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A.T. Robertson · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Robertson says "Begging of God." This is an amazing statement, but we know that even believers go to God's throne of grace through our Great High Priest. And yet here Luke states Cornelius prayed to God continually. I know believers (some I know very well) who do not pray without ceasing! (Gulp!) God seems to clearly have heard his prayers. Although, he was unlikely to have been praying for a vision, God gave him a divine vision. God knows the heart and He saw this man's sincere seeking. This is made clear in Acts 10:4 when he heard in the vision "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God." Gentiles who were pagans prayed to false gods, but Luke specifically says Cornelius prayed to the true and living God. He responded to the light and truth that had been revealed to him about God, and as the next verse shows, God gave him more light, more truth. This is an immutable principle and truth about God. Larkin on prayed...continually (aka regular prayer) - the Jewish practice was three times a day: m. Berakot 4:1; compare Dan 6:10. (The Mission Is Inaugurated Through Peter Acts 9:32-11:18) Prayed (beseech, request) (1189)(deomai from deo = to bind) means to ask for something with the sense of pleading, beseeching or begging, even asking for with a sense of urgency and a sense of need. When used in the context of prayer deomai means to make petition, to plead, to ask in prayer, to implore (pray for earnestly) and emphasizes the existence of a need. Deomai is a strong way to ask for something - a leper imploring Jesus to heal him (Lk 5:12), a father's desperate plea to Jesus to cast a demon out of his son (Lk 9:38). The related word deesis, means prayer for a particular need (supplication). What was Cornelius' greatest need? Of course, his greatest need was the same as that of every man born in Adam (Ro 5:12+) and that was the need to be reborn by the Spirit and to be transferred from in Adam to in Christ (1 Cor 15:22, Jn 3:3-6). One other note of interest is that Luke uses deomai and not proseuchomai, which carries with it a notion of worship whereas deomai emphasizes the intensity of the request. Continually is interesting in that it is two Greek words, the prepositoin dia (through) and pantos (all), which literally means "through all" and the idea is not so much praying constantly as praying regularly and so that Cornelius was making prayer his way of life. Prayer for Cornelius was not "hit or miss," but more "hit" than "miss." Dennis Hamm writes "In at least four places in the NT (Luke 24:53; Acts 10:2; Heb 9:6; Heb 13:15), the phrase dia pantos seems to reflect a cultic background like that assumed in the Septuagint uses of the term. For that reason, in these contexts dia pantos should be translated as “regularly” rather than the more common translations of “constantly” or “without ceasing.”" (Expository Times, 2004, Vol 116, pp 50-54). Bruce Barton - GOD SEEKS Cornelius’s story demonstrates God’s willingness to use extraordinary means to reach those who desire to know him. God does not play favorites and does not hide from those who want to find him. God sent his Son “to seek and save those … who are lost” (Luke 19:10NLT) because he loves the whole world—and that includes Peter, Cornelius, and you. Even at this very moment, the Father is drawing men and women, boys, and girls to himself (John 6:44). Watch for signs today of God at work in the heart of someone who is spiritually hungry. (Life Application Commentary Acts - Page 170) John Stott: It is difficult for us to grasp the impassable gulf which yawned in those days between the Jews on the one hand and the Gentiles (including even the “god-fearers”) on the other. Not that the Old Testament itself countenanced such a divide. On the contrary, alongside its oracles against the hostile nations, it affirmed that God had a purpose for them. By choosing and blessing one family, he intended to bless all the families of the earth. . . The tragedy was that Israel twisted the doctrine of election into one of favoritism, became filled with racial pride and hatred, despised Gentiles as “dogs”, and developed traditions which kept them apart. No orthodox Jew would never enter the home of a Gentile, even a God-fearer, or invite such into his home. Jack Andrew writes that "Jack Taylor said prayerlessness is “that state in which a person prays less than he ought, less than the Father desires, and less than that one himself knows he should.”" (Expository Sermons)
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Robertson - His prayers and his alms proved his sincerity and won the ear of God. (Acts 10 Commentary) And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God - cf Acts 10:31 "‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God." At first reading this sounds as if the angel is saying that Cornelius' alms and prayers merited something from God. Of course that is not the nature of the grace of God which cannot be earned. However Jeremiah 29:13 (in a promise given to Judah but applicable to any seeking heart) says " ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Proverbs 15:3 says "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good." In 2 Chr 16:9 we read "the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." In short the omniscient God saw the heart of the Gentile Cornelius. Bengel has an interesting note on prayers and alms noting that prayers "precede: the alms follow, though in respect to men they are the more conspicuous of the two and therefore are put first in Acts 10:2....O how many things fall upon the earth, not ascend!