PETER AND THE GENTILES 1-48. Conversion of Cornelius. The baptism of Cornelius was an event of farreaching importance, and is, therefore, described by St. Luke in great detail. If it was not the first actual baptism of a Gentile (see Acts 8:38), it was, at any rate, the first such baptism which was... [ Continue Reading ]
CÆSAREA] built by Herod the Great on the site of an insignificant town called Strato's Tower, and renamed Caesarea Augusta in honour of his patron Augustus. There was a theatre, an amphitheatre, a royal palace, and a temple containing images of Augustus and of Rome. The majority of the inhabitants w... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE THAT FEARED GOD] i.e. a believer in the one true God, but not a circumcised proselyte. The baptism of Cornelius would not have been an innovation if he had been circumcised: see Acts 6:5. Cornelius was diligent in the three recognised religious duties of prayer, fasting (Acts 10:30), and almsdee... [ Continue Reading ]
NINTH HOUR] i.e. 3 p.m.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MEMORIAL] Acts of genuine piety cause God to remember us for good. Cornelius, by using well the grace already vouchsafed him, was thought worthy to receive greater grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO JOPPA] A distance of about 40 m.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIXTH HOUR] see on Acts 3:1. The flat housetop of Oriental houses is used for prayer, meditation, recreation, and sleeping (2 Kings 23:12) Nehemiah 8:16; 1 Samuel 9:25; (RV) 2 Samuel 11:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Trance] Trance, ecstasy, or waking vision, is only one of the modes of divine revelation, and that by no means the most frequent or most important. For examples see Isaiah 6; Daniel 7:8; Daniel 9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:2; Revelation 1:10. Visions play a somewhat important part in the history of Acts ... [ Continue Reading ]
THRICE] the vision was repeated to confirm and establish the lesson taught by it (Genesis 41:32). The question of the distinction of meats was important, because, so long as it was observed, the Church (like the Jews) was cut off from all real social intercourse with Gentiles, who placed 'unclean'... [ Continue Reading ]
AN UNLAWFUL THING] cp. John 4:9; John 18:28; Acts 11:3; Galatians 2:12; Galatians 2:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR DAYS, ETC.] RV 'Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house.' The reference to fasting, omitted by the RV, has considerable ancient attestation. 36-38. The construction is confused, reflecting St. Peter's deep emotion. Adopting the reading of the RM, we m... [ Continue Reading ]
Eat and drink] see on Acts 1:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUICK] i.e. living: see 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5 cp. Romans 14:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE PROPHETS] cp. Acts 3:24; Acts 26:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
As a rule, the Holy Spirit was given after baptism, with the laying on of the Apostles' hands (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:17; Acts 19:6). In this particular case the Holy Spirit was given before baptism, as a miraculous assurance that the Gentiles were not to be excluded from the gift of the Holy Spirit, but... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK WITH TONGUES] see on Acts 2:4;... [ Continue Reading ]
WATER] _the_ water, viz. of Baptism.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD] RV 'in the name of Jesus Christ': see on Matthew 28:19... [ Continue Reading ]