Bible Commentaries
Acts 10

Verse 1

certain . Greek. tis. App-123 .

Caesarea . See note on Acts 8:40 .

called = by name.

centurion = a captain over a hundred men. Greek. hekatontarchos. Occurs elsewhere, Acts 10:22 ; Acts 24:23 ; Acts 27:1 , Acts 27:31 . In the Gospels and in nine other places in Acts, the form hekatontarchos is used.

band = cohort. Greek. speira. See Matthew 27:27 .

Italian . It would be one levied in Italy.

Verse 2

devout = pious. Greek. eusebes. Here, Acts 10:7 ; Acts 22:12 . 2 Peter 2:9 . Not the same as in Acts 2:5 ; Acts 8:2 .

God . App-98 .

alms . Greek. eleemosune. See note on Acts 3:2 .

people . Greek. laos. See note on Acts 2:47 .

prayed . Greek. deomai. App-134 .

Verse 3

saw. Greek. eidon. App-133 .

vision. Greek. horama, as in Acts 7:31 .

evidently = clearly, i.e. objectively. Greek. phaneros.

about = as if.

the ninth hour = 3pm App-165 .

unto = to.

Verse 4

And when he looked on him = But gazing at him. Greek. atenizo. App-133 . See note on Acts 1:10 .

he was afraid, and = and becoming affrighted, he. Greek. emphobos. Here, Acts 22:9 ; Acts 24:25 .Luke 24:5 , Luke 24:37 . Revelation 11:13 .

Lord . Greek. kurios . Used as in John 4:11 , where it is rendered "Sir".

prayers . Greek. proseuche. App-134 .

memorial . Greek. mnemosunon. Here, Matthew 26:13 .Mark 14:9 .

before = in the sight of. Greek. enopion.

Verse 5

send. Greek. pempo. App-174 .

call for = send for. Greek. metapempo. App-174 .

whose surname is = who is surnamed.

Verse 6

He = This one.

lodgeth. Greek. pass, of xenizo, to receive as a guest.

one . Greek. tis. App-123 .

tanner. See Acts 9:43 .

by the sea side = by the side of the sea. he shall, &c. The texts omit this clause.

Verse 7

And = Now.

spake. Greek. laleo. App-121 .

Cornelius. The texts read "him".

household servants . Greek. oiketes. App-190 .

waited . . . continually . Greek. proskartereo. See note on Acts 1:14 .

Verse 8

when he had declared = having related. Greek. exegeomai. Here, Acts 15:12 , Acts 15:14 ; Acts 21:10 . Luke 21:35 .John 1:18 .

sent. Greek. apostello. App-174 . drew nigh = were drawing near.

Verse 9

housetop = house.

pray . Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

about . Greek. peri. App-104 . the sixth hour, i.e. midday. App-165 .

Verse 10

very hungry . Greek. prospeinos. Only here.

would have eaten = wished (Greek. ethelo. App-102 .) to eat.

eaten . Greek. geuomai, to taste (food understood). Always trans, "taste", except in Acts, here, Acts 20:11 ; Acts 23:14 .

he fell, &c. Literally a trance (Greek. ekstasis) fell upon him. The texts read "came upon him". Ekstasis is sometimes translated "amazement", as in Acts 3:10 . It is akin to existemi (Acts 2:7 ; Acts 8:9 , &c). This was not an objective vision, as in the ease of Cornelius.

Verse 11

saw = beheld. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .

heaven = the heaven. Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

unto him . The texts omit. sheet. Greek. othcme, Only here and Acts 11:6 .

knit . The texts omit. Read "Let down by the four corners".

let down = sent down. Greek. kathiemi. Occurs elsewhere, Acts 9:25 ; Acts 11:5 .Luke 5:19 .

to = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .

earth . Greek. ge. App-129 .

Verse 12

Wherein = In which. were. Greek. huparcho. See note on Luke 9:48 .

all manner of = all.

fourfooted beasts . Greek. tetrapous. Hebrews 11:6 . Romans 1:23 .

and wild beasts . The texts omit.

creeping things . Greek. herpeton. Hebrews 11:6 . Romans 1:23 .James 3:7 .

air = heaven.