—as a memorial We should pray and do good, even though we do not immediately feel (perceive) the effect. Kistemaker - Since Cornelius was a God-fearer and not a Jewish convert, he was barred from presenting offerings to God in the Jerusalem temple. But his prayers and his acts of generosity to his fellow man had been accepted by God. Jack Arnold adds "God was merely taking note of a hungry heart, a searching soul, for the Bible does say, “He who seeks finds” (Matt. 7:8). God never says, “Seek Me in vain!” No, if a man will follow the light he does have, he will receive more light until he finds Christ and then his search for salvation will end." (Acts 10:1-23a The Seeking Sinner and the Bigoted Believer) Larkin - What we see emerging to this point is the basic outline of the “more light” principle of God’s redemptive mercy (compare Lk 8:18+ = "take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given"; Lk 19:26+ = "to everyone who has, more shall be given"). Cornelius has responded in faith and obedience to the “light” he has received, as evidenced by his piety. He fears the one true God, prays to him regularly and acts in love to the needy among God’s people. Such obedience is not a “works righteousness” that earns salvation. This we can see by God’s response. He does not declare Cornelius saved. Rather, he grants him “more light” by which he and his household may be saved (Acts 11:14). God’s response is embodied in a command to send for the messenger who carries the gospel, the essential “more light” (Acts 4:12). What have we done with the light we have received? (The Mission Is Inaugurated Through Peter Acts 9:32-11:18) A T Robertson adds that Cornelius' "prayers and his alms proved his sincerity and won the ear of God." (Acts 10 Commentary) J
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Robertson adds ascended or "Gone up like the smoke of incense in sacrifices." (Acts 10 Commentary) Both these words ascended and memorial recall the language of sacrifices. For example, in Leviticus 2:2+ Moses writes "He shall then bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests; and shall take from it his handful of its fine flour and of its oil with all of its frankincense. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke as its memorial (Lxx = mnemosunon) portion on the altar, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD." Swindoll adds that "The angel assured the soldier that his actions had been received by God with the same regard as the sacrifices of Hebrew worshipers; the image created by “ascended” hints at smoke rising from an altar (Acts 10:4; cf. Ge 8:21; Ex 29:18, 25; Lev. 8:28)." (see Insights on Acts) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that "Memorial is a sacrificial term, that which brings the offerer into remembrance before God (ED: cf Cornelius), or brings God into favorable remembrance with the offerer (ED: cf "in remembrance of Me" in 1 Cor 11:24, 25); it is used of the burning of a portion of the cereal offering, on the altar (Lev 2:2, Lev 2:9, 16; 5:12, Nu 5:26)....“Memorial” occurs in the NT as the tr of mnemosunon, “a token of remembrance” (Mt 26:13; Mk 14:9; Acts 10:4, “Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God,” which suggests the sense in which “memorial” was used in the sacrificial ritual, and also the “better sacrifices” of the new dispensation)." (cf Php 4:18+) Whereas the pagan Romans and Greeks were offering up sacrifices to their so-called gods and goddesses, this Roman was "offering up sacrifices" with his lips (cf Heb 13:15) to the true and living God and God acknowledged the prayers of his heart. Memorial (3422)(mnemosunon from mnaomai = remember) is something that causes or preserves the remembrance of a person or thing. A memorial is “a memorial that which keeps alive the memory of someone or something. In the Septuagint mnemosunon is used to describe a variety of memorials - God's "Memorial Name" (Ex 3:15), Passover (Ex 12:14 = "this day will be a memorial to you"), to mark Israel's crossing the Jordan River (Josh 4:7 = "So these stones shall become a memorial [Lxx = mnemosunon] to the sons of Israel forever”). In Malachi 3:16+ we see "a book of remembrance (Lxx = mnemosunon) was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name." In Ps 112:6 we read "The righteous will be remembered (Lxx = mnemosunon) forever." THOUGHT - Have you ever thought of your prayers as a "memorial before God?" They are! John alludes to this in Rev 5:8+ writing that in Heaven there are "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." And again in Rev 8:3+ John describes "the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne." This is surely where the prayers of Cornelius were deposited. If we really believed the truth (and it is true) that God in some way remembers our prayers and they are before Him in Heaven, would that not motivate us to pray over everything and at all times? (cf 1 Th 5:17+). I am convicted as I write this note! See related discussion about how to store up for yourself treasure in heaven - Praying for People from Every Tribe, Tongue, People and Nation There are only 2 other NT uses and both describe the woman who anointed Jesus prior to His crucifixion... Matthew 26:13 “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done (Mt 26:12) will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Mark 14:9 “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Mnemosunon - 43 verses in Septuagint - Exod. 3:15; Exod. 12:14; Exod. 13:9; Exod. 17:14; Exod. 28:12; Exod. 28:23; Exod. 30:16; Exod. 39:7; Lev. 2:2; Lev. 2:9; Lev. 2:16; Lev. 5:12; Lev. 6:15; Lev. 23:24; Num. 5:15; Num. 5:18; Num. 5:26; Num. 16:40; Num. 31:54; Deut. 32:26; Jos. 4:7; Neh. 2:20; Est. 1:1; Est. 2:23; Est. 8:12; Est. 9:27; Est. 9:28; Est. 9:32; Est. 10:2; Job 2:9; Job 18:17; Ps. 9:6; Ps. 34:16; Ps. 102:12; Ps. 109:15; Ps. 112:6; Ps. 135:13; Isa. 