CORNELIUS (Κορνηλιος). The great Cornelian family of Rome may have had a freedman or descendant who isCENTURION (εκατον-ταρχης, leader of a hundred, Latin _centurio_). See on Matthew 8:5. These Roman centurions always appear in a favourable light in the N.T. (Matthew 8:5; Luke 7:2; Luke 23:47; A... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVOUT (ευσεβης). Old word from ευ (well) and σεβομα (to worship, to reverence), but rare in the N.T. (Acts 10:2; Acts 10:7; 2 Peter 2:1). It might refer to a worshipful pagan (Acts 17:23, σεβασματα, objects of worship), but connected with "one that feared God" (φοβουμενος τον θεον) Luke describes... [ Continue Reading ]
COMING IN (εισελθοντα). Ingressive second aorist active participle, not present. So punctiliar, "saw come," not "saw coming." So also "say" or "speak," not "saying." Luke repeats the account of this vision to Cornelius twice (Acts 10:30; Acts 11:13) and also the story of the vision to Peter (Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD (κυριε). Cornelius recognizes the angel of God (verse Acts 10:3) as God's messenger.ARE GONE UP (ανεβησαν). Timeless second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω. Gone up like the smoke of incense in sacrifices.FOR A MEMORIAL (εις μνημοσυνον). Old word from μνημων. The only other instance... [ Continue Reading ]
FETCH (μεταπεμψα). First aorist middle (indirect, for one's self) imperative of μεταπεμπω, usual voice in ancient Greek with this verb in sense of sending another for one's own sake. Only in Acts in the N.T. See also Acts 10:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
LODGETH (ξενιζετα). Present passive indicative of ξενιζω old verb from ξενος, a stranger as a guest. So to entertain a guest as here or to surprise by strange acts (Acts 17:20; 1 Peter 4:4).WHOSE (ω). To whom, dative of possession.BY THE SEASIDE (παρα θαλασσαν). Along by the sea. Note accusat... [ Continue Reading ]
REHEARSED (εξηγησαμενος). See on Luke 24:35. All the details about the vision. The soldier was "devout" like Cornelius and would protect the two household servants (οικετων).... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE MORROW (τη επαυριον). Locative case of article with the compound adverb (ημερα day being understood), the second day after leaving Caesarea, 28 miles from Joppa. The third day (the next morrow, verse Acts 10:23) they start back home and the fourth day (on the morrow again, verse Acts 10:24... [ Continue Reading ]
HUNGRY (προσπεινος) Only instance of the word known, a απαξ λεγομενον. Probably "very hungry" (προς=besides, in addition).DESIRED (ηθελεν). Imperfect active. Was longing to eat. It was about twelve o'clock noon and Peter may even have smelt the savory dishes, "while they made ready" (παρασκευαζ... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLDETH (θεωρε). Vivid historical present and change from past time.OPENED (ανεωιγμενον, perfect passive participle with double reduplication, state of completion).DESCENDING (καταβαινον). Present active participle describing the process.SHEET (οθονην). Old word for linen cloth and only h... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE (υπηρχεν). Imperfect of υπαρχω in sense of ην, to exist, be. Fish are not mentioned, perhaps because the sheet had no water, though they were clean and unclean also (Leviticus 11:9; Deuteronomy 14:9).ALL MANNER OF (παντα). Literally, all, but clearly all varieties, not all individuals. Bot... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SO, LORD (Μηδαμωσ, κυριε). The negative μηδαμως calls for the optative ειη (may it not be) or the imperative εστω (let it be). It is not ουδαμως, a blunt refusal (I shall not do it). And yet it is more than a mild protest as Page and Furneaux argue. It is a polite refusal with a reason given.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE NOT THOU COMMON (συ μη κοινου). Note emphatic position of συ (thou). Do thou stop making common what God cleansed (εκαθαρισεν). The idiom of μη with the present active imperative κοινου means precisely this. Peter had just called "common" what God had invited him to slay and eat.... [ Continue Reading ]
