Acts 10

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

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.

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.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

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;

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

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:

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

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:

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

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 inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

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?

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.

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

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

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

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.

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?

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 said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

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.

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.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

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.

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:

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

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.

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.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

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.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

What does Acts 10:19 mean?

Explanation

Acts 10:19 speaks of a moment of divine intervention and guidance in the life of the Apostle Peter.

The verse occurs during a narrative where Peter has just received a vision from God, in which he is shown a sheet filled with animals and is told to kill and eat, despite the fact that many of the animals were considered unclean according to Jewish law (Acts 10:10-16).

As Peter is pondering the meaning of this perplexing vision, the Holy Spirit communicates to him, alerting him that there are three men looking for him.

These men are emissaries sent by a Roman centurion named Cornelius, who himself had a divine encounter where an angel instructed him to send for Peter (Acts 10:3-8).

This verse sets the stage for a significant event in the early Christian Church, the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 10:19 is set in the early years of the Christian Church. Peter, a Jewish Apostle of Jesus Christ, is residing in Joppa, a coastal town in Israel.

The context is one in which the early followers of Jesus are almost entirely from a Jewish background, and the Jewish Law, including its dietary restrictions, is still of significant importance to them.

Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile, resides in Caesarea.

At the time, there was a clear cultural and religious divide between Jews and Gentiles.

The background of this verse is pivotal as it marks a turning point where the early Christian community begins to understand that their message and community are to be open to all, regardless of cultural Jewish norms.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 10:19 is ripe with implications.

From the standpoint of the Jewish Christian, this verse signifies the initiation of the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles.

The mention of the Holy Spirit indicates that the guidance Peter receives is not from human logic or discourse but divine inspiration.

Theologically, it shows that God is not limited to communicating in just one way but uses visions, messengers, and direct communication with the Spirit to guide his believers.

For the Gentile Christian, this passage is a powerful affirmation of inclusion. God's directive to Peter to engage with the Gentiles symbolizes the extension of God’s grace beyond the ethnic boundaries of Israel.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can encourage individuals to be open to guidance from the Holy Spirit, especially when facing perplexing situations.

It can also be applied to remind believers of the value of inclusivity and the breaking down of barriers that may exist due to racial, cultural, or social differences.

For modern Christians, it can be a call to engage with those who are different from them and to continually seek the expansion of their understanding of God's will.

Cross-References

Acts 11:12: "And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.

Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:"

Acts 10:28: "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."
Acts 15:7-9: "...God, who knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "Spirit" is "πνεῦμα" (pneuma), often referring to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The verb "said" translates to "εἰπεν" (eipen) in this context, indicating direct communication.

"Behold" is from "ἰδού" (idou), which is used frequently in Scripture to draw attention to something of importance. This language study highlights that the Holy Spirit's communication is meant to be an emphatic and attention-grabbing directive for Peter.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient religions, such as those in Rome or Greece, divine communication to humans was not as personal and direct.

The gods of ancient myths were often seen as detached or operating in their own realm of existence.

Meanwhile, in Judaism, divine guidance was more personal, often coming through prophets and visions, which Christianity inherited and expanded upon.

The Judeo-Christian God's interest in the minutiae of human activity and ethical behavior is somewhat unique among ancient religious systems.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community typically does not engage directly with matters of divine visions or spiritual communication since these experiences are not empirically verifiable and fall outside the scope of scientific methodology.

However, cognitive science and psychology have taken interest in the phenomenon of religious experiences, attributing them to various neurological or psychological causes.

These scientific perspectives do not necessarily negate the spiritual significance attributed to such experiences by believers but offer a different lens through which to view them.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 10:19 often focus on the monumental shift in the early Church's mission to include Gentiles.

Many scholars highlight the dramatic change in Peter’s understanding of God's impartiality.

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the providence of God in orchestrating the meeting of Peter and Cornelius's men.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes the role of the Holy Spirit in bridging the divide between Jewish and Gentile Christians.

These expert views elucidate the passage's significance in indicating the expansion of Christianity to all nations and the key role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the early apostles in their mission.

Acts 10

Acts 10

What does Acts 10:19 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 10:19 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?