English · KJV

Acts 10

Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Cornelius's Vision in Caesarea 1–8

1
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, ​
2
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. ​
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.
4
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. ​
5
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. ​
7
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision of the Unclean Animals 9–16

9
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: ​
10
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, ​
11
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. ​
15
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. ​
16
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Interpreting the Vision and Meeting Messengers 17–23

17
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. ​
20
Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
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. ​

Peter Arrives at Cornelius's House 24–33

24
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. ​
26
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ​
29
Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
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,
31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Peter's Sermon to Cornelius 34–43

34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: ​
35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ​
36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) ​
37
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ​
39
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ​

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles 44–48

44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ​
45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ​
46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Acts 10

Verse 1

called Cornelius, a centurion — Hekatontarches is a commander of a hundred men; speira, ‘band’, is the Roman cohort of Matt 27:27 and Acts 21:31. ‘Italian’ (Italikos) occurs only here in the New Testament. Cornelius lives at Caesarea, where Philip had come (Acts 8:40) and later made his home (21:8), and from where the messengers set out in v.8.

Verse 2

feared God with all his house — Eusebes, ‘devout’, is used in Acts only of Cornelius and his soldier (v.7) and of Ananias (22:12). He ‘feared God’ (phobeo) with his household, gave ‘much alms’ (eleemosyne), and prayed ‘alway’. His messengers later call him ‘a just man, and one that feareth God’ (v.22), well spoken of among the Jews; yet salvation comes by the words Peter brings (11:14).

Verse 4

come up for a memorial — Mnemosynon, a memorial, occurs in the New Testament only here and of the woman who anointed Christ: ‘a memorial of her’ (Matt 26:13; Mark 14:9). ‘Come up’ is anabaino, the verb of Peter going up to pray in v.9. The angel repeats it in v.31: ‘thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God’.

Verse 6

one Simon a tanner — Byrseus, a tanner, a worker of hides, occurs only three times in the New Testament, all of this host (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 32). Touching the carcase of a beast that dies made a person ‘unclean until the even’ (Lev 11:39), a law a tanner’s work among hides brought close. Peter has already stayed ‘many days’ there (9:43). What ‘thou oughtest to do’ is told in 11:14.

Verse 9

went up upon the housetop to pray — The sixth hour is midday; the Psalmist prays ‘at noon’ (Ps 55:17), and Peter and John went to the temple ‘at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour’ (Acts 3:1). ‘Went up’ (anabaino) is the verb of the prayers that ‘come up’ in v.4. At the same hour Cornelius’s men are nearing Joppa.

Verse 10

he fell into a trance — Prospeinos, ‘very hungry’, occurs only here. Ekstasis, ‘trance’, is a displacement of the mind; the KJV renders it ‘amazement’ in Acts 3:10 but ‘trance’ here, in 11:5 and in 22:17, where Paul prayed in the temple. The verb is epipipto: the trance ‘fell upon’ him, as the Spirit ‘fell’ on the hearers in v.44.

Verse 14

Not so, Lord — Medamos, ‘by no means’, is Peter’s protest, yet he still says ‘Lord’. ‘Common’ (koinos) and ‘unclean’ (akathartos) are the Law’s categories: ‘put difference between clean beasts and unclean’ (Lev 20:25). Ezekiel had said, ‘Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted’ (Ezek 4:14); Daniel ‘purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself’ (Dan 1:8).

Verse 15

What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common — ‘Cleansed’ is katharizo, and ‘common’ is the verb koinoo, to make common. The voice speaks ‘the second time’, and the whole is done ‘thrice’ (v.16). Peter repeats the words in 11:9, and applies them to people in v.28: ‘God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean’.

Verse 19

While Peter thought on the vision — Enthymeomai, to think on, occurs in the New Testament only here and Matt 1:20 and 9:4. While he is thinking, the Spirit says, ‘Behold, three men seek thee’, and in v.20 adds, ‘doubting nothing: for I have sent them’. Peter recalls it: ‘the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting’ (11:12).