Verse 13

Rise . Greek. aniatemi. App-178 .

kill = slay. Greek. thuo, to slay, or to sacrifice.

Verse 14

Not so = By no means. Greek. medamos.

have . . . eaten = ate.

never = not even at any time. Greek. oudepote.

unclean . Greek. akathartos. The previous twenty-one occurrences all apply to evil spirits. Here the reference is to the ceremonial uncleanness of the Levitical law.

Verse 15

the second time . Literally from (Greek. ek. App-104 .) a second (time).

What = The things which.

Verse 16

thrice . Literally upon thrice.

Verse 17

doubted = was perplexed. Greek. diaporeo. See note on Luke 9:7 .

mean = be.

behold . Greek. idou. App-133 .

had made enquiry . . . and = having inquired carefully. Greek. dierotao. Compound of dia App-104 and erotao App-134 . Only here.

before = at.

Verse 18

asked = inquired. Greek. punthanomai.

whether = if. Greek. ei. App-118 .

Verse 19

thought on = turned over in his mind. Greek. enthumeomai. Only here and Matthew 1:20 ; Matthew 9:4 . The texts read dienthumeomai, a stronger word.

the Spirit , i.e. the angel of Acts 10:3 . App-101 .

Verse 20

Arise therefore = But arise. Same as rise Acts 10:13 .

doubting . Greek. diakrino. App-122 .

nothing . Greek. medeis.

for I have sent them . This proves that it is the angel that is speaking. Compare Acts 10:5 .

Verse 21

which were sent unto him from Cornelius . All the texts and Syriac omit.

wherefore = on account of which.

are come = are present.

Verse 22

just . Greek. dikaios. App-191 .

of good report = borne witness to. Greek. martureo. Same as "of honest report" in Acts 6:3 .

among = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

nation . Greek. ethnos.

warned from God . Greek. chrematizo. See note on Luke 2:26 .

by . Greek. hupo, as above.

send for . Greek. metapempo, as in Acts 10:5 .

words . Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

of = from. Greek. para. App-104 .

Verse 24

waited = was waiting. Greek. prosdokao. App-138 .

near = intimate. Greek. anankaios. Literally necessary. First occurance. Translated elsewhere "necessary", "needful", &c.

Verse 25

And as, &c. = Now as it came to pass that Peter entered in.

met . Greek. sunantao. Heb 20:22 .Luke 9:37 ; Luke 22:10 . Hebrews 7:1 , Hebrews 7:10 .

worshipped = did him homage or reverence. Greek. proskuneo. App-137 .

Verse 26

took him up = raised him up. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

Stand up = rise up. Greek. mid. of anistemi. App-178 .:1.

man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 27

as he talked with = conversing with. Greek. sunomileo. Only here.

Verse 28

know . Greek. epistamai. App-132 .

unlawful . Greek. athemitos. Here and 1 Peter 4:3 . Themis is that which is established by custom or usage.

keep company . Greek. kollaomai. See Luke 15:15 .

one of another nation = aliens. Greek. allophulos Only here in N.T., but frequently in Septuagint, where the Hebrew reads "Philistines".

hath . Omit.

me . Emphatic because it stands first in the sentence. "Me God shewed".

not call any = call no (Greek. medeis) .

Verse 29

came, &c . Read, "without gainsaying also I came".

without gainsaying . Greek. anantirrhetes. Only here.

for what intent = for what word, or reason. Greek. logos. App-121 .

have . Omit.

Verse 30

Four days ago = From (Greek. apo. App-104 .) the fourth day.

I was, &c . The texts omit "fasting", and read "until this hour I was praying".

bright = shining. Greek. lampros.

Verse 31

is = was.

are had in, &c . = were remembered.

in the sight of . The same as "before", verses: Acts 10:10 , Acts 10:4 , Acts 10:30 , Acts 10:33 .

Verse 32

call hither . Greek. metakaleo. See note on Acts 7:14 .

who, &c . The texts omit.

Verse 33

Immediately . Greek. exautes. Here, Acts 11:11 ; Acts 21:32 ; Acts 23:30 . Mark 6:25 .Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:23 .

hast well done = didst well. Compare Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:14 .James 2:19 . 2 Peter 1:19 . 3 John 1:6 .

of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

Verse 34

opened his mouth . See note on Acts 8:35 .

