This chapter Acts 10 commences a very important part of the history of the transactions of the apostles. Before this, they had preached the gospel to the Jews only. They seemed to have retained the feelings of their countrymen on this subject, that the Jews were to be regarded as the especially favo... [ Continue Reading ]
IN CESAREA - See the notes on Acts 8:40. CORNELIUS - This is a Latin name, and shows that the man was doubtless a Roman. It has been supposed by many interpreters that he was “a proselyte of the gate”; that is, one who had renounced idolatry, and who observed some of the Jewish rites, though not cir... [ Continue Reading ]
A DEVOUT MAN - Pious, or one who maintained the worship of God. See the notes on Luke 2:25. Compare Acts 2:5; Acts 8:2. AND ONE THAT FEARED GOD - This is often a designation of piety. See notes on Acts 9:31. It has been supposed by many that the expressions here used denote that Cornelius was a Jew,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAW IN A VISION - See the notes on Acts 9:10. EVIDENTLY - Openly; manifestly. ABOUT THE NINTH HOUR - About 3 o’clock p. m. This was the usual hour of evening worship among the Jews. AN ANGEL OF GOD - See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Compare Hebrews 1:14. This angel was sent to signify to Corneliu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE LOOKED ON HIM - Greek: Having fixed his eyes attentively on him. HE WAS AFRAID - At the suddenness and unexpected character of the vision. WHAT IS IT, LORD? - This is the expression of surprise and alarm. The word “Lord” should have been translated “sir,” since there is no evidence tha... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LODGETH - He remains as a guest at his house. See Acts 9:43. BY THE SEA-SIDE - Joppa was a seaport on the Mediterranean. Tanneries are erected on the margin of streams or of any body of water to convey away the filth produced in the operation of dressing skins.... [ Continue Reading ]
A DEVOUT SOLDIER - A pious man. This is an instance of the effect of piety in a military officer. Few people have more influence; and in this case the effect was seen not only in the piety of his family, but of this attending soldier. Such men have usually been supposed to be far from the influence... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN ... - “It has been remarked that from Joppa, Jonah was sent to preach to the Gentiles at Nineveh, and that from the same place Peter was sent to preach to the Gentiles at Caesarea” (Clarke).... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER WENT UP ... - The small room in the second story, or on the roof of the house, was the usual place for retirement and prayer. See the notes on Matthew 6:6; Matthew 9:2. Even when there was no room constructed on the roof, the roof was a common resort for retirement and prayer. Around the edge... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BECAME VERY HUNGRY - Prom the connection, where it is said that they were making ready, that is, preparing a meal, it would seem that this was the customary hour of dining. The Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans, however, had but two meals, and the first was usually taken about ten or eleven o’clock... [ Continue Reading ]
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 hig... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN ... - This particular vision was suggested by Peter’s hunger, Acts 10:10. It was designed, however, to teach him an important lesson in regard to the introduction of all nations to the gospel. Its descending from heaven may have been an intimation that that religion which was about to abolis... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NEVER EATEN ... - In the Old Testament God had made a distinction between clean and unclean animals. See Leviticus 11:2; Deuteronomy 14:3. This law remained in the Scriptures, and Peter pled that he had never violated it, implying that he could not now violate it, as it was a law of God, and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT GOD HATH CLEANSED - What God has pronounced or declared pure. If God has commanded you to do a thing, it is not impure or wrong. Perhaps Peter would suppose that the design of this vision was to instruct him that the distinction between clean and unclean food, as recognized by the Jews, was abo... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WAS DONE THRICE - Three times, doubtless to impress the mind of Peter with the certainty and importance of the vision. Compare Genesis 41:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
DOUBTED IN HIMSELF - Doubted in his own mind. He was perplexed, and did not know how to understand it. BEHOLD, THE MEN ... - We see here an admirable arrangement of the events of Providence to fit each other. Every part of this transaction is made to harmonize with every other part; and it was so ar... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT - See the notes on Acts 8:29. Compare Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer,” etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HEAR WORDS OF THEE - To be instructed by thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LODGED THEM - They remained with him through the night. Four days were occupied before Peter met Cornelius at Caesarea. On the first the angel appeared to Cornelius. On the second the messengers arrived at Joppa, Acts 10:9. On the third, Peter returned with them, Acts 10:23; and on the fourth th... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS KINSMEN - His relatives, or the connections of his family. A man may often do vast good by calling his kindred and friends to hear the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 homa... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND UP ... - This does not imply that Peter supposed that Cornelius intended to do him religious reverence. It was practically saying to him, “I am nothing more than a man as thou art, and pretend to no right to such profound respects as these, but am ready in civil life to show thee all the respe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE TALKED WITH HIM - He probably met him at the door, or at a small distance from the house. It was an expression of joy thus to go out to meet him.