Verse 23

called he them in, and lodged them — Peter receives the Gentile messengers first. Eiskaleo, ‘called in’, occurs only here, and xenizo, ‘lodged’, is the verb used of Peter’s own stay with Simon (vv.6, 18, 32). The ‘certain brethren from Joppa’ are the ‘six brethren’ of 11:12, called ‘they of the circumcision which believed’ in v.45.

Verse 25

fell down at his feet, and worshipped him — Proskuneo is homage or worship. Peter answers, ‘Stand up; I myself also am a man’ (v.26). The angel of Revelation refuses the same act: ‘See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant’ (Rev 19:10; 22:8–9). Christ, by contrast, received it when a leper ‘worshipped him’ (Matt 8:2).

Verse 28

an unlawful thing — Athemitos, not permitted, occurs only here and 1 Pet 4:3. ‘Keep company’ is kollao, to join or cleave to, and ‘another nation’ is allophylos, ‘of another tribe’, found only here in the New Testament. The same separation shows in ‘the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans’ (John 4:9). Peter’s reason follows: ‘God hath shewed me’, in the vision of vv.14–15.

Verse 34

God is no respecter of persons — Prosopolemptes, ‘accepter of a face’, occurs only here in the New Testament. The Law says the LORD ‘regardeth not persons’ (Deut 10:17), as does 2 Chr 19:7, ‘nor respect of persons’, and Paul says it in Rom 2:11. ‘Perceive’ is katalambano, to lay hold of, to grasp. ‘Opened his mouth’ marks formal speech.

Verse 35

in every nation — ‘Nation’ is ethnos, the word rendered ‘Gentiles’ in v.45. ‘Accepted’ is dektos, the word of ‘the acceptable year’ (Luke 4:19). The man ‘that feareth him, and worketh righteousness’ describes Cornelius in vv.2 and 22. Acceptance does not replace the message: he is told to send for Peter, who ‘shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved’ (11:14).

Verse 36

preaching peace by Jesus Christ — Euangelizo eirene, ‘preach peace’, is the language of Isa 52:7, ‘that publisheth peace’, and of Paul: ‘preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh’ (Eph 2:17). ‘Lord of all’ is given as a parenthesis; Paul says ‘the same Lord over all’ (Rom 10:12). The word was ‘sent unto the children of Israel’ first.

Verse 38

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth — Chrio, to anoint, is the verb behind ‘Christ’ (anointed one); Jesus himself read Isa 61:1, ‘he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor’ (Luke 4:18). Euergeteo, ‘doing good’, occurs only here. Katadynasteuo, ‘oppressed’, occurs only here and James 2:6. Nicodemus had said the same: ‘except God be with him’ (John 3:2).

Verse 43

To him give all the prophets witness — The remission is ‘through his name’, of ‘whosoever believeth in him’. The prophets promised it: ‘I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more’ (Jer 31:34); ‘by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many’ (Isa 53:11). Aphesis, ‘remission’, is the word of Peter at Pentecost, Acts 2:38.

Verse 44

the Holy Ghost fell on all them — Epipipto, ‘fell on’, is the verb of v.10, where the trance fell upon Peter. The Spirit comes while Peter is speaking, before baptism (v.47) and without laying on of hands; contrast Acts 8:16 and 19:6. Peter explains later: ‘the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning’ (11:15); God ‘bare them witness’ (15:8).

Verse 45

on the Gentiles also was poured out — Existemi, ‘astonished’, is the verb used of the hearers at Pentecost (Acts 2:7, 12). Ekcheo, ‘poured out’, is the verb of Joel’s promise at Pentecost (2:17–18, 33), and dorea, ‘gift’, is the word of 2:38. The ‘Gentiles’ are the ethne, the nations of v.35.

Verse 48

baptized in the name of the Lord — The command follows Peter’s question, ‘Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized’ (v.47). Prostasso is to command; the baptism is ‘in the name of the Lord’ (kyrios), as ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’ in 8:16. They ask him ‘to tarry certain days’, and in 11:3 he is questioned: ‘didst eat with them’.