23:18; Isa. 57:8; Isa. 66:3; Hos. 12:5; Hos. 14:7; Mal. 3:16 Bruce Barton comments that "The angel painted Cornelius's actions as offerings to God. That is a beautiful picture of what our properly motivated acts of faith are like—they ascend to God like the smoke of the sacrifice. This is the language of the Levitical sacrifice (see Leviticus 2:2), commonly applied to our prayers and good deeds done in Christ's name (see Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:15-16)." (Life Application Commentary Acts - Page 172) Jack Arnold gives his testimony - My own quest for salvation was something like that of Cornelius's search. I was born in a pagan, non-Christian home, but from my youth I knew there was a God. In my youth I attended the Mormon Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Christian Science Church. At one point in high school, I said the Lord's Prayer every night. I went to a liberal church occasionally and attended a youth group regularly, but I never heard the Gospel. I even did a few good deeds. In college I was still searching and I heard about Christ my freshman year. At that time I made some kind of superficial, external profession of Christ, but I was not saved. I even gave my testimony and people were blessed, but I was not converted. Finally, in my junior year at college, Christ came into my life and I took Him as my Lord and Savior. From that time, I stopped searching for a personal relationship with God because I had found it through Christ. (Acts 10:1-23a The Seeking Sinner and the Bigoted Believer) Warren
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Robertson adds "Isaiah 11:12+ had said that Israel would be gathered from the four corners of the earth." (Acts 10 Commentary) Four corners - 18 uses in the Bible - Ex. 25:26; Ex 27:2; Ex 27:4; Ex 37:13; Ex 38:2; Dt. 22:12; 1 Ki. 7:34; Job 1:19; Isa. 11:12; Ezek 7:2; Ezek 43:20; Ezek. 45:19; Ezek. 46:21; Ezek. 46:22; Acts 10:11; Acts 11:5; Rev. 7:1; Rev. 20:8 Verses on "Heaven Opened" Mt 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, Acts 7:56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, John 1:51 And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Revelation 4:1+ After these things (WHAT THINGS? REVELATION IS NOT DIFFICULT IF ONE FOLLOWS THE TIME PHRASES AND ACCEPTS THEM AS LITERAL STATEMENTS) I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Revelation 11:19+ And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. Revelation 19:11+ (John writes) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Comment - The first opening of Heaven in Revelation marks the beginning of the end (the seven year tribulation) and the last opening marks the dramatic ending of the great tribulation! Acts 10:12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. KJV Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. Genesis 7:8,9; Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25; John 7:37; 1 Cor 6:9-11 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AN ASSORTMENT OF ANIMALS KOSHER AND NON-KOSHER And there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air - Recall that Peter is already staying with a Jewish man named Simon (almost certainly a believer in Jesus) who handled dead animals in his profession of tanning and thus was considered by most Jews to be unclean! This was surely preparatory work in Peter's heart which would soon overcome even greater prejudice. It is as if Peter's walls of prejudice were progressively being lowered - dwelling in the home one who had an unclean profession (a tanner), now accepting unclean produce (non-kosher animals) and (soon) accepting "unclean" people (Gentiles)! God's ways of carrying out His supernatural work using natural means are absolutely fascinating! Longnecker - God frequently reveals himself not only in but also by means of our human situations. (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Polhill - This is the same threefold division of the animal world as found in the Noah account of Gen 6:20 and the creation account of Gen 1:30. Cf. Ro 1:23. It thus symbolized the entire animal world and included clean as well as unclean animals. (NAC) Four-footed animals and crawling creatures - The four-footed animals probably included the unclean hog among other creatures. "What a veritable Noah's ark of animals!" (Phillips) Robertson - Fish are not mentioned, perhaps because the sheet had no water, though they were clean and unclean also (Lev. 11:9; Dt. 14:9). (Acts 10 Commentary) Related Resource: Theology of Unclean Food - Gordon J. Wenham, Evangelical Quarterly 53.1 (January/March 1981): 6-15. Steven Ger - In this sheet or sail is a miniature "wild kingdom"; a veritable menagerie of kosher and non-kosher animals (excluding fish, who would not be able to swim very well on a sheet, even within a vision) (ED NOTE: Actually fish are not mentioned, though they were clean and unclean also Lev. 11:9; Dt. 14:9). According to the kosher laws enumerated in the Torah, the only animals Jews are permitted to eat are those four-footed animals that chew the cud and have split hoofs, as well as specific kinds of birds. Every other animal is forbidden, including all reptiles (Lev. 11:1-47). (Acts - Twenty-First Century Commentary) Crawling creatures - Peter would have been mindful of the words of Moses... Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable. 43 ‘Do not render yourselves detestable through any of the swarming things that swarm; and you shall not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean. 44 ‘For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. 