Acts 10 Acts 10:1–8 Cornelius, a devout centurion, being commanded by an angel, sendeth for Peter, Acts 10:9–16 who in the mean time is prepared by a heavenly vision, Acts 10:17–24 and, receiving a command from the Spirit, goeth with the messengers to Caesarea.

In Caesarea; in Caesarea Palestine, as it was called in contra distinction to Caesarea Philippi. Cornelius; a Roman by his name; which name was ordinarily to be found amongst the families of the Scipios and Syllas.

A devout man; this Cornelius was a proselyte of the gate, or such as observed the seven precepts of Noah, and lived without giving any offence to the Jews.

In a vision; not in a dream or rapture, but sensibly and plainly. About the ninth hour; their ninth hour was with us about three o’clock in the afternoon; being the ordinary time for the evening sacrifice; and, by consequence, their time of prayer, Acts 3:1.

He was afraid; the angel appeared in so great splendour: all admiration hath some fear with it. And said, “What is it, Lord?” This is equivalent to, “What wilt thou have me to do?” and shows that Cornelius was prepared to hear the message.

Joppa, a town that was memorable for Jonah’s taking ship there, when he would flee from God, and decline his message, John 1:3. The angel could have declared the gospel, and instructed Cornelius; but he sends him to Peter, God being willing to honour the means of his own institution.

These particulars, when found true by Cornelius, did very much advantage him towards his believing what Peter in the name of the Lord did tell him.

Two of his household servants; these servants doubtless Cornelius had instructed, as appears Acts 10:2, and God blesses him with faithful and successful service from them.

Thus on Cornelius’s side all things are disposed towards his receiving of the gospel; and the same providence, at the same time, disposes all things on Peter’s part towards his coming to publish it: for, .( see Acts 10:9}

These houses were flat on the tops, and therefore they were commanded to make battlements for them, Deut. 22:8. Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, that he might from thence view the temple, which was a type of Christ, through whom only we and our prayers can be acceptable unto God; hence, 1…

He became very hungry; he might be more than ordinarily hungry, to fit or suit the vision, which is hereafter mentioned. He fell into a trance: the most excellent way of God’s manifesting himself unto man, is by a trance; (and they reckon seven ways, in which God makes himself known unto man); but…

And saw heaven; either visibly to his corporal eyes, as to St. Stephen’s; or rather mentally, more suitably to the rapture mentioned in the former verse.

As well unclean beasts, such as were forbidden by the law, as clean, such as by the law might be eaten.

Of that thou seest, without any exception, whether they be clean, or (formerly) unclean creatures. The moral of which command is, that he might now converse with Jews and Gentiles indifferently, and preach unto these also the word of life.

These words may signify one and the same thing, and the latter explain the former; showing that those things are said to be common, which the law, by forbidding them, had made unclean.

Do not make in thy esteem, or practice, as common, that is, polluted. The Jews did imagine, that by unclean creatures were meant the Gentiles, as by clean creatures they would have themselves to be understood; howsoever, they opposed common unto holy; indeed a holy man is (as they called him) a…

Whereby this great mystery of the conversion of the Gentiles, and taking them into the church, might be the more confirmed, and fixed in St. Peter’s mind.

Doubted in himself; recollecting himself; for the vision had so affected him, that it had put him into a kind of ecstasy, out of which when he came to himself, behold, the men; the two servants and the soldier which Cornelius had sent.

Being strangers, they address themselves to such of the house as came to the door.

Thought on the vision; set himself to meditate upon that he had seen and heard. The Spirit said unto him; the Holy Spirit informs him further. Thus whosoever meditares carefully upon what he hears from God’s word, God will never leave him without sufficient instruction.

Arise therefore; immediately put thyself upon the journey. Doubting nothing; spend no time in disputing within thyself, because that they, unto whom thou art sent, are not Jews.

Peter being in no small consternation, and not perfectly knowing whither all this tended, makes the more exact inquiry.

That they might speed in their message, they labour to prevent all prejudice Peter might have against Cornelius, who was a Gentile by title; telling him: 1. That he was a just man, as is said of Joseph, Matt. 1:19. 2.

And on the morrow Peter went away with them; he delays not to obey the heavenly vision; but as Abraham took his journey the very next morning after that he had received the command, Gen. 22:3, so did Peter here, and bis dat qui cito dat, he doubles his obedience that obeys speedily and cheerfully.

Joppa was about fifteen leagues from Caesarea, so that the next day after they set out they might easily come from Joppa thither. His kinsmen; his relations.

