Acts Chapter 10 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Acts 10:1 & 2
There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Regiment. He was a devout man, a "God-fearer," as was his whole household; he gave generously to help the Jewish poor and prayed regularly to God.
In this passage we meet the commander of a group of Roman soldiers. We are told that this man and his family believed in God and that belief affected their actions and those around them noticed. It may seem odd that God would accept and even use a Roman soldier after they were the people that insulted, tortured, and crucified God's Son but that is our merciful God. There is hope for us in this as, no matter what our background, God offers the same mercy and grace to us as well.
Acts 10:3 & 4
One afternoon around three o'clock he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at the angel, terrified. "What is it, sir?" he asked. "Your prayers," replied the angel, "and your acts of charity have gone up into God's presence, so that he has you on his mind.
Here we see an example of God communicating with one of his people. Cornelius saw a vision and an angel spoke to him. Notice that, when the angel spoke to him, Cornelius immediately knew that it was from God as he called him Lord. He made himself available to listen to what God would have him to hear. That should be our reaction as well. When God speaks to you, what is your answer?
Acts 10:5 & 6
Now send some men to Yafo to bring back a man named Shim'on, also called Kefa. He's staying with Shim'on the leather-tanner, who has a house by the sea."
We see in these verses the purpose God gives angels. When God sends angels to his people, they have a message for the person or persons that they are sent to. This message almost always is to give the people what God commands of them. In this case, the angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter.
Acts 10:7 & 8
As the angel that had spoken to him went away, Cornelius called two of his household slaves and one of his military aides, who was a godly man; he explained everything to them and sent them to Yafo.
This passage is a simple case of obedience. God sent an angel to Cornelius with instructions and Cornelius was simply obedient. That is what we are called to do as well but it takes practice. We also notice that Cornelius immediately sent the men to Joppa. It is good to remember that delayed obedience is still disobedience.
Acts 10:9 & 10
The next day about noon, while they were still on their way and approaching the city, Kefa went up onto the roof of the house to pray. He began to feel hungry and wanted something to eat; but while they were preparing the meal, he fell into a trance
This passage gives us a picture of God at work in several lives at the same time to fulfill his purpose. As God was working on Cornelius and having him send his men to Peter, God begins to prepare Peter for the event that God has already planned. This same type of situation happens all of the time. God works in people to bring them together for his purposes. We get the opportunity and the blessing of participating in his perfect plans.
Acts 10:11-16
in which he saw heaven opened, and something that looked like a large sheet being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, crawling creatures and wild birds. Then a voice came to him, "Get up, Kefa, slaughter and eat!" But Kefa said, "No, sir! Absolutely not! I have never eaten food that was unclean or treif." The voice spoke to him a second time: "Stop treating as unclean what God has made clean." This happened three times, and then the sheet was immediately taken back up into heaven.
Isn't it hard to break traditions? In this passage, God is trying to get Peter to realize that salvation was meant for everyone and not just the Jewish people. The voice reminded Peter that it is God who decides who or what is clean or unclean. Do we have some of the same kind of traditions today as they did back then? Do we understand that there is one body of Christ (church) and that all are welcome? There are many people who are racists and call themselves Christians but this passage should open their eyes.
Acts 10:17-21
Kefa was still puzzling over the meaning of the vision he had seen, when the men Cornelius had sent, having inquired for Shim'on's house, stood at the gate and called out to ask if the Shim'on known as Kefa was staying there. While Kefa's mind was still on the vision, the Spirit said, "Three men are looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and have no misgivings about going with them, because I myself have sent them." So Kefa went down and said to the men, "You were looking for me? Here I am. What brings you here?"
What a great example of faith and obedience we see in this passage. We see that, even though Peter did not understand what God was showing him through the vision, he obeyed the Spirit and went down to greet the men. Most of the time we will not understand all of what God is doing but, like Peter, we need to obey when He tells us to do something and trust that God is in control of everything.
Acts 10:22 & 23
They answered, "Cornelius. He's a Roman army officer, an upright man and a God-fearer, a man highly regarded by the whole Jewish nation; and he was told by a holy angel to have you come to his house and listen to what you have to say." So Kefa invited them to be his guests. The next day, he got up and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Yafo;
It is interesting to see what the men had to tell Peter about Cornelius. They said that he was "a righteous and God-fearing man". Peter, being a Jew, would not have normally accepted this as they believed that only Jews could be righteous. Then, to be told that an angel of God had spoken to Cornelius would have seemed to be impossible. But, Peter was still obedient. He may have still been struggling with what God was telling him but he still obeyed.
Acts 10:24
and he arrived at Caesarea the day after that. Cornelius was expecting them - he had already called together his relatives and close friends.
What an awesome example we see here in Cornelius. Knowing that someone was coming with Word from God, he gathered his relatives and close friends so that they could hear as well. How often do we pass up the opportunity to share the gospel with our relatives and close friends? If we truly love them, how can we not do as Cornelius did and call them to gather with us to hear God's Word?