45 ‘For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (Lev 11:42-45+) It is surely no coincidence that this was the very passage Peter would later quote in his first epistle having come to fully understand what it was that really made a man holy... As obedient children, do not be conformed (suschematizo - used in Ro 12:2+ = don't be poured into the "mold") to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be (aorist imperative - Do this without delay or compromise!) holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because (TERM OF EXPLANATION - WHY WE ARE TO BE HOLY) it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY (PETER IS QUOTING Lev 11:44, 45).” (1 Peter 1:14-16+) Rich Cathters - As Gentiles, we aren’t all that familiar with the Jewish dietary laws. But to a good Jewish boy (like Peter), there are some animals that are edible, and others that aren’t. Some of the inedible animals we would readily agree with – like “bats”. Some of the inedible animals we would not want to stop eating, like pigs (bacon, ham, pork chops) and shrimp. (Sermon Notes) Barton adds that "These food laws made it difficult for Jews to eat with Gentiles without risking defilement." (See Acts - Page 174) Jack Arnold is probably correct explaining that "These clean and unclean animals all had a symbolic meaning which Peter would later come to understand completely. The sheet containing the clean and unclean animals represented all of humanity made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The clean animals were the Jews and the unclean animals were the Gentiles. The Jews hated the Gentiles. They thought them common and unclean. In fact, if a Jew even touched a Gentile on the street, he had to go home immediately and wash. A Gentile, if possible, was not to be spoken to and never invited into a Jewish home. The Jews felt themselves superior to the Gentiles and were filled with prejudice, pride, bigotry and snobbishness. The Jews often referred to the Gentiles as “dogs.” The Old Testament taught that Jews were to be a separate people but they perverted this so as to believe they were a super race and they were to have no dealings at all with Gentiles. A Jew's religion, culture and background taught him to have no social intercourse with the Gentiles. Now perhaps we can understand better why Peter had to have this vision of clean and unclean animals. God was teaching him that the Gentile was no longer unclean." (Acts 10:1-23a The Seeking Sinner and the Bigoted Believer) Ray Stedman gives some background on Jewish bias - This is most interesting, because here is an apostle, an inspired apostle, born again, filled with the Holy Spirit. And yet, present in his like is a great area of bigotry which has been there since he was raised as a Jew in Judea. As he grew up he was taught this kind of pharisaical bigotry. The Old Testament tells us that God has separated the Jews from the rest of mankind. He did not choose them because they were smarter or superior in any other way to anyone else. In fact, God tells them that he did not choose them on that basis. That is stated in the Old Testament very clearly. He chose them because he wanted them to be a demonstration to all the other nations of the relationship God wants to have with every nation and every people. In other words, the Jews were to be the pattern of God's relationship to every people. Only in that sense were they a called or chosen people. But in typically human fashion, and I am sure we would have done the same thing, the Jews distorted that calling of God, that pattern of the Old Testament. They began to believe that God had called them because they were already a superior people, and that God was their exclusive possession, as well as that they were the exclusive possession of God -- that God was not interested in Gentiles, that he liked only Jews. This has given rise to anti-Semitism by the Gentiles in reaction. Many Gentiles are saying, in that shortest of all poems, How odd Of God To choose The Jews. But the Jews said it first. "How smart of God to choose the Jews." This whole idea had been accepted by the Jews as divinely encouraged and ratified. And so Peter grew up with the attitude that God did not like Gentiles. Gentiles were a sort of animal, not quite human. They were not even to be spoken to, let alone to be invited into your home. A good Jew, as Peter had been taught, would have nothing to do with a Gentile. If he even touched one accidentally on the street he would go home and wash. This bigotry was deep in the apostle's heart. (Acts 9:32-10:23 The Cure For Death) Acts 10:13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" KJV Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. Rise Acts 10:10; Jeremiah 35:2-5; John 4:31-34 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DIVINE PHONICS Phonics refers to the method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters in an alphabetic writing system. Wikipedia says phonics is defined as "a method for teaching reading and writing of the English language by developing learners' phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes—in order to teach the correspondence between these sounds and the spelling patterns (graphemes) that represent them." Peter perceives this voice to be that of the Lord (Acts 10:14). Steven Ger - As had Saul on the road to Damascus, Peter now hears a bat kol, the divine voice of God from heaven. The voice commanded Peter to pick himself up, walk over to the assembled menagerie, slaughter an animal of his choice and eat it.(Acts - Twenty-First Century Commentary) Wikipedia on bat kol - In Judaism bat kol or bat ḳōl (Hebrew: בּת קול, literally "daughter of voice", "voice of God") is a "heavenly or divine voice which proclaims God's will or judgment."[1] It signifies the ruach ha-kodesh (רוח הקודש, "the spirit of holiness") or serves as a metonym for God; "but it differed essentially from the Prophets", though these were delegates or mouthpieces of ruaḥ ha-kodesh.