Of = Upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

perceive . See note on Acts 4:13 .

no = not a. Greek. ou. App-105 .

respecter of persons . Literally one who takes faces (i.e. persons) into account. Greek. prosopoleptes. Only here. Compare James 2:9 .

Verse 35

accepted with = acceptable to. Greek. dektos. Here Luke 4:19 , Luke 4:24 ; 2 Corinthians 6:2 .Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:18 .

Verse 36

word . Greek. logos. App-121 .

children = sons. Greek. huios. App-108 .

preaching . Greek. euangelizo. App-121 .

by = by means

Jesus Christ . App-98 .

He, &c . Cornelius had no claim on Him as son of David. Compare Matthew 15:22-28 .

Verse 37

know . Greek. oida. App-132 .

was published . Literally came to be.

throughout . Greek. kata.

baptism . App-115 .

preached = proclaimed. Greek. kerusso. App-121 .

Verse 38

How, &c . The Greek reads, "Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed (See Acts 4:27 ) Him".

Jesus. App-98 .

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

the Holy Ghost = holy spirit. No art. App-101 .

power . Greek. dunamis. App-172 .

doing good . Greek. euergeteo = acting as a benefactor. Only here. Compare Luke 22:25 , and See Acts 4:9 .

healing . Greek. iaomai. See note on Luke 6:17 .

oppressed = overpowered. Greek. katadunasteuo. Here, James 2:6 . Compare Luke 13:16 . 2 Corinthians 12:7 . Revelation 2:10 .

Verse 39

witnesses . Greek. martur. See note on Acts 1:8 .

land = country. Greek. chora.

slew . Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .

and hanged = having hanged Him.

on . Greek. epi. App-104 .

tree . See note on Acts 5:30 .

Verse 40

Him = This One.

raised up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

shewed Him openly . Literally gave Him to become manifest, i.e. to be openly seen. Greek. emphanes. Here, Romans 10:20 . Compare App-106 .

Verse 41

chosen before . Greek. procheirotoneo. Only here. Compare Acts 14:23 .

did eat . . . with . Greek. sunesthio. Here, Acts 11:3 .Luke 15:2 . 1 Corinthians 5:11 .Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:12 .

drink with . Greek. sumpino. Only here.

from the dead . Greek. ek nekron. App-139 .

Verse 42

commanded = charged.

testify = fully testify. Greek. diamarturomai. See note on Acts 2:40 .

ordained . Greek. horizo. See note on Acts 2:23 .

Judge . Greek. krites. Compare App-122 and App-177 .

quick = living.

dead = dead persons. Greek. nekros. App-139 .

Verse 43

give . . . witness = testify. Greek. martureo, as in Acts 10:22 .

name . See note on Acts 2:38 .

believeth in . App-150 .

remission = forgiveness. Greek. aphesis. See note on Acts 2:38 ; Acts 5:31 .

sins. Greek. hamartia. App-128 .

Verse 44

the word , i.e. the gospel message. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6 .

Verse 45

they, &c , i.e. the Jews. Compare Acts 11:2 .Romans 4:12 ; Romans 15:8 . Galatians 1:2 , 2 Chronicles 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:10 . These were Jewish Christians, called "brethren", Acts 10:23 , Acts 11:12 .

believed = were faithful. Greek. pistos. App-150 .

were astonished . Greek. existemi. See note on Acts 2:7 .

Gentiles . Greek. ethnos. Same as "nation", verses: Acts 10:22 , Acts 10:35 .

gift . Greek. dorea. See note on John 4:10 .

Verse 46

speak = speaking. Greek. laleo, as in Acts 10:7 .

magnify = magnifying. Greek. megaluno, as in Acts 5:13 .

answered . App-122 .

Verse 47

any man = any one. Greek. tis. App-123 .

forbid . Same as "hinder" in Acts 8:36 .

baptized . App-115 .

as well as we = even as we also.

Verse 48

baptized in . App-115 .

the Lord . App-98 . The texts read "Jesus Christ".

prayed . Greek. erotao. App-131 .

tarry . Greek. epimeno. See John 8:7 (continue).