Acts 10:25 & 26
As Kefa entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell prostrate at his feet. But Kefa pulled him to his feet and said, "Stand up! I myself am just a man."
What an example we have here of humility. It would have been easy for Peter to be proud and to forget that it is all about Jesus and not himself. Instead, Peter reminds Cornelius that he is just a man like him. We need to keep that same attitude as we deal with others each day.
Acts 10:27-29
As he talked with him, Kefa went inside and found many people gathered. He said to them, "You are well aware that for a man who is a Jew to have close association with someone who belongs to another people, or to come and visit him, is something that just isn't done. But God has shown me not to call any person common or unclean; so when I was summoned, I came without raising any questions. Tell me, then, why did you send for me?"
In this passage, we see that Peter understood the lesson that God taught him with the vision. That lesson, as he explains to the people at Cornelius' house, was that he was not to judge people by their race. The lesson is as true for us as it was for him. As Christians, we know that Christ paid the debt for all men and therefore we are all one in Christ.
Acts 10:30-33
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 and said, 'God has heard your prayer and remembered your acts of charity. Now send to Yafo and ask for Shim'on, known as Kefa; he is staying in the house of Shim'on, a leather-tanner, by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now all of us are here in the presence of God to hear everything the Lord has ordered you to say."
In this passage, Cornelius explains to Peter that God told him to send for Peter. He explains how God spoke to him and told him what to do and that Cornelius was simply obeying. We also learn from this passage that Cornelius was strong in his faith. We see that, because of his faith, Cornelius spent regular time in prayer, gave gifts to the poor, and saw God at work in his life. He trusted that God had spoken to Peter and told him to come as well as told him the message to share.
Acts 10:34 & 35
Then Kefa addressed them: "I now understand that God does not play favorites, but that whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what people he belongs to.
What a lesson for all mankind in this simple passage. Peter states it as clear as can be that God loves all men. How can it be that we still have racism even in the church? As Christians, we are one in Christ!
Acts 10:36-38
"Here is the message that he sent to the sons of Isra'el announcing shalom through Yeshua the Messiah, who is Lord of everything. You know what has been going on throughout Y'hudah, starting from the Galil after the immersion that Yochanan proclaimed; how God anointed Yeshua from Natzeret with the Ruach HaKodesh and with power; how Yeshua went about doing good and healing all the people oppressed by the Adversary, because God was with him.
Now, Peter begins to teach the people that are gathered at Cornelius' house. He starts by reminding them of Jesus being baptized by John and the Spirit descending on him. He reminds them of how Jesus drove out demons and worked with the very power of God. This is a very important reminder for us today as well. It should remind us that we can have that same power that is mentioned here. There is one Spirit and that very Spirit that was given to Jesus is given to us as well when we accept the work that Jesus did on the cross.
Acts 10:39-41
"As for us, we are witnesses of everything he did, both in the Judean countryside but and in Yerushalayim. They did away with him by hanging him on a stake;God raised him up on the third day and let him be seen, not by all the people, but by witnesses God had previously chosen, that is, by us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen again from the dead.
In this passage, Peter is giving his credentials to the people at Cornelius' house. He is reminding them that God had a plan and that, even after the death of Jesus, God was still in control. He reminds them that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he appeared to a select group of people of whom Peter is one.
Acts 10:42 & 43
"Then he commanded us to proclaim and attest to the Jewish people that this man has been appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets bear witness to him, that everyone who puts his trust in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Now, Peter gets down to it. In the previous passage, he gives his qualifications as an apostle, now, he explains his purpose in coming to Cornelius' house. That purpose (which is the same as our purpose as Christians) is to testify about Jesus Christ. He explains that Jesus will be the judge of all mankind and that forgiveness comes through him.
Acts 10:44-46
Kefa was still saying these things when the Ruach HaKodesh fell on all who were hearing the message. All the believers from the Circumcision faction who had accompanied Kefa were amazed that the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh was also being poured out on the Goyim, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Kefa's response was,
What a powerful example of why we should share the Word of God. Here we see how God can immediately take those words and change people's lives. The believers that were with Peter also got to see that God loves all men. We probably all at one time have seen someone so far from God that we did not see how they could possibly be reached. This same feeling is what the Jewish believers felt but they got to see God in action. Imagine the shock when they saw God touch the lives of these untouchable people. The same thing can and will happen to the "untouchables" in our paths.
Acts 10:47 & 48
"Is anyone prepared to prohibit these people from being immersed in water? After all, they have received the Ruach HaKodesh, just as we did." And he ordered that they be immersed in the name of Yeshua the Messiah. Then they asked Kefa to stay on with them for a few days.
Here, Peter is asking a silly question and answering it at the same time. In the previous passage, the people had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. You see, the Holy Spirit is our counselor that constantly guides us to please God and it pleases God when we obey. Part of that obedience is being baptized (just like Jesus did). Peter knew that now they were going to want to please God and so they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.