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Robertson - Not so, Lord (Mēdamōs, kurie). The negative mēdamōs calls for the optative eiē (may it not be) or the imperative estō (let it be). It is not oudamōs, a blunt refusal (I shall not do it). And yet it is more than a mild protest as Page and Furneaux argue. It is a polite refusal with a reason given. (Acts 10 Commentary) Vincent on by no means - "With that simple and audacious self-confidence which in his (Peter's) character was so singularly mingled with fits of timidity and depression, he boldly corrects the voice which orders him, and reminds the divine Interlocutor that he must, so to speak, have made an oversight" (Farrar, "Life and Works of Paul"). Compare Matthew 16:22. (Word Studies in the New Testament)
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Robertson - I never did anything like this and I shall not do it now....At this moment he is in spiritual and intellectual turmoil. (Acts 10 Commentary) John
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Robertson - Peter had been reared from childhood to make the distinction between clean and unclean food and this new proposal even from the Lord runs against all his previous training. He did not see that some of God’s plans for the Jews could be temporary. This symbol of the sheet was to show Peter ultimately that Gentiles could be saved without becoming Jews. At this moment he is in spiritual and intellectual turmoil. (Acts 10 Commentary) John Stott gives us background on just how amazing the events of Acts 10-11 were in light of the great cultural divide between Jews and Gentiles... It is difficult for us to grasp the impassable gulf which yawned in those days between the Jews on the one hand and the Gentiles (including even the ‘God-fearers’) on the other. Not that the Old Testament itself countenanced such a divide. On the contrary, alongside its oracles against the hostile nations, it affirmed that God had a purpose for them. By choosing and blessing one family, he intended to bless all the families of the earth. So psalmists and prophets foretold the day when God’s Messiah would inherit the nations, the Lord’s servant would be their light, all nations would ‘flow’ to the Lord’s house, and God would pour out his Spirit on all humankind. The tragedy was that Israel twisted the doctrine of election into one of favouritism, became filled with racial pride and hatred, despised Gentiles as ‘dogs’, and developed traditions which kept them apart. No orthodox Jew would ever enter the home of a Gentile, even a God-fearer, or invite such into his home (see verse 28). On the contrary, ‘all familiar intercourse with Gentiles was forbidden’ and ‘no pious Jew would of course have sat down at the table of a Gentile’. This, then was the entrenched prejudice which had to be overcome before Gentiles could be admitted into the Christian community on equal terms with Jews, and before the church could become a truly multi-racial, multi-cultural society. (The Message of Acts). Gary Hill in his discussion of koinos adds some interesting insights that help understand Peter's resistance to obey the command to eat "unclean" food... Rabbinical (Jewish) laws often erred by imposing many regulations about what supposedly made certain types of cups, plates, etc., "defiled" (koinos). This bred much unwarranted legalism with the terrible result of calling all Gentiles "unclean" whom the Lord was calling to Himself. Because of this, the Jews missed out on their duty to evangelize. Example: If a Jewish person even touched an "unclean vessel," they could be barred from entering the Temple or synagogue. Much needless care was taken to keep all vessels "ceremonially clean" to meet rabbinical (man-made) standards about religious purity. Any contact (no matter how indirect) with something "unclean" required elaborate rituals of sacrifice (purification). Accordingly, the Pharisees meticulously followed religious formulas to clean vessels, strain wine, etc., in order to rid themselves of supposed defilement. The Jews became preoccupied with minors and missed the "majors" – like living in faith, hope, love (cf. Mt 23:23 with 1Cor 13:13). Their greatest error in this regard was avoiding Gentiles supposedly to escape "defilement." The Bible itself never prohibited nor discouraged them from having contact with Gentiles (non-Jewish people)! Indeed, this was needed for the outreach God desired the OT saints to extend to all people! (See athemitos = properly, not acceptable to the prevailing custom or ordinary practice - used only in Acts 10:28; 1Pet 4:3). The OT never prohibited Jews from eating with Gentiles, or coming in contact with them! This twisted idea, of "ceremonial defilement," (unfortunately) came from misguided rabbis....The Pharisees in NT times were infamous for their distorted ideas about "ceremonial uncleanness," i.e. what was really "defiled" (koinos). Indeed, they often defined something as koinós ("defiled") which was morally neutral, or not "defiled" at all. They failed here by overly focusing on the physical, even petty things that supposedly made someone spiritually unacceptable to the Lord. Examples - The rabbis and Pharisees said touching a "defiled" plate made someone "unclean" if it had a rim. But touching a flat plate could not spiritually defile a Jew. So too, a person was supposedly defiled by touching an "unclean" object made of wood and metal – but the metal part could "not become unclean" or pass on impurity (Wm Barclay). Worse, they believed a person became "unclean" by standing in the shadow of an "unclean object" – another "holiness standard" defined by the rabbis (not the Bible!). (From this interesting resource The Discovery Bible) Related Resources: What does the Bible say about what foods we should eat (kosher)? Are there foods a Christian should avoid? Why did the Old Testament Law command against the eating of pork? Theology of Unclean Food - Gordon J. Wenham, Evangelical Quarterly 53.1 (January/March 1981): 6-15. Ray
