftG1431 of the HolyG40 SpiritG4151. 46ForG1063 they heardG191 themG846 speak inG2980 tonguesG1100, andG2532 magnifyG3170 GodG2316. ThenG5119 answeredG611 PeterG4074, 47CanG3385 G1410 any manG5100 forbidG2967 waterG5204, that theseG5128 shouldG907 notG3361 be baptizedG907, whoG3748 have receivedG2983 the HolyG40 SpiritG4151 asG2532 well asG2531 weG2249? 48AndG5037 he commandedG4367 themG846 to be baptizedG907 inG1722 the nameG3686 of the LordG2962. ThenG5119 they requestedG2065 himG846 to tarryG1961 certainG5100 daysG2250.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ACCESSION AND BAPTISM OF CORNELIUS AND HIS PARTY; OR, THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE GENTILES. (Acts 10:1-48)
Cćsarea--(See on
Acts 8:40).
the Italian band--a cohort of Italians, as distinguished from native soldiers, quartered at Cćsarea, probably as a bodyguard to the Roman procurator who resided there. An ancient coin makes express mention of such a cohort in Syria. [AKERMAN, Numismatic Illustrations of the New Testament.]
2 A devout man, &c.--an uncircumcised Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith, of whom there were a very great number at this time; a distinguished proselyte, who had brought his whole household establishment under the hallowing influence of the Jewish faith and the regular observance of its principal seasons of worship.
gave much alms to the people--that is, the Jewish people, on the same principle as another centurion before him (
Luke 7:5); thinking it no "great thing," if they had "sown unto him spiritual things, that they should reap his carnal things" (
1Cor 9:11).
prayed to God alway--at the stated daily seasons. (See on
Acts 10:3).
3 saw . . . evidently--"distinctly."
the ninth hour of the day--three o'clock, the hour of the evening sacrifice. But he had been "fasting until that hour" (
Acts 10:30), perhaps from the sixth hour (
Acts 10:9).
4 What is it, Lord?--language which, tremulously though it was uttered, betokened childlike reverence and humility.
Thy prayers and thine alms--The way in which both are specified is emphatic. The one denotes the spiritual outgoing of his soul to God, the other its practical outgoing to men.
are come up for a memorial before God--that is, as a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God, as an odor of a sweet smell (
Rev 8:4).
5 send to Joppa . . . for one Simon, &c.--(See on
Acts 9:11).
7 when the angel . . . was departed, he called--immediately doing as directed, and thereby showing the simplicity of his faith.
a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually--of the "soldiers under him," such as the centurion at Capernaum had (
Matt 8:9). Who this "devout soldier" was, can only be matter of conjecture. DA COSTA [Four Witnesses] gives a number of ingenious reasons for thinking that, having attached himself henceforth to Peter--whose influence in the composition of the second Gospel is attested by the earliest tradition, and is stamped on that Gospel itself--he is no other than the Evangelist Mark.
9 upon the housetop--the flat roof, the chosen place in the East for cool retirement.
the sixth hour--noon.
10 a trance--differing from the "vision" of Cornelius, in so far as the things seen had not the same objective reality, though both were supernatural.
12 all manner of four-footed beasts, &c.--that is, the clean and the unclean (ceremonially) all mixed together.
14 Not so, Lord--See Marginal reference.
I have never eaten anything that is common--that is, not sanctified by divine permission to eat of it, and so "unclean." "The distinction of meats was a sacrament of national distinction, separation, and consecration" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
15 What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common--The ceremonial distinctions are at an end, and Gentiles, ceremonially separated from the chosen people (
Acts 10:28), and debarred from that access to God in the visible ordinances of His Church which they enjoyed, are now on a perfect equality with them.
16 done thrice--See
Gen 41:32.
17 while Peter doubted . . . what this should mean, behold, the three men . . . stood before the gate . . . and asked--"were inquiring," that is, in the act of doing so. The preparations here made--of Peter for his Gentile visitors, as of Cornelius for him--are devoutly to be noted. But besides this, at the same moment, "the Spirit" expressly informs him that three men were inquiring for him, and bids him unhesitatingly go with them, as sent by Him.
