Acts 10:25

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. AND AS PETER WAS COMING IN, CORNELIUS MET HIM - a mark of highest respect, "and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him....

25._Falling down at his feet, he worshipped. _Here is the word προσεκυνησεν, which signifieth to testify honor or worship, either by bowing the knee or ducking down the head, or by any other gesture. Now, the question is, whether Peter refuteth this worship for modesty’s sake only, or he disalloweth it as a thing altogether unlawful? It appeareth that Cornelius’ fact displeased Peter, by the reason which is by and by added, _Arise, for even I am a man. _For we may gather that there was some divine thing in that worship, because he did ascribe unto mortal man the honor which is due to God alone. But we must not think that Cornelius did count Peter instead of God; for if he translated God’s honor unto mortal man, where is that godliness and religion, with the title whereof he was of late adorned? Therefore, I think that he meant nothing less than to spoil God of his lawful worship, that he...

19-33 When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was...

Verse Acts 10:25. _FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET, AND WORSHIPPED_ HIM.] As Peter's coming was announced by an _angel_, Cornelius might have supposed that Peter himself was an angel, and of a superior order; seeing he came to announce what the first angel was not employed to declare: it was, probably, in consequence of this thought that he prostrated himself before Peter, offering him the highest act of _civil_ respect; for there was nothing in the act, as performed by Cornelius, which belonged to the worship of the true God. _Prostrations_ to superiors were common in all Asiatic countries. The _Codex Bezae_, and the later _Syriac_ in the margin reads this verse differently from all other MSS. and versions; thus, _But as_ _Peter drew nigh to Caesarea, one of the servants ran before, and_ told that he was come: then Cornelius leaped up, and met him, and,...

FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET - This was an act of profound regard for him as an ambassador of God. In Oriential countries it was usual for persons to prostrate themselves at length on the ground before men of rank and honor. “Worshipped him” This does not mean religious homage, but civil respect - the homage, or profound regard which was due to one in honor. See the notes on Matthew 2:2....

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 AS PETER WAS COMING IN,.... Not into the city of Caesarea, for his entrance there is mentioned before, but into the house of Cornelius: CORNELIUS MET HIM, AND FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET; to testify his great affection for him, and reverence of him: AND WORSHIPPED [HIM]; not with a religious adoration, or with worship due to God; for that would have been contrary to his character as a devout man, and one that feared God; but with civil worship and respect, in which he might exceed just bounds, and therefore is reproved by Peter: nor could he take him for an angel of God, or for one sent immediately from heaven to him; for he had been informed who he was, and what he was, and from whence he came, and what he was to do....

ACTS 10:25 The expansion in the Western text of this verse appears to have arisen from reflecting upon the difficulty involved in the ordinary text, that Cornelius could not have known exactly when to go out to meet Peter and to summon his kinsmen and close friends to his home. The text of D, supported by itgig syrhmg copG67 and in part by itp and other Latin witnesses, reads: proseggi,zontoj de. tou/ Pe,trou eivj th.n Kaisa,rian prodramw.n ei-j tw/n dou,lwn diesa,fhsen paragegone,nai auvto,n) o` de. Kornh,lioj evkphdh,saj kai.…(“And as Peter was drawing near to Caesarea, one of the servants 191 ran ahead and announced that he had arrived. And Cornelius jumped up and …”)....

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. THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS. This incident is parallel to the conversion of the Ethiopian by Philip; both show the extension of the Gospel beyond the Jews, and prepare for the story of the Pauline mission. On the opening vision _cf. Acts 8:26_, Acts 16:9; Galatians 2:2. See also p. 767. ACTS 10:19. Peter on the roof would hear their voices calling for him. He did not need the Spirit to tell him their errand, only to help him to make the decision. Acts 10:20. nothing doubting: _ cf._...