Acts 10:20. Get thee down. He descended, doubtless, by an external stair, which would bring him at once to the outer gate, at which the messengers were standing. Sec on Acts 10:17.

Go with them. He knows not whither. But an intimation is given of some journey to be undertaken. This is similar to the general method of other Divine communications recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. See Acts 20:22-23; Acts 27:26.

I have sent them. A further point is here reached, of the highest doctrinal importance. In the outward literal sense, Cornelius had sent the messengers. If we go a step farther back in the narrative, we might say that the angel had sent them. But here we are brought to the primary active will which set all these occurrences in motion. In other words, we have before us here the truth of the personality of the Holy Spirit. Compare analogous instances in this book, when St. Paul is to be sent out on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:2), and when his course is first directed to missionary work in Europe (Acts 16:6-7).

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Old Testament