21 I am he whom ye seek--This seems to have been said without any communication being made to Peter regarding the men or their errand.
22 they said, Cornelius . . . a just man, &c.--fine testimony this from his own servants.
of good report among all the nation of the Jews--specified, no doubt, to conciliate the favorable regard of the Jewish apostle.
to hear words of thee--(See on
Acts 11:14).
23 called them in and lodged them--thus partially anticipating this fellowship with Gentiles.
Peter went . . . with them, and certain brethren--six in number (
Acts 11:12).
from Joppa--as witnesses of a transaction which Peter was prepared to believe pregnant with great consequences.
24 Cornelius . . . called together his kinsmen and near friends--implying that he had been long enough at Cćsarea to form relationships there and that he had intimate friends there whose presence he was not ashamed to invite to a religious meeting of the most solemn nature.
25 as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him--a mark of the highest respect.
fell down at his feet, and worshipped him--In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mortal [GROTIUS]. "Those who claim to have succeeded Peter, have not imitated this part of his conduct" [ALFORD] (therein only verifying
2Thess 2:4, and compare
Rev 19:10;
Rev 22:9).
28 Ye know it is . . . unlawful . . . for . . . a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation, &c.--There was no express prohibition to this effect, and to a Certain extent intercourse was certainly kept up. (See the Gospel history, towards the end). But intimate social fellowship was not practiced, as being adverse to the spirit of the law.
29 I ask therefore, &c.--The whole speech is full of dignity, the apostle seeing in the company before him a new brotherhood, into whose devout and inquiring minds he was divinely directed to pour the light of new truth.
30 Four days ago--the messengers being despatched on the first; on the second reaching Joppa (
Acts 10:9); starting for Cćsarea on the third; and on the fourth arriving.
33 we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God--Beautiful expression of entire preparedness to receive the expected divine teaching through the lips of this heaven-commissioned teacher, and delightful encouragement to Peter to give free utterance to what was doubtless already on his lips!
34 Peter opened his mouth--(See on
Matt 5:2).
Of a truth I perceive--that is, "I have it now demonstrated before mine eyes."
that God is no respecter of persons--Not, "I see there is no capricious favoritism with God," for Peter would never imagine such a thing; but (as the next clause shows), "I see that God has respect only to personal character and state in the acceptance of men, national and ecclesiastical distinctions being of no account."
35 But in every nation--not (observe), in every religion; according to a common distortion of these words.
he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness--This being the well-known phraseology of the Old Testament in describing the truly godly man, within the pale of revealed religion, it cannot be alleged that Peter meant it to denote a merely virtuous character, in the heathen sense; and as Peter had learned enough, from the messengers of Cornelius and from his own lips, to convince him that the whole religious character of this Roman officer had been moulded in the Jewish faith, there can be no doubt that the apostle intended to describe exactly such saintship--in its internal spirituality and external fruitfulness--as God had already pronounced to be genuine and approved. And since to such "He giveth more grace," according to the law of His Kingdom (
Jas 4:6;
Matt 25:29), He sends Peter, not to be the instrument of his conversion, as this is very frequently called, but simply to "show him the way of God more perfectly," as before to the devout Ethiopian eunuch.
36 the word . . . sent unto the children of Israel--for to them (he would have them distinctly know) the Gospel was first preached, even as the facts of it took place on the special theater of the ancient economy.
preaching peace by Jesus Christ--the glorious sum of all Gospel truth (
1Cor 1:20-22).
he is Lord of all--exalted to embrace under the canopy of His peace, Jew and Gentile alike, whom the blood of His Cross had cemented into one reconciled and accepted family of God (
Eph 2:13-
Eph 2:18).