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Robertson says "When out of the ecstasy (trance) he was more puzzled than ever." (Acts 10 Commentary) This verb is used in the NT only by Luke - Lk. 9:7; Acts 2:12; Acts 5:24; Acts 10:17
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Robertson comments that "Peter was revolving in his mind, through and through, in and out, to find the meaning of the strange vision." (Acts 10 Commentary) Jack Andrews - LESSON: When the Lord speaks to us through His word and by His Spirit we need to meditate on the word of God and the will of God for our lives. We need to spend time mulling over what God says to us in His word. As he was thinking about what he saw we learn of God’s word to Peter. (Expository Sermons) Vision (3705)(see preceding discussion of horama) The Spirit said to him - This is the first (and only) record by Luke that the Spirit spoke directly to Peter. Peter refers to this supernatural speech in Acts 11:12 stating that "The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings." Luke does not tell us how He spoke, whether by an audible voice or by an impression to his heart and mind. It matters not how it occurred, but it definitely occurred and secondly that Peter discerned that the speech was supernatural. THOUGHT - Does the Spirit speak to your heart as you read His Word? Beloved, while there is no new revelation, God's Spirit uses the completed revelation of the Bible to "speak" to our hearts. The Spirit of truth is like an inner compass in our lives when we immerse ourselves in the Word of Truth. Are you listening? Do you discern the direction of the compass and yet chose to walk another direction? In other words, do you hear and yet fail to heed? Or do you have unconfessed sin which muffles the still small voice of God? Confess and repent and you will hear Him speak through the Word He inspired. Yes, God still speaks because the Bible is God's Word and His written communication to mankind, so it a very real sense when you read God's Word or hear God's Word read or spoken, you are hearing God speak. YES OUR FATHER STILL SPEAKS TO HIS CHILDREN! Ryan Shelton rightly reminds us of a basic truth about God we tend to overlook or forget - "Speaking is central to God. God himself is Word, and his speech commanded nothing to be everything (John 1:1–3). “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Psalm 29:4). When God wants the dead to come to life he says, “Live!” (Ezekiel 16:6), and when Jesus wanted his friend to walk out of the grave, he spoke, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43). Even now, Jesus is holding together your molecules with his words (Hebrews 1:3). If Jesus were to stop speaking, you would stop existing." Indeed! (Only Our God Speaks) John
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Robertson - It was an expectant group of Gentiles eager for Peter's interpretation of the vision of Cornelius. (Acts 10 Commentary) Assembled (4905)(sunerchomai from sun = with, together + erchomai = to come) means to get together for a specific purpose (Mk 3:20 1 Cor 11:17-18, 20; 14:26) Luke uses sunerchomai more than any other NT writer with most of the uses in the book of Acts. One of the uses of sunerchomai in the Septuagint describes a time in the coming Millennium in which Gentiles ("peoples") will seek out the Lord of hosts and also seek to grasp the garment of a Jewish man (Read Zech 8:20, 21, 22, 23, where sunerchomai is found in Zech 8:21 - "the inhabitants of one will go to another [Lxx - sunerchomai]"). As an aside the word grasp is used for grabbing a snake by the tail (Ex 4:4) or for grabbing a lion by its beard (1 Sa 17:35) and thus means to grasp something that you can’t afford to let go of! All of Luke's uses of sunerchomai - Lk. 5:15; Lk. 23:55; Jn. 11:33; Jn. 18:20; Acts 1:6; Acts 1:21; Acts 2:6; Acts 5:16; Acts 9:39; Acts 10:23; Acts 10:27; Acts 10:45; Acts 11:12; Acts 15:38; Acts 16:13; Acts 19:32; Acts 21:16; Acts 22:30; Acts 25:17; Acts 28:17; Outside Our Comfort Zone Read: Acts 10:1-22 God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came. —Acts 10:28-29 Longfellow wrote, “The vine still clings to the moldering wall, but at every gust the dead leaves fall.” Like that vine, many churches today cling to the crumbling wall of traditional programs, losing members like dead leaves carried away by the biting winds of our times. To put it another way: We refuse to leave our comfort zones. We like to stick to the familiar, the predictable, the usual. In some ways our attitude resembles the way Peter felt before the Lord prodded him into new territory. Peter knew that Christ’s strategy was Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). But Peter simply wasn’t comfortable with Gentiles. They were not “his kind of people.” Yet, God shook him loose to go to the house of Cornelius and give them the good news about Jesus (Acts 10). The church, like Peter, is often locked behind the walls of its brick and shake-shingle fortress. We tend to stay where we feel unthreatened, among the people who make us feel accepted and loved. It takes a clear vision of God’s compassion for the lost to get us beyond our comfort zone to reach those for whom the Savior gave His life. Have we gotten too comfortable? Go to the lost, in the home, in the mart, Delay no longer, today make a start; Tell them of Jesus who bled for their sin— From byways of darkness bring others to Him. —Houghton The church is a training center, not a country club. Acts 10:28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. KJV Acts 10:28 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. How unlawful Acts 11:2,3; 22:21,22; John 4:9,27; 18:28; Gal 2:12-14 but God Acts 10:15,34; 11:9; 