Acts 10:30

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

And {G2532} Cornelius {G2883} said {G5346}, Four {G5067} days {G2250} ago {G575} I was {G2252} fasting {G3522} until {G3360} this {G5026} hour {G5610}; and {G2532} at the ninth {G1766} hour {G5610} I prayed {G4336} in {G1722} my {G3450} house {G3624}, and {G2532}, behold {G2400}, a man {G435} stood {G2476} before {G1799} me {G3450} in {G1722} bright {G2986} clothing {G2066},

Cornelius answered, “Three days ago around this time, I was at minchah prayers in my house, when suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me

Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me

And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,

Commentary

Acts 10:30 records Cornelius's account to Peter and others, detailing the divine encounter that led him to send for Peter. This verse is part of a pivotal narrative in the Book of Acts, marking a significant moment in the early Christian church's understanding of God's universal plan for salvation.

Context of Acts 10:30

This verse is Cornelius's personal testimony, explaining to Peter the vision he received just "four days ago." Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a Gentile, but described in Acts 10:2 as a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God continually. His piety, though outside the traditional Jewish covenant, caught God's attention. The narrative of Acts 10 highlights God's initiative in bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles, paralleling Cornelius's vision with Peter's own transformative vision of unclean animals (see Acts 10:9-16), preparing him to preach to non-Jews. This encounter ultimately leads to the Holy Spirit falling upon Gentiles for the first time, breaking down centuries-old barriers.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Initiative: God actively seeks out and reveals His will to those who are open to Him, regardless of their background. Cornelius's vision was a direct divine appointment, leading to Peter's visit.
  • Devotion and Discipline: Cornelius's consistent practices of "fasting," "praying," and almsgiving demonstrate a deep spiritual hunger and discipline that God honored. His example underscores the value of sustained spiritual habits.
  • Prayer's Power: The fact that the angelic visitation occurred "at the ninth hour" while he "prayed in [his] house" emphasizes that God hears and responds to sincere prayer, even from those outside the traditional religious fold.
  • Gentile Inclusion: This entire chapter, and Cornelius's account within it, is foundational for understanding the universal scope of the Gospel and God's desire to save people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, fulfilling prophecies of light to the Gentiles.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "at the ninth hour" (approximately 3:00 PM) is significant. In Jewish tradition, the third hour (9:00 AM), sixth hour (12:00 PM), and ninth hour (3:00 PM) were designated times for prayer. That a Gentile like Cornelius observed such a practice further highlights his genuine devotion and spiritual sensitivity. The "man stood before me in bright clothing" describes an angelic appearance, with "bright clothing" (esthes lampra in Greek) indicating a celestial or divine messenger, similar to descriptions of angels in other biblical accounts (e.g., Luke 24:4).

Practical Application

Cornelius's testimony in Acts 10:30 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Consistency in Prayer: His regular prayer life, even to the point of observing specific hours, underscores the importance of consistent communication with God. God listens to and responds to earnest prayers.
  • Openness to God's Leading: Cornelius's immediate obedience to the angelic instruction to send for Peter demonstrates a heart ready to follow God's direction, even when it might seem unconventional.
  • God's Universal Love: This passage reminds us that God is not limited by human distinctions or prejudices. His desire is for all people to come to know Him, and He actively works to bring the Gospel to every corner of the earth.

The story of Cornelius and Peter stands as a powerful testament to God's inclusive nature and His readiness to meet those who seek Him sincerely, paving the way for the church's global mission.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • 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 1:10

    And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

  • Acts 10:23

    Then called he them in, and lodged [them]. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

  • Acts 10:24

    And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

  • Ezra 9:4

    Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
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