37 That word . . . ye how--The facts, it seems, were too notorious and extraordinary to be unknown to those who mixed so much with Jews, and took so tender an interest in all Jewish matters as they did; though, like the eunuch, they knew not the significance of them.
which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee--(See
Luke 4:14,
Luke 4:37,
Luke 4:44;
Luke 7:17;
Luke 9:6;
Luke 23:5).
after the baptism which John preached--(See on
Acts 1:22).
38 Now God anointed Jesus of Nazareth--rather, "Jesus of Nazareth (as the burden of that 'published word'), how God anointed Him."
with the Holy Ghost and with power--that is, at His baptism, thus visibly proclaiming Him MESSIAH, "the Lord's Christ." See
Luke 4:18-
Luke 4:21. For it is not His unction for personal holiness at His incarnation that is referred to--as many of the Fathers and some moderns take it--but His investiture with the insignia of the Messianic office, in which He presented Himself after His baptism to the acceptance of the people.
went about doing good--holding up the beneficent character of all His miracles, which was their predicted character (
Isa 35:5-
Isa 35:6, &c.).
healing all that were oppressed of the devil--whether in the form of demoniacal possessions, or more indirectly, as in her "whom Satan had bound with a spirit of infirmity eighteen years" (
Luke 13:16); thereby showing Himself the Redeemer from all evil.
for God was with him--Thus gently does the apostle rise to the supreme dignity of Christ with which he closes, accommodating himself to his hearers.
39 we are witnesses of all . . . he did--not objects of superstitious reverence, but simply witnesses to the great historical facts on which the Gospel is founded.
slew and hanged--that is, slew by hanging.
on a tree--So
Acts 5:30 (and see on
Gal 3:13).
40 showed him openly; Not to all the people--for it was not fitting that He should subject Himself, in His risen condition, to a second rejection in Person.
but unto witnesses chosen before of God . . . to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose, &c.--Not the less certain, therefore, was the fact of His resurrection, though withholding Himself from general gaze in His risen body.
he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead--He had before proclaimed Him "Lord of all," for the dispensing of "peace" to all alike; now he announces Him in the same supreme lordship, for the exercise of judgment upon all alike. On this divine ordination, see
John 5:22-
John 5:23,
John 5:27;
Acts 17:31. Thus we have here all Gospel truth in brief. But, forgiveness through this exalted One is the closing note of Peter's beautifully simple discourse.
43 To him give all the prophets witness--that is, This is the burden, generally of the prophetic testimony. It was fitter thus to give the spirit of their testimony, than to quote them in detail on such an occasion. But let this apostolic statement of the evangelical import of the Old Testament writings be devoutly weighed by those who are disposed to rationalize away this element in the Old Testament.
whosoever believeth in him--This was evidently said with special reference to the Gentile audience then before him, and formed a noble practical conclusion to the whole discourse.
44 While Peter yet spake . . . the Holy Ghost fell--by visible and audible manifestation (
Acts 10:46).
45 they of the circumcision . . . were astonished . . . because that on the Gentiles also was poured out, &c.--without circumcision.
46 heard them speak with tongues and magnify God--As on the day of Pentecost it was no empty miracle, no mere speaking of foreign languages, but utterance of "the wonderful works of God" in tongues to them unknown (
Acts 2:11), so here; but more remarkable in this case, as the speakers were perhaps less familiar with the Old Testament songs of praise.
46 Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water . . . which have received the Holy Ghost, &c.--Mark, he does not say, They have received the Spirit, what need have they for water? but, Having the living discipleship imparted to them and visibly stamped upon them, what objection can there be to admitting them, by the seal of baptism, into the full fellowship of the Church?
47 which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we--and are thus, in all that is essential to salvation, on a level with ourselves.
48 he commanded them to be baptized--not doing it with his own hands, as neither did Paul, save on rare occasions (
1Cor 1:14-17; compare
Acts 2:38;
John 4:2).
prayed . . . him to tarry certain days--"golden days" [BENGEL], spent, doubtless, in refreshing Christian fellowship, and in imparting and receiving fuller teaching on the several topics of the apostle's discourse.