THRICE (επιτρις). For three times. Peter remained unconvinced even by the prohibition of God. Here is a striking illustration of obstinacy on the part of one who acknowledges the voice of God to him when the command of the Lord crosses one's preferences and prejudices. There are abundant examples... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS MUCH PERPLEXED IN HIMSELF (εν εαυτω διηπορε). Imperfect active of διαπορεω, intensive compound (δια, thoroughly, and α privative and πορος, way), to be completely at a loss to know what road to take. Old verb, but in N.T. only in Luke and Acts. Page notes that Luke is singularly fond of verbs... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED (φωνησαντες). In a loud voice that those inside the house might hear.ASKED (επυνθανοντο). Imperfect middle of πυνθανομα, old verb to make inquiry especially with an indirect question as here. Kept on inquiring. Westcott and Hort follow B C here and read επυθοντο (second aorist middle, ef... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGHT (διενθυμουμενου). Genitive absolute of present middle participle of διενθυμεομα, a double compound (δια and εν- with θυμος) and another απαξ λεγομενον save in ecclesiastical writers, though ενθυμεομα is common enough and Textus Receptus so reads here. Peter was revolving in his mind, thro... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT (αλλα). So usually, though it is open to question whether αλλα is adversative here and not rather, "Now then."GET THEE DOWN (καταβηθ). Second aorist active imperative, at once.GO (πορευου). Present middle imperative, go on.NOTHING DOUBTING (μηδεν διακρινομενος). Another compound of δια,... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSE (αιτια). Or reason. Common in this sense. See on Matthew 19:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUS (δικαιος). In the Jewish sense as in Luke 1:6; Luke 2:25.WELL REPORTED OF (μαρτυρουμενος). Present passive participle as in Acts 6:3. Cf. the other centurion in Luke 7:4.NATION (εθνους). Not λαου, for the speakers are Gentiles.WAS WARNED (εχρηματισθη). First aorist passive of χρημα... [ Continue Reading ]
LODGED THEM (εξενισεν). Active voice here rather than passive as in Acts 10:6.ACCOMPANIED HIM (συνηλθαν αυτω). Associative instrumental case after verb. The wisdom of having these half dozen Jewish Christians from Joppa with Peter in the house of Cornelius in Caesarea becomes manifest in Jerusa... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS WAITING (ην προσδοκων). Periphrastic imperfect active, in eager expectation and hope, directing the mind (δοκαω) towards (προς) anything. Old and common verb.NEAR (αναγκαιους). Only instance in the N.T. of this sense of αναγκαιος from αναγκη, necessity, what one cannot do without, necessary... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT PETER ENTERED (του εισελθειν τον Πετρον). This is a difficult construction, for the subject of εγενετο (it happened) has to be the articular genitive infinitive του εισελθειν with the accusative of general reference τον Πετρον. Most commentators consider it inexplicable. It is probably an ext... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE TALKED WITH HIM (συνομιλων αυτω). Present active participle of συνομιλεω, rare compound and here alone in the N.T., with associative instrumental case. The uncompounded verb is common enough though in the N.T. only in Luke 24:14 which see and Acts 20:11; Acts 24:26.FINDETH (ευρισκε). Vivi... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THAT IT IS AN UNLAWFUL THING (ως αθεμιτον εστιν). The conjunction ως is sometimes equivalent to οτ (that). The old form of αθεμιτος was αθεμιστος from θεμιστο (θεμιζω, θεμις, law custom) and α privative. In the N.T. only here and 1 Peter 4:3 (Peter both times). But there is no O.T. regulation... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT GAINSAYING (αναντιρρητως). Α privative with compound adverb from αντ (back, in return, against) and verbal ρητος (from ερρηθην, to speak). Late and rare and here only in the N.T., but the adjective in Acts 19:36. Without answering back. That is true after the Holy Spirit expressly told Pe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR DAYS AGO (απο τεταρτης ημερας). From the fourth day, reckoning backwards from this day.I WAS KEEPING THE NINTH HOUR OF PRAYER (ημην την ενατην προσευχομενος). Periphrastic middle imperfect and accusative of extension of time (all the ninth hour).... [ Continue Reading ]
IS HEARD (εισηκουσθη). Sort of timeless first aorist passive indicative as is "are had in remembrance" (εμνησθησαν. See verse Acts 10:4 "are gone up for a memorial").... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON (εν οικια Σιμωνος). See Acts 9:43 for παρα Σιμων with same idea.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU HAST WELL DONE THAT THOU ART COME (συ τε καλως εποιησας παραγενομενος). "And thou didst well in coming." A regular formula for expressing thanks as in Philippians 4:14; 3 John 1:6; 2 Peter 1:19. The participle completes the idea of καλως ποιεω neatly. Cornelius commends Peter for his cour... [ Continue Reading ]
