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 10:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 10:5 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible and is part of a narrative that describes a significant moment in the early Christian church.

The verse quotes a command given by an angel of God to a Roman centurion named Cornelius, who is told to send for Simon Peter.

This is the beginning of a chain of events that lead to the expansion of the Christian message beyond the Jewish community to the Gentiles (non-Jews).

The literal meaning of the verse is clear: Cornelius is to find and bring Peter, known as Simon at that time, from Joppa.

However, the deeper meaning signifies that God is reaching out to the Gentiles through Peter, symbolizing divine inclusiveness and the spreading of the Gospel to all nations.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Acts of the Apostles, commonly referred to as Acts, was written by Luke in the first century CE.

Acts 10 occurs during the period of the early church after Jesus' resurrection and ascension.

Joppa (present-day Jaffa in Israel) was a port city on the Mediterranean coast.

At the time, it was common for the Jews to consider Gentiles as unclean, and they generally did not associate with them.

Cornelius, although a Gentile, was a devout man who prayed to God regularly and was respected by the Jewish people.

The passage reflects the early Christian struggle with the question of whether Gentiles could be part of God's chosen people without first becoming Jewish.

Theological Insights

This verse touches on several theological themes:

Divine Guidance: Cornelius receives direct instructions from God through an angel, which emphasizes the theme of divine intervention and guidance.
Universalism of the Gospel: The request for Peter to visit Cornelius indicates the intention of God to include all peoples in the promise of salvation.

It challenges the early Christian view that saw Christianity as a sect within Judaism.

Apostolic Authority: The summoning of Peter, one of the leading apostles, underscores the importance of apostolic witness and testimony in the early church's outreach efforts.

Different Christian denominations might accentuate various aspects of this passage.

For example, Protestant interpretations might focus on the verse demonstrating the universality of God's grace, while Catholic interpretations might emphasize the role of Peter and the beginnings of church structure.

Practical Applications

Acts 10:5 offers several practical applications for believers today:

It encourages inclusivity and openness, showing that faith transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries.
It provides a model for obedience, as Cornelius acts immediately on the instructions given to him.
It invites reflection on the importance of divine direction in life's decisions, encouraging believers to be attentive and responsive to God's guidance.

Cross-References

Acts 10:1-2 - Gives background on Cornelius who received the vision.
Acts 10:34-35 - Peter's realization that God does not show favoritism but accepts people from every nation.
Acts 1:8 - Jesus' command to be witnesses "to the ends of the earth," suggesting the Gospel's universality.
Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
Ephesians 2:11-22 - Paul's teaching on Jesus breaking down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles.

Language Study

In a language study of Acts 10:5, key Greek words and phrases would include:

"Simon, whose surname is Peter" (Σίμωνός τινος, ὃς ἐπικαλεῖται Πέτρος): Simon (Hebrew origin) meaning 'he has heard'; Peter (Greek origin) meaning ‘rock or stone’; his surname clarifying which Simon is to be summoned.
"Send men to Joppa" (ἀπόστειλον ἄνδρας εἰς Ἰόππην): The imperative "ἀπόστειλον" (aposteilson, send) indicates the urgency and importance of the action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing Acts 10:5 to other ancient cultures, one might explore the common theme of divine messages delivered through visions, as witnessed in Greek oracles or the Roman tradition of augury.

From a religious perspective, the verse illustrates a significant shift from an ethnocentric belief system to one that is universal, comparable to the universal aspirations found in some strands of Buddhism or the idea of the righteous Gentile in Judaism.

Scientific Perspectives

While the scientific perspective does not directly intersect with the narrative of divine visions, understanding this verse can benefit from knowledge about human psychology and the nature of religious experiences.

The fact that Cornelius acted on his vision may provide insights into the cognitive and social factors that govern how people interpret and act upon profound personal experiences.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer various insights into Acts 10:5:

John Calvin emphasizes the providence of God in preparing Cornelius for the reception of the Gospel.
Matthew Henry comments on the humility of Peter, who, despite being an apostle, is still referred to by his secular name, highlighting his human nature.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament recognizes this event as groundbreaking, marking a significant development in the early church's mission.

Acts 10

Acts 10

What does Acts 10:5 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 10:5 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?