Acts 10:3

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

He saw {G1492} in {G1722} a vision {G3705} evidently {G5320} about {G5616} the ninth {G1766} hour {G5610} of the day {G2250} an angel {G32} of God {G2316} coming in {G1525} to {G4314} him {G846}, and {G2532} saying {G2036} unto him {G846}, Cornelius {G2883}.

One afternoon around three o’clock he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.

Acts 10:3 describes a pivotal moment in the early church's expansion, introducing the Roman centurion Cornelius and his divine encounter.

Context

This verse immediately follows the introduction of Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion living in Caesarea. He is described as a "devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway" (Acts 10:2). Despite being a Gentile, he was clearly seeking God. The "ninth hour of the day" corresponds to 3 PM, a traditional Jewish hour of prayer, indicating Cornelius's consistent spiritual discipline even as a Gentile.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation: God actively initiates communication with Cornelius through a clear, undeniable vision. This highlights God's desire to reveal His will and direction.
  • Angelic Messenger: An angel of God is dispatched to deliver a specific message, underscoring the role of angels as ministering spirits and divine intermediaries.
  • God's Initiative: This vision is not sought by Cornelius in the sense of asking for a specific sign, but is a direct, unprompted act of God, setting in motion a major step in the spread of the Gospel.
  • Preparation for Gentile Inclusion: This vision, along with Peter's subsequent vision (see Acts 10:9-16), prepares the way for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith, demonstrating God's impartiality.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "saw in a vision evidently" emphasizes the clarity and reality of the experience. It wasn't a dream or a vague impression, but a distinct, undeniable sight. The Greek word here, phanerōs (φανερῶς), means "clearly, openly, plainly," reinforcing that this was a manifest and unmistakable divine appearance.

Practical Application

Acts 10:3 reminds us that God is sovereign and actively involved in human affairs, often initiating contact with those who genuinely seek Him, regardless of their background or current understanding. It encourages believers to be attentive to divine leading, whether through direct revelation, the Holy Spirit, or the counsel of others. For those outside the faith, it offers hope that God sees and responds to sincere hearts. This verse also sets the stage for understanding God's expansive plan for salvation, reaching beyond perceived boundaries to embrace all who believe, culminating in events like the Holy Spirit falling on Gentiles.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 9:20

    ¶ And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

  • Daniel 9:21

    Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

  • Acts 3:1

    ¶ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].

  • Acts 5:19

    But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

  • Isaiah 45:4

    For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

  • Acts 9:4

    And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

  • Luke 2:10

    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

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