15:8,9; Isaiah 65:5; Luke 18:11; Eph 3:6,7 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BREAKING THE TABOO! "GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS" Peter begins by explaining to the Gentile assembly a truth that they knew all too well from their experiences in Palestine, that a Jew would never fellowship with a Gentile, adding that he had been shown by God that these Gentiles were not to be treated as unholy or unclean. You know many of the Gentiles in the assembly had heard those ugly words from the lips of Jews they had encountered. Taboo also spelled tabu, Tongan tabu, Maori tapu, the prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behaviour is either too sacred and consecrated or too dangerous and accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake. The word taboo first appears in English in the journals of Captain James Cook, the British explorer who led three expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and greatly broadened European knowledge about the peoples living on the Pacific islands. In 1777, Cook wrote that the word "taboo ...has a very comprehensive meaning; but, in general, signifies that a thing is forbidden.... When anything is forbidden to be eat, or made use of, they say, that it is taboo." Although taboos are often associated with the Polynesian cultures of the South Pacific, they have proved to be present in virtually all societies past and present. Generally, the prohibition that is inherent in a taboo includes the idea that its breach or defiance will be followed by some kind of trouble to the offender. In this case Peter ran the risk not of being in trouble with God but with the his Jewish brethren who held fast to their traditions! In the present context the Mishnah stated that it was taboo for Jews to associate with Gentiles and to visit them in their homes. Peter was now in direct, overt disobedience to the Jewish writings and the traditions that had long been ingrained into his mind. As we all know old habits are hard to break, even for those of us who have been born again and are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17+). Jack Arnold - What happened in Acts chapter ten is sometimes referred to as the Gentile Pentecost since the exact things happened to these Gentiles when they believed in Christ and were made part of the Church as when the Jews in Acts chapter two believed in Christ and were made part of the Church....Remember it had been at least eight years since the Apostles and the first Christians were given the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Eight years after our Lord told His disciples that they were to be witnesses to the remotest parts of the earth, the Lord set up circumstances for Cornelius, a devout and benevolent Gentile, to come into contact with Peter so Peter could give Cornelius and his household and friends the gospel. (Acts 10:23b-48 He Is Lord of All) Peter was not saying this was an Old Testament (Mosaic) prohibition, because there was none. He was saying it was "unlawful" according to the Jewish traditions which made it virtually impossible to associate with a Gentile without becoming ritually unclean in the eyes of other Jews! It was a cultural barrier that could only be penetrated and broken down by God as we see in Acts 10-11. And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him - As noted above the Mishnah made it "unlawful" but this was not out of a reverential fear of God (for God never said such a thing), but because they feared "the party of the circumcision." (See Gal 2:11-14+), so that even Cephas (Peter) fell back into this trap of tradition several years later! There is a lesson here - deeply ingrained prejudice dies a difficult, slow death! Recall how the hypocritical Jewish religious leaders would not enter into Pilate's residence in John 18:28 "Then they (JEWISH LEADERS) led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover." They were obeying the extra-Biblical Mishnah (the written oral traditions) not the Word of God. The Mishnah said the "dwelling places of Gentiles (in the Land of Israel) are unclean." For more on these extra-Biblical writings see Wikipedia's article on Abodah Zarah. J
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Robertson - there is no O.T. regulation forbidding such social contact with Gentiles, though the rabbis had added it and had made it binding by custom. There is nothing more binding on the average person than social custom. On coming from the market an orthodox Jew was expected to immerse to avoid defilement (Edersheim, Jewish Social Life, pp. 26-28; Taylor's Sayings of the Jewish Fathers, pp. 15, 26, 137, second edition). See also Acts 11:3; Galatians 2:12. It is that middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile (Ephes. 2:14) which Jesus broke down. (Acts 10 Commentary) Associate (join) (2853)(kollao from kolla = glue) means literally to glue, cement, join or fasten together and thus to unite (someone with or to someone or some thing). Kollao is used to describe joining oneself to a harlot in a sexual union in (1Co 6:16). All of Luke's uses of kollao - Lk. 10:11; Lk. 15:15; Acts 5:13; Acts 8:29; Acts 9:26; Acts 10:28; Acts 17:34 And yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean - This is an interesting statement because God had not specifically told Peter not to call any man unholy or unclean. Peter was shown a vision of unclean animals who were declared clean, and he reasoned out the application to men in the various providential circumstances that followed the vision. Here is the point - God gives us instruction today by His Word, prayer, circumstances, but He never does so by bypassing our minds. We need to think! Shown (1166)(deiknuo) means to show and has the sense of (1) to draw attention to, to point out, to show, to make known, to exhibit something (by visual, auditory or