As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him; into Cornelius’s house, for he hastened to meet with him. Worshipped him; Cornelius worshipped with the most humble civil worship; but he could not think him to be God, and therefore he did give him no Divine worship, he having forsaken the idolatry of the…

It is certain that Peter did think this worship Cornelius gave him to have exceeded; and here he blames him for it, telling him, he was but a man like unto him; and he needed not give any further reason of his reproof, for man must adore, but by no means may be adored; no, nor take too much honour…

As he talked with him; they went talking together into the house, probably of the goodness of God, that they should be directed so happily unto one another; for they could not but see and acknowledge God in it.

God himself did erect a partition wall betwixt his people and other nations, Jews and Gentiles; hence by God’s own command the Jews might not have any familiar converse with the Gentiles, especially they might not marry with them.

Gainsaying, or delay. I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? Peter did in a great measure know the business he came about, partly by the vision and its interpretation, partly by what he might have heard from them that Cornelius sent for him, unto whom Cornelius had declared the whole…

Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; Cornelius does not intend to declare by this how long he had fasted; but he tells him when he, being fasting, saw the vision, which was four days before, at the same time of the day.

Alms; of which see in Acts 10:4. In the sight of God; unto which, not only the outward gift, but the inward affection, is visible; and this is peculiarly in the sight of God, the other may be seen also by men.

The substance of this verse is in Acts 10:5–6 which we read before. Cornelius might say this to excuse his sending for Peter, being a stranger to him; as also to encourage Peter to speak in such a matter as God had appeared in.

Immediately therefore I sent to thee; as a hungry soul delays not to send for food, as soon as he knows where to have it. Thou hast well done that thou art come; which does not only approve of St. Peter’s coming, but thank him for it.

Opened his mouth; an expression used (as formerly) in matters of great moment, as Matt. 5:2. God is no respecter of persons; God does not accept of one because he is a Jew, and respect another because he is a Gentile; though St.

In every nation; even though Romans or Italians, of which nation Cornelius was, and might probably be worse thought of by the Jews, because they supposed themselves to have been hardly used by them.

The word; the word of reconciliation between God and man, not only between God and the Jews, but between him and the Gentiles also, he had sent unto Israel by his prophets formerly. God is said to create peace to him that is afar off, the Gentile, as well as to him that is near, the Jew, Isa.

They had heard of the doctrine of the gospel by common fame and report, which could not but spread abroad; all might know that Christ and his apostles did preach, though these might be ignorant of the particular doctrines which they taught, and which Peter was now sent to instruct them in: or by…

God anointed Jesus: it was usual to anoint their kings, priests, and prophets, unto all which offices Christ was anointed by his Father; hence called Christ, as in the Old Testament the Messiah.

We are witnesses; the apostles, whom Christ had chosen to go in and out with him, and to be eye and ear witnesses of all that was done by him, or against him.

Lest these Gentiles be deterred from believing in Christ, and take offence at his cross, St. Peter preached unto them the resurrection, which suddenly and powerfully followed.

Not to all the people: Christ after his resurrection appeared not to the wicked Jews, for being to suffer no more, his enemies were not vouchsafed a sight of him; and thus he did not manifest himself unto the world, John 14:22.

Our Saviour gave this charge to his apostles before his ascension, Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47; and foretold that they should execute this his charge, Acts 1:8.

This our Saviour had told his apostles, which St. Peter here preaches to his auditors. It was included in the very first promise recorded by Moses, Gen.

While Peter yet spake these words, that God might miraculously show his approbation of what Peter had said, and to assure Peter of the real conversion of these Gentiles, which all the Jews did make such a difficulty to believe, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word; such fiery…

They of the circumcision; such as were not only themselves circumcised, but born of circumcised parents, who are thus called, Gal. 2:12. These, not minding, or understanding, the many predictions of the calling of the Gentiles, thought that Christ was only promised unto the Jews; and were amazed to…

With tongues; with variety of languages, or strange tongues, as in the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:6. Answered; an ordinary Hebraism for speaking, though the first part of any discourse.

This question, as Acts 8:36, is without question, and denies that any can forbid water, that is, in order to baptize such as these. As if the apostle had argued thus: They that have the grace signified or promised, have a right unto the seal of the promise: but these Gentiles have the grace…

In the name of the Lord; that is, in the name of our Saviour. But this does not imply, but that they were baptized according to our Saviour’s prescription, Matt.