Acts10

Acts 10 details the divine encounter between Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, and the Apostle Peter. Cornelius receives a vision instructing him to send for Peter, while Peter simultaneously experiences a vision declaring that God has cleansed what was once considered common or unclean. This leads Peter to preach the Gospel to Cornelius's household, resulting in the Holy Ghost falling upon these Gentiles and their subsequent baptism, signifying the inclusion of non-Jews into the Christian faith.
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Cornelius's Vision in Caesarea

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Nowthere wasa certain man in Cæsarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, ​
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a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. ​
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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.
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And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. ​
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And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
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he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. ​
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And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
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and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision of the Unclean Animals

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Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour: ​
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and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance; ​
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and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:
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wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
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And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.
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But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. ​
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And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. ​
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And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.

Interpreting the Vision and Meeting Messengers

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Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
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and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.
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And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. ​
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But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.
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And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
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And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee.
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So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. ​

Peter Arrives at Cornelius's House

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And on the morrow they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.
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And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. ​
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But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
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And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together:
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and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean: ​
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wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me.
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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,
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and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
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Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.
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Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord.

Peter Preaches the Gospel to the Gentiles

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And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: ​
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but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. ​
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The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)— ​
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that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
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even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ​
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And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.
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Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,
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not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
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And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.
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To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins. ​

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

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While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word. ​
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And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. ​
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For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
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Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
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And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. ​

Study Notes for Acts 10

Verse 1

Cornelius, a Roman centurion (commander of 100 men) stationed in the Roman administrative capital of Caesarea, is introduced. The 'Italian band' suggests he was part of a non-local auxiliary unit.

Verse 2

Cornelius is described as a 'God-fearer,' one who worshiped the God of Israel but had not fully converted to Judaism. His piety, charity, and constant prayer life demonstrate his spiritual readiness for God's revelation.

Verse 4

The angel assures Cornelius that his acts of devotion have been noticed and remembered by God (come up for a memorial). This established the divine initiative behind the mission to the Gentiles.

Verse 6

Peter’s lodging with Simon the tanner is significant. Tanners dealt with dead animals, making their trade ritually unclean according to strict Jewish standards, foreshadowing the need for Peter to overcome purity laws.

Verse 9

Peter went up to the housetop to pray around noon (the sixth hour). The setting emphasizes the divine nature of the upcoming event, as Peter is in a state of spiritual anticipation.

Verse 10

Peter fell into a trance (Greek: *ekstasis*), a state of spiritual rapture or altered consciousness, necessary for receiving a revelation that would radically challenge his deeply held Jewish beliefs.

Verse 14

Peter’s refusal demonstrates his faithful adherence to the Mosaic dietary laws (Leviticus 11). He is unwilling to violate the traditional purity requirements that defined Jewish identity.

Verse 15

This statement is the theological centerpiece of the vision. While concerning food laws, its primary application is spiritual: God has removed the ritual barriers, meaning no person (Gentile) should be deemed 'common or unclean' for fellowship.

Verse 19

The Holy Spirit directly connects Peter’s symbolic vision of the sheet with the practical reality of the Gentile messengers waiting downstairs, confirming the mission's divine origin.

Verse 23

Peter took six Jewish believers from Joppa with him (as confirmed in Acts 11:12). These men served as crucial witnesses, validating the subsequent outpouring of the Spirit on the Gentiles.

Verse 25

Cornelius’s act of worship shows he viewed Peter as a divine agent. Peter immediately rejects this, reinforcing the theological truth that worship is reserved for God alone.

Verse 28

Peter acknowledges the traditional Jewish custom that forbade fellowship with Gentiles to maintain ritual purity. He states that his vision has now shown him that this custom is superseded by God's new directive regarding all humanity.

Verse 34

This is a pivotal moment in Acts. Peter realizes the universality of God’s plan: God is 'no respecter of persons,' meaning favor is not based on ethnic background or national identity (Jew or Gentile).

Verse 35

Acceptance by God is based on fearing Him and working righteousness, emphasizing that true piety, regardless of nationality, prepares one for receiving the gospel.

Verse 36

Peter affirms Jesus Christ as 'Lord of all,' establishing his authority over both Jewish and Gentile worlds, providing the theological basis for the inclusion of Cornelius’s household.

Verse 38

This verse summarizes Jesus’ earthly ministry: anointed by the Holy Spirit at baptism, performing good works, and demonstrating power over spiritual oppression.

Verse 43

Peter links the core message—remission (forgiveness) of sins through belief in Jesus—directly to the testimony of the Old Testament prophets, establishing continuity between the covenants.

Verse 44

The Holy Spirit falls unexpectedly *before* baptism or the laying on of hands. This 'Gentile Pentecost' is unprecedented, providing undeniable, immediate proof of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles.

Verse 45

The Jewish believers ('they of the circumcision') were astonished. This miraculous event shattered the strict ethnic and ritual boundaries they previously believed governed salvation.

Verse 48

Having received the spiritual reality (the Holy Spirit), Peter commands water baptism. This public rite confirms their entrance into the Christian community and validates their experience before the Jewish witnesses.

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