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 10:41 mean?

Explanation

Acts 10:41 presents a statement by the apostle Peter as he speaks to Cornelius and his household, explaining the unique role of the apostles as witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Peter stresses that Jesus' post-resurrection appearances were not made to everyone, but specifically to pre-chosen witnesses, including the apostles themselves.

He emphasizes their unique experience of sharing meals with Jesus after his resurrection, which served to reinforce the truth of Jesus' physical resurrection from the dead.

This account serves to authenticate the testimony of the witnesses and assures the early Christian community and future generations of the reality of the resurrection.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The book of Acts was written by Luke as a follow-up to his Gospel, around A.D. 60-70.

Acts 10 describes the moment when the Christian message is officially extended to the Gentiles, signified by the conversion of Cornelius, a Roman centurion.

This represented a critical shift within early Christianity, making it clear that the gospel was not exclusively for Jews.

The verse falls within the broader narrative where Peter is explaining the Christian message to a Gentile audience for the first time, which includes the affirmation of Jesus' resurrection as a core tenet of the faith.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse highlights the doctrine of resurrection as central to the Christian faith.

From an orthodox Christian perspective, the mention of eating and drinking with the resurrected Jesus disputes the idea that He was resurrected as a ghost or spirit; it conveys the physicality of his resurrected body.

In apologetic terms, the fact that Jesus appeared to "witnesses chosen before of God" suggests the deliberate intention of God to provide authenticated human testimony to the resurrection.

This serves as an important basis for faith but also establishes a foundation for the apostles' authority in the early Church.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 10:41 encourages Christians to trust in the eyewitness accounts of Jesus' resurrection as a foundation for their faith.

Furthermore, it also invites believers to consider their own roles as modern-day witnesses to the impact of the resurrection in their lives through personal transformation and testimony.

It reinforces the importance of chosen individuals to bear witness in every age, thus inspiring Christians to take their personal witnessing seriously.

Cross-References

Luke 24:43 - "And he took [it], and did eat before them."
John 20:19-20 - "Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you."
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 - "And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep."

Language Study

Key words and their meanings from the original Greek language used in Acts 10:41:

"Witnesses" (Greek: "μάρτυρες" - "martyres"): This term refers to individuals who give testimony or evidence.

It implies an experiential knowledge that validates the truth claimed.

"Chosen" (Greek: "προκεχειροτονημένοι" - "prokecheirotonēmenoi"): The word suggests a pre-selection or appointment beforehand by God.
"Eat" and "drink" (Greek: "συνέφαγον" - "sunephagon" and "συνέπιον" - "sunepion"): These terms denote the action of eating and drinking, underlining the physicality of the post-resurrection appearances of Christ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient myths, gods sometimes appeared in human form and interacted with humans, but the Christian assertion of the resurrection is distinct in its emphasis on a singular historical event wherein a divine person takes on flesh, dies, and then is physically resurrected.

Unlike the recurring cycles in some mythological narratives, the resurrection of Jesus is presented as a unique and transformative historical event with salvific implications.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the resurrection is a supernatural event that defies natural explanation and empirical verification. As such, it cannot be evaluated by the methods of science which presuppose natural processes and repeatability.

However, the implications of this verse focus on the testimony of witnesses rather than an empirically demonstrable event, which is more of a historical claim than a scientific one.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have diverse perspectives on this verse:

Traditional commentaries, such as those by Matthew Henry or John Gill, underscore the trustworthiness of the apostles' testimony regarding the resurrection, based on their firsthand experiences.
Modern critical scholars might focus on the Lukan emphasis on eyewitnesses to argue for or against the historical reliability of Acts, often exploring the literary and theological motifs at play.
Some scholars may compare this to other religious texts and resurrection claims, analyzing the sociocultural impact and how this event established a foundation for the growth of the early Christian church.

Acts 10

Acts 10

What does Acts 10:41 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 10:41 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?