OPENED HIS MOUTH (ανοιξας το στομα). Solemn formula for beginning his address (Acts 8:35; Acts 18:14; Matthew 5:2; Matthew 13:35). But also good elocution for the speaker.I PERCEIVE (καταλαμβανομα). Aoristic present middle of καταλαμβανω, to take hold of, the middle noting mental action, to lay... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCEPTABLE TO HIM (δεκτος αυτω). Verbal adjective from δεχομα. _Acceptabilis_. That is to say, a Gentile would not have to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. Evidently Peter had not before perceived this fact. On the great Day of Pentecost when he spoke of the promise "to all those afar... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD WHICH HE SENT (τον λογον ον απεστειλεν). Many ancient MSS. (so Westcott and Hort) read merely τον λογον απεστειλεν (he sent the word). This reading avoids the anacoluthon and inverse attraction of λογον to the case of the relative ον (which).PREACHING GOOD TIDINGS OF PEACE THROUGH JESUS... [ Continue Reading ]
YE KNOW (υμεις οιδατε). Peter reminds his Gentile audience that the main facts concerning Jesus and the gospel were known to them. Note emphatic expression of υμεις (you).BEGINNING (αρξαμενος). The Textus Receptus has αρξαμενον (accusative), but the nominative is given by Aleph A B C D E H and i... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS OF NAZARETH (Ιησουν τον απο Ναζαρεθ). Jesus the one from Nazareth, the article before the city identifying him clearly. The accusative case is here by προλεψις, Jesus being expressed for emphasis before the verb "anointed" and the pronoun repeated pleonastically after it. "Jesus transfers t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE ARE WITNESSES (κα ημεις μαρτυρες). Compare "ye yourselves know" (verse Acts 10:37). Peter thus appeals to what the audience know and to what the disciples know. He made the same claim about personal witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus at Pentecost (Acts 2:32). Here Peter affirms full kn... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE HIM TO BE MADE MANIFEST (εδωκεν αυτον εμφανη γενεσθα). Peculiar phrase, here only in the N.T. and in Romans 10:20 (quoted from Isaiah 65:1). Εμφανη, predicate accusative after infinitive γενεσθα agreeing with αυτον object of εδωκεν.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHOSEN BEFORE (προκεχειροτονημενοις). Perfect passive participle dative plural from προχειροτονεω, to choose or designate by hand (χειροτονεω, χειρ, hand, and τεινω, to stretch, as in Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 8:19), beforehand (προ), a double compound as old as Plato, but here alone in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CHARGED (παρηγγειλεν). First aorist active indicative as in Acts 1:4. There Jesus is the subject and so probably here, though Page insists that ο θεος (God) is here because of verse Acts 10:40.TO TESTIFY (διαμαρτυρασθα). First aorist middle infinitive. See on Acts 2:40.ORDAINED (ωρισμενος)... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH (παντα τον πιστευοντα). This accusative active participle of general reference with the infinitive in indirect discourse is the usual idiom. Only λαβειν (second aorist active infinitive of λαμβανω) is not indirect statement so much as indirect command or arrangement. The... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE PETER YET SPAKE (ετ λαλουντος του Πετρου). Genitive absolute of present participle, still going on.THE HOLY GHOST FELL (επεπεσεν το πνευμα το αγιον). Second aorist active indicative of επιπιπτω, old verb to fall upon, to recline, to come upon. Used of the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:16; Acts 10:... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY OF THE CIRCUMCISION WHICH BELIEVED (ο εκ περιτομης πιστο). The believing ones of the circumcision, more exactly.WERE AMAZED (εξεστησαν). Second aorist active indicative, intransitive, of εξιστημ. They stood out of themselves.ON THE GENTILES ALSO (κα επ τα εθνη). Or, even upon the Gentile... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HEARD (ηκουον). Imperfect active, were hearing, kept on hearing.SPEAK (λαλουντων). Present active participle, speaking, for they kept it up.WITH TONGUES (γλωσσαις). Instrumental case as in Acts 2:4; Acts 2:11 which see. The fuller statement there makes it clear that here it was new and st... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN ANY MAN FORBID THE WATER? (Μητ το υδωρ δυνατα κωλυσα τισ?). The negative μητ expects the answer _No_. The evidence was indisputable that these Gentiles were converted and so were entitled to be baptized. See the similar idiom in Luke 6:39. Note the article with "water." Here the baptism of th... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDED (προσεταξεν). First aorist active indicative. Peter himself abstained from baptizing on this occasion (cf. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:14). Evidently it was done by the six Jewish brethren.THEM TO BE BAPTIZED (αυτους βαπτισθηνα). Accusative of general reference with the first aorist passi... [ Continue Reading ]