Acts10
New Living Translation
1In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment.
2He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.
3One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
4Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!
5Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.
6He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”
7As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants.
8He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
9The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon,
10and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.
12In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.
13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”
15But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
16The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
17Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate,
18they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
19Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you.
20Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
21So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.”
23So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.
26But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”
27So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
28Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.
29So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.
31He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!
32Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’
33So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
34Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.
35In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
36This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism.
38And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,
40but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear,
41not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.
43He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
44Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.
45The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.
46For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,
47“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
48So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Cornelius directed to send for Peter. (1–8). Peter's vision. (9–18). He goes to Cornelius. (19–33). His discourse to Cornelius. (34–43). The gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out. (44–48).
vv1-8
Hitherto none had been baptized into the Christian church but Jews, Samaritans, and those converts who had been circumcised and observed the ceremonial law; but now the Gentiles were to be called to partake all the privileges of God's people, without first becoming Jews. Pure and undefiled religion is sometimes found where we least expect it. Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of charity and of piety, neither will excuse from the other. Doubtless Cornelius had true faith in God's word, as far as he understood it, though not as yet clear faith in Christ. This was the work of the Spirit of God, through the mediation of Jesus, even before Cornelius knew him, as is the case with us all when we, who before were dead in sin, are made alive. Through Christ also his prayers and alms were accepted, which otherwise would have been rejected. Without dispute or delay Cornelius was obedient to the heavenly vision. In the affairs of our souls, let us not lose time.
vv9-18
The prejudices of Peter against the Gentiles, would have prevented his going to Cornelius, unless the Lord had prepared him for this service. To tell a Jew that God had directed those animals to be reckoned clean which were hitherto deemed unclean, was in effect saying, that the law of Moses was done away. Peter was soon made to know the meaning of it. God knows what services are before us, and how to prepare us; and we know the meaning of what he has taught us, when we find what occasion we have to make use of it.
vv19-33
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 commanded of God to say.
Key Words
Καισάρεια (Kaisáreia): Cæsaria, the name of two places in Palestine
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
τὶς (tìs): some or any person or object
ἀνήρ (anḗr): a man (properly as an individual male)
ὄνομα (ónoma): a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
Κορνήλιος (Kornḗlios): Cornelius, a Roman
ἑκατοντάρχης (hekatontárchēs): the captain of one hundred men
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
καλέω (kaléō): to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)
Ἰταλικός (Italikós): Italic, i.e. belonging to Italia
Cross References
Acts 10Peter's own subsequent recital of his Joppa vision to the Jerusalem church, confirming details.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The Mosaic law code distinguishing clean and unclean beasts, which the vision explicitly rescinds.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel refusal of human worship by Paul and Barnabas, echoing Peter's 'I myself am a man.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The prophetic description of the Messiah being anointed with the Holy Ghost and power.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Peter later appeals to this event to prove God's acceptance of uncircumcised Gentiles.
Supported by JFB
Paul's theological conclusion that no food is unclean of itself, aligning with Peter's vision.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The doubling or tripling of a vision indicates the thing is established by God.
Supported by JFB
The foundational Old Testament declaration that God does not respect persons.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Pauline exposition that there is no difference between Jew and Greek; Christ is Lord over all.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The gift of the Holy Ghost poured out, mirroring the initial Jewish Pentecost.
Supported by JFB
Like Abraham, Cornelius is commended for leading his entire household to fear God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Daniel receiving an angelic vision during the time of the evening sacrifice, the ninth hour.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Internal link confirming Cornelius's prayers and alms as the memorial mentioned by the angel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Historical proof of resurrection: the disciples eating and drinking with Jesus after He rose.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Another Roman centurion commended for loving the Jewish nation and giving alms.
Supported by JFB