Acts 10:24-33

Peter Meets Cornelius

The following day, Peter arrived at the house of Cornelius, where the God fearing soldier had assembled his kinsmen and friends to hear what God's messenger would say. Upon meeting the Lord's apostle, Cornelius bowed down before him. Rather than accepting such adoration or encouraging it in any way, Peter told Cornelius to get up because he too was a man (compare Acts 14:8-18; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8-9). As they were talking, they entered the house and Peter saw a large group had assembled.

Peter's hospitality to the three messengers in Joppa suggests that he had already surmised God's intent for him to preach to the Gentiles. Perhaps it was for the sakes of those six witnesses who came with him that he started speaking as he did. Specifically, the apostle said he, as a Jew, was not allowed to go into the house of a Gentile. The words "one of another nation," according to Bruce and Ash, come from the word used in the Septuagint, or Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, to designate an uncircumcised Philistine. In reality, a Jew could be in the company of Gentiles but such contact made them ceremonially unclean. However, Peter stated that God had shown him not to call any man common or unclean. So, Peter had come without objecting and now asked why they had sent for him.

Cornelius explained how, during a time of fasting and prayer, an angel had spoken to him. The angel had told him that God had heard his prayers and recognized the good he had done for those in need. He had been given specific details concerning how to send for Peter. The assembled group was prepared to hear whatever God had commanded the apostle to preach (Acts 10:24-33).