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS AN UNLAWFUL THING - This was not explicitly enjoined by Moses, but it seemed to be implied in his institutions, and was, at any rate, the common understanding of the Jews. The design was to keep them a separate people. To do this, Moses forbade alliances by contract, or marriage, with the surr... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT GAINSAYING - without “saying anything against it”; without hesitation or reluctance. I ASK, THEREFORE ... - The main design for which Cornelius had sent for him had been mentioned to Peter by the messenger, Acts 10:22. But Peter now desired from his own lips a more particular statement of t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR DAYS AGO - See the notes on Acts 10:23. UNTIL THIS HOUR - The ninth hour, or three o’clock, p. m. See Acts 10:3. A MAN - Called, in Acts 10:3, an angel. He had the appearance of a man. Compare Mark 16:5. IN BRIGHT CLOTHING - See the notes on Matthew 28:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST WELL DONE - This is an expression of grateful feeling. BEFORE GOD - In the presence of God. It is implied that they believed that God saw them; that they were assembled at his command, and that they were disposed to listen to his instructions.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PETER OPENED HIS MOUTH - Began to speak, Matthew 5:2. OF A TRUTH - Truly, evidently. That is, I have evidence here that God is no respecter of persons. IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS - The word used here denotes “the act of showing favor to one on account of rank, family, wealth, or partiality ari... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IN EVERY NATION ... - This is given as a reason for what Peter had just said, that God was no respecter of persons. The sense is, that he now perceived that the favors of God were not confined to the Jew, but might be extended to all others on the same principle. The remarkable circumstances her... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD - That is, this is the Word, or “the doctrine.” Few passages in the New Testament have perplexed critics more than this. It has been difficult to ascertain to what the term “word” in the accusative case τὸν λόγον ton logon here refers. Our translation would lead us to suppose that it is s... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WORD - Greek: ῥῆμα rēma - a different word from that in the previous verse. It may be translated “thing” as well as “word.” WHICH WAS PUBLISHED - Greek: which was done. “You know, though it may be imperfectly, what was done or accomplished in Judea,” etc. THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA - The miracle... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW GOD ANOINTED ... - That is, set him apart to this work, and was with him, acknowledging him as the Messiah. See the notes on Matthew 1:1. WITH THE HOLY GHOST - See the notes on Luke 4:19. The act of anointing kings and priests seems to have been emblematic of the influences of the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE ARE WITNESSES - We who are apostles. See the notes on Luke 24:48. IN THE LAND OF THE JEWS - In the country of Judea. WHOM THEY SLEW ... - Our translation would seem to imply that there were two separate acts - first executing him, and then suspending him. But this is neither according to tr... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOWED HIM OPENLY - Manifestly; so that there could be no deception, no doubt of his resurrection.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT TO ALL THE PEOPLE - Not to the nation at large, for this was not necessary in order to establish the truth of his resurrection. He, however, showed himself to many persons. See the Harmony of the Accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus. CHOSEN OF GOD - Appointed by God, or set apart by his author... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMMANDED US ... - ; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15. AND TO TESTIFY - To bear witness. THAT IT IS HE ... - See the notes on John 5:22. Compare the references in the margin. OF QUICK - The living. The doctrine of the New Testament is, that those who are alive when the Lord Jesus shall return to j... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM GIVE ... - See the notes on Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44. THAT THROUGH HIS NAME ... - This was implied in what the prophets said. See Romans 10:11. It was not, indeed, expressly affirmed that they who believed in him should be pardoned, but this was implied in what they said. They promised a Messi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOLY GHOST FELL ... - Endowing them with the power of speaking with other tongues, Acts 10:46. Of this the apostle Peter makes much in his argument in Acts 11:17. By this, God showed that the Gentiles were to be admitted to the same privileges with the Jews, and to the blessings of salvation in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY OF THE CIRCUMCISION - Who had been Jews. WERE ASTONISHED - Were amazed that Gentiles should be admitted to the same favor as themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK WITH TONGUES - In other languages than their own native tongue, Acts 2:4. AND MAGNIFY GOD - And praise God.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN ANY MAN FORBID WATER ... - They have shown that they are favored in the same way as the Jewish converts. God has manifested himself to them as he did to the Jews on the day of Pentecost. Is it not clear, therefore, that they are entitled to the privilege of Christian baptism? The expression used... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMMANDED THEM ... - Why Peter did not himself baptize them is unknown. It might be, perhaps, because he chose to make use of the ministry of the brethren who were with him, to prevent the possibility of future cavil. If they did it themselves, they could not so easily be led by the Jews to f... [ Continue Reading ]