linguistic means -- all of which are apropos to God's showing Peter this truth) so that it can be apprehended by the senses. The idea of deiknuo is also to show so as to prove something is true or to make clear by evidence or reasoning. A T Robertson - Now Peter takes back both the adjectives used in his protest to the Lord (Acts 10:14) "common and unclean." It is a long journey that Peter has made. He here refers to "no one" (mēdena), not to "things," but that is great progress. (Acts 10 Commentary) Unholy (2839)(see discussion of koinos above Acts 10:14) Unclean (169)(see discussion of akathartos above Acts 10:14) Later Peter alludes to this historic event at the Jerusalem Council, Luke recording... "After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8“And God, who knows the heart, testified to them (GENTILES) giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith." (Acts 15:7-9+). Rich Cathers on unclean people - This would be a hard thing for someone raised in Judaism. All of his life, Peter has been taught that Gentiles were unclean. You don’t spend time with Gentiles. You don’t associate with Gentiles. For us, it’s a little more subtle, but it’s still there. When some of us were kids, it was the “hippies” that most people considered “unclean”. And a lot of hippies were actually pretty dirty. It took Chuck Smith’s wife Kay to help Chuck realize that God loved the hippies too. The Jesus Movement began when the “nice” people in church began to love the “unclean”. Though Jesus spent very little time with Gentiles, He did cross a few lines now and again. (Mt 9:10–13). Today, there are other sorts of people that we might call “unclean”. Some people still struggle with racial prejudice. Others have a problem with those in the homosexual community. Some of us don’t want to spend time with people who are of a different political party than we are. What does this principle mean that Peter shares? If God doesn’t want us to call any person “common or unclean”, how does that affect us? Does that mean that we tolerate or even endorse behavior that is unbiblical? I think this is where we learn how to love the sinner but hate the sin. But be careful that your hate for the sin doesn’t cross a line where you never spend any time with “sinners”. (Rich Cathers) Acts 10:29 "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me." KJV Acts 10:29 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? NET Acts 10:29 Therefore when you sent for me, I came without any objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?" when I was sent for Acts 10:19,20; Ps 119:60; 1 Peter 3:15 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PETER CONTINUES HIS EXPLANATION FOR BREAKING JEWISH TRADITIONS That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for - That is, he came because God showed him the vision and told him to come to the Gentiles. This makes it clear that Peter knew that the vision about. He now knew that the "unclean" food was pointing to Gentiles who Jews considered unclean. And yet Peter has one more "hurdle" to jump, and the answer to his question below will open his eyes fully to the reason for his coming to Cornelius' house. THOUGHT - A servant of God must be willing and available to the Lord Jesus whenever He desires to use us, wherever He needs us and for whatever He needs us. Of course, the omnipotent Lord Jesus does not truly "need" us but He graciously condescends to use us and give us the holy privilege of serving Him. Jack Andrews adds that "God’s servants are the best stewards when they are doing what the Lord Jesus wants us doing, where the Lord Jesus wants us doing it, and when the Lord Jesus wants us doing it." (Expository Sermons) Without objection (369)(anantirrhetos from a = without+ anti = against + ero - to speak) means without disputing, without raising any question, without objection, without hesitation. KJV says without gainsaying where the verb gainsay means to take exception to (so here NOT to take exception to). The root word is used in Acts 19:36 where it describes "undeniable (literally facts that are not to be spoken against or contradicted, facts that are indisputable) facts." Robertson says the word means "Without answering back. That is true after the Holy Spirit expressly told Peter to go with the messengers of Cornelius (Acts 10:19-23). Peter's objections were made to the Lord in the vision which he did not understand. But that vision prepared him for this great step which he had now taken. He had stepped over the line of Jewish custom." (Acts 10 Commentary) So I ask for what reason you have sent for me - NET = "Now may I ask why you sent for me?" Peter is still not sure for what or why he had been sent. He knew there had to be more than just the breaking of Jewish traditions. Acts 10:30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, KJV Acts 10:30 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, Four days ago Acts 10:7-9,23,24 I was Acts 10:3; Ezra 9:4,5; Neh 9:1-3; Daniel 9:20,21 behold Acts 1:10; Mt 28:3; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:4 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CORNELIUS RECOUNTS HIS VISION DURING PRAYER Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour - So the time Peter arrived at Cornelius' home was about the time he had been praying 4 days prior. Day 1 - Cornelius' Vision - at ninth hour the time of afternoon prayer and 3 men sent (Acts 10:3, 7, 8 ) Day 2 - Peter's vision - 3 envoys arrive (Acts 10:9, 17) Day 3 - Peter leaves with men (Acts 10:23) - they spent the night en route Day 4 - Peter arrives at Cornelius in the afternoon, for Cornelius states “Four days ago to this hour." (Acts 10:30) I was praying in my house during the ninth hour - (see notes on Acts 10:3) Recall that the ninth hour was 3 PM, the time of afternoon prayer. Praying ( 4336)(proseuchomai from pros = toward, facing