Acts 10:11

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: AND SAW HEAVEN OPENED, AND A CERTAIN VESSEL DESCENDING [UNTO HIM]. These bracketed words [ ep' (G1909) auton (G846)] are evidently not genuine. AS IT HAD BEEN A GREAT SHEET, KNIT AT THE FOUR CORNERS, [ archais (G746)] - 'extremities,' or 'ends.' So all the older interpreters. Dr. Middleton's rendering (after Wakefield) - to which Humphry, Alford, Webster and Wilkinson adhere-`fastened to the ends of four ropes'-is without warrant (see Blownfield's good note). Meyer's rendering-`bound to four corners,' as meaning the four quarters of th...

11.The opening of heaven signifieth, in my judgment, another thing in this place than in the seventh chapter. For it is said there that heaven was opened to Stephen, that he did behold the glory of Christ; in this place Peter saw our heaven which we see divided, so that a sheet came thence....

9-18 The prejudices of Peter against the Gentiles, would have prevented his going to Cornelius, unless the Lord had prepared him for this service. To tell a Jew that God had directed those animals to be reckoned clean which were hitherto deemed unclean, was in effect saying, that the law of Moses was done away. Peter was soon made to know the meaning of it. God knows what services are before us, and how to prepare us; and we know the meaning of what he has taught us, when we find what occasion we have to make use of it....

Verse Acts 10:11. _AND SAW HEAVEN OPENED_] His mind now entirely spiritualized, and absorbed in heavenly contemplation, was capable of discoveries of the spiritual world; a world which, with its πληρωμα, or _plenitude_ of inhabitants, surrounds us at all times; but which we are incapable of seeing through the dense medium of _flesh_ and _blood_, and their necessarily concomitant _earthly_ _passions_. Much, however, of such a world and its economy may be apprehended by him who is purified from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and who has perfected holiness in the fear of God. But this is a subject to which the _enthusiast_ in vain attempts to ascend. The _turbulent working_ of his imagination, and the gross earthly crudities which he wishes to obtrude on the world as revelations from God, afford a sufficient refutation of their own blasphemous prete...

AND SAW HEAVEN OPENED - Acts 7:56. See the notes on Matthew 3:16. This language is derived from a common mode of speaking in the Hebrew Scriptures, as if the sky above us was a solid, vast expanse, and as if it were opened to present an opportunity for anything to descend. It is language that is highly figurative. AND A CERTAIN VESSEL - See the notes on Acts 9:15. AS IT HAD BEEN - It is important to mark this expression. The sacred writer does not say that Peter literally saw such an object descending; but he uses this as an imperfect description of the vision. It was not a literal descent of a vessel, but it was such a k

EXPOSITION ACTS 10:1 Now _there was _(two last words in italics) for _there was _(in roman), A.V. and T.R.; _Cornelius by name _for _called Cornelius, _A.V. A glance at the map will show that Caesarea (see note to Acts 9:30) was but a short distance, some thirty miles, from Joppa. It was doubtless with a view to Peter's momentous errand to Caesarea that Luke recorded his previous visit to Lydda and his residence at Joppa, consequent upon the restoring of Dorcas to life: the _origines _of Gentile Christianity being the prime object of the Acts (see Introduction to the Acts). THE ITALIAN BAND; or, _cohort _(σπείρα). The σπείρα, or cohort, was used in two _senses. _When spoken of strictly Roman troops, it meant the ten

AND SAW HEAVEN OPENED,.... Not literally, as at the baptism of Christ, and the stoning of Stephen; but in a visionary way, and which was an emblem of the opening and revealing the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles, which in other ages was not made known, as it now and afterwards was: AND A CERTAIN VESSEL DESCENDING UNTO HIM, AS IT HAD BEEN A GREAT SHEET: which seems to represent the church of God, whose original is from heaven, and consists of persons born from above, who have their conversation in heaven, and were designed for it; and especially as under the Gospel dispensation, which Peter had a vision of in this emblematic way; the doctrines and ordinances of which are from heaven: and which may be compared to a linen sheet for its purity and holiness; through the blood and righteousness of Christ, and the grace of his Spirit, and with respect to its discipline and conversation;...

ACTS 10:11 kai. katabai/non skeu/o,j ti w`j ovqo,nhn mega,lhn te,ssarsin avrcai/j kaqie,menon {C} Apparently the Western text lacked katabai/non (it is omitted by itd syrp, h copsa Didascalia [in Apostolic Constitutions]) and described the vessel as “tied (dedeme,non) at (the) four corners.” In the text of the old uncials, which read katabai/non, the vessel is said to be “lowered (kaqie,menon) by (the) four corners.” A majority of the Committee judged that witnesses that have all three participles are conflate, and preferred the reading supported by î74 a A B (C2) ite vg geo....

CHAPTER 10 _ 1. Cornelius of Caesarea and his Preparation (Acts 10:1)._ 2. The Trance-vision of Peter (Acts 10:9). 3. Peter with Cornelius at Caesarea (Acts 10:17). 4. Peter Preaching to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34). 5. The Interrupted Message (Acts 10:44). The ending of the preceding chapter tells us that Peter tarried in Joppa in the house of Simon the tanner. Was he breaking with his Jewish law and customs? Tanning as a trade was considered unclean by the Jews. In...

ACTS 10:9. THE HOUSETOP TO PRAY: _ cf._ 2 Kings 23:12; Jeremiah 19:13; Daniel 6:10. SIXTH HOUR: an hour of prayer (_cf. Acts 2:15_). No food was ordinarily eaten by the Jews before midday. Acts 10:10. Peter is in a house where there are people to prepare his meal. A TRANCE: _cf._ Genesis 15:12;...