Acts 10:28

Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing, &c. It is said expressly by Maimonides, Hilechoth Rozeakh, &c. xii. 7, "It is forbidden to a Jew to be alone with heathens, because they are suspected of (lightly) shedding blood, nor must he associate with them on the road." And in the Midrash Rabbahon Leviticus, cap. 20 (ad fin.), there is an interesting example of the sort of ceremonial defilement which association with the heathen might bring about, "It happened that Shimeon the son of Kimkhith (who was high-priest) went out to speak with the King of the Arabians, and there came a fleck of spittle from the King's mouth upon the priest's garment and so he was unclean; and his brother Judah went in and served instead of him in the high-priest's office. That day their mother saw two of her sons high-priests." The Apostle speaks of the prohibition as a thing well known to those who heard him, and the action of the messengers of Cornelius in standing outside the house of Simon and calling out some one to question in the open air shews that they were aware of the dislike of the Jews to associate with Gentiles. We have evidence that this dislike was well known wherever the Jews resided from the words of Juvenal (xiv. 103), "Non monstrare vias eadem nisi sacra colenti." So Tacitus (Hist. Acts 10:5), "separati epulis, discreti cubilibus."

to keep company Lit. "to join himself." The word is the same as in the command to Philip (Acts 8:29), "Go near and join thyselfto this chariot;" and signifies intimate intercourse. The ordinary dealings of life must constantly have forced Jews to be in the company of Gentiles, but it was to be avoided if possible.

but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean The Spirit's command "Go with them doubting nothing, for I have sent them" has taught Peter how he is to interpret the figure shewn to him in his vision.