THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER 10 OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 10: I. God's message to Cornelius: Acts 10:1-8 II. God's message to Peter: Acts 10:9-20 III. The journey and meeting: Acts 10:21-33 IV. Peter's sermon: Acts 10:34-43 V. Outpouring of the Spirit: Acts 10:44-... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now there was. certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name,. centurion of the band called the Italian band"Caesarea" "A garrison city named after Augustus Caesar, the administrative capital of the province of Judea, boasting. splendid harbor built by Herod the Great" (Stott pp. 184-185). "Caesarea w... [ Continue Reading ]
"a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always" "Devout" Meaning reverent and pious. "One that feared God" "The usual term for the Gentile seekers after God (Acts 17:4), who had come into the worship of the synagogue without circ... [ Continue Reading ]
"He saw in. vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius" He distinctly saw what appeared in the vision, and this took place around three in the afternoon, which was also one of the Jewish times for prayer (Acts 3:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for. memorial before God"Being affrighted" Remember Cornelius was. centurion, he would not have frightened easily. The appearance of an angel must be an im... [ Continue Reading ]
"And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter" Joppa was located about thirty-two miles along the coast to the south. The purpose of this is so that Peter can preach to them (Acts 11:13). "The doctrine of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the alien sinner's heart to... [ Continue Reading ]
"he lodgeth with one Simon. tanner, whose house is by the seaside" "The process of tanning hides requires. considerable amount of water to convey away the filth produced in the operation of dressing the hides, so they were often located by rivers or other large bodies of water" (Reese p. 383).... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and. devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa" "He called" Note the prompt obedience of Cornelius, and that he is not offended... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour"Upon the housetop" Homes in Eastern culture had. flat roof that was used as additional living space, and it served the same purpose as porches or patios do in... [ Continue Reading ]
"and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into. trance"Became hungry" Intensely hungry or very hungry. The people in the first century world generally ate two meals. day. "The first of these was taken about 10 or 11 o'clock in the morning, and consisted of fruit,... [ Continue Reading ]
"and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and. certain vessel descending, as it were. great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth" This was not. sheet, but appeared to be like. sheet. "Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven" Creepin... [ Continue Reading ]
"And there came. voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat"Arise Peter; kill and eat" It is clear that God approves of "hunting" and whatever tools are needed to accomplish that task, such as bows, guns, or knives. We should also note that God approves and endorses the eating of meat (1 Timothy 4:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for. have never eaten anything that is common and unclean"Not so, Lord" "By no means" (NASV). "Peter is always. man quick to act and quick to speak. Although he was in. trance, he still had his sense of right and wrong about him" (Reese p. 386). "I have never eaten" Th... [ Continue Reading ]
"And. voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common"What God hath cleansed" "What God has pronounced pure you must not call defiled" (TCNT). In His earthly ministry Jesus had already indicated that the various foods laws found in the O.T. would be removed (M... [ Continue Reading ]
"And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven" "This happened three times so that there could be no possible mistake or dodging of the lesson" (Barclay p. 84). Notice how God makes every effort to help us understand His will.... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate"Was much perplexed" "Was still puzzling over the meaning of the vision he had seen" (TCNT). "Behold"E... [ Continue Reading ]
"and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there. And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. "Was earnestly pondering" (Vincent p. 500). But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for. have sent... [ Continue Reading ]
"And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold,. am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius. centurion,. righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by. holy angel to send for thee into hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 10:22; Acts 16:2. 'These seven must be men of honorable reputation, so that their probity might command complete confidence.' (Bruce p. 128). Having the reputation for being fair-minded and honest. 'FULL OF THE SPIRIT'- Point to Note: Some commentators take the above expression to mean, 'men... [ Continue Reading ]
"So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him" "The messengers have traveled almost round the clock. After part of. day's and full night's rest, they will be ready to make the return trip" (Reese p.... [ Continue Reading ]
"And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends" "Was waiting for them" He knew approx. how long it would take for them to return. Cornelius had been busy while the messengers were gone. He had been rounding u... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him" "Picture the commander of 100 men, in full dress uniform, bowing down to Peter" (Reese p. 390). Here we find the humility and receptive nature of Cornelius. Various writers argue that Corn... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up;. myself also am. man" The intentions of Cornelius were sincere, but his knowledge was imperfect. Notice that Peter did not believe that sincerity makes up for. lack of truth. From the fact that Jesus never told the people that worshipped Him to get up, we... [ Continue Reading ]
"And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together: and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for. man that is. Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that. should not call any man common or unclean" "Ye... [ Continue Reading ]
"wherefore also. came without gainsaying, when. was sent for.. ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me" Peter had already been given some information by the messengers (Acts 10:22), he now asks Cornelius to give him. more detailed account of what the angel had said. Acts 10:30 "And Cornelius s... [ Continue Reading ]
"and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon. tanner, by the sea side. Forthwith therefore. sent to thee; and thou hast well done that... [ Continue Reading ]
"And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of. truth. perceive that God is no respecter of persons"I perceive" "I most certainly understand" (NASV). God is no respecter of persons" Peter had perceived this truth by necessary inference, the conclusion which was demanded from the events that had taken plac... [ Continue Reading ]
"but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to Him" "In every nation" Salvation is open to the citizens of all nations and cultures. "He that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness" Notice that there is something that. person must do to find favor with God. Pet... [ Continue Reading ]
"The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)" "Peter is thus saying, 'I'm going to tell you the word (doctrine) that is necessary for you to believe if you want to be saved'" (Reese p. 395)."He is Lord of all" Letting the au... [ Continue Reading ]
"that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached" This indicates that Cornelius and his friends were already somewhat acquainted with the information circulating concerning Jesus of Nazareth. As Paul had said,... [ Continue Reading ]
"even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him"How God anointed Him" Matthew 3:16; Luke 4:18. "Went about doing good" Which included teaching people and healing them... [ Continue Reading ]
"And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging Him on. tree" "And are therefore able to give firsthand evidence or testimony" (Stott p. 190) Acts 1:8. It is interesting to note that various so-called religious experts... [ Continue Reading ]
"Him God raised up the third day, and gave Him to be made manifest" "Granted that He should become visible" (NASV). Not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead" The official witnesses of the resurrection... [ Continue Reading ]
"And He charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is He who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead"He charged us" Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15 ff. "The Judge of the living and the dead" Acts 17:30; 2 Corinthians 5:10; John 5:22. It is. judgement that all will... [ Continue Reading ]
"To Him bear all the prophets witness, that through His name every one that believeth on Him shall receive remission of sins" "To Him bear all the prophets witness" The writings of the prophets back up the claims that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah (Acts 17:2; Luke 24:27; 44-45). "Everyone" Jew or... [ Continue Reading ]
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word" Notice how this outpouring of the Holy Spirit greatly differs from what modern denominations teach about the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not fall upon the family of Cornelius to make them recep... [ Continue Reading ]
"And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit" It is hard for us to appreciate the amazement caused by this event. Here were Christians from. Jewish background, who had been told all t... [ Continue Reading ]
"For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter" Along with prophecy (Acts 19:6), the visible evidence that the Holy Spirit had come upon them. Again, the tongues are understandable languages (Acts 2:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
"Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized" (NASV). Peter knew that baptizing these Gentiles would be viewed as. very controversial event, but He appeals to the event... [ Continue Reading ]
Sketches of Jewish Social Life. pp. 27,28.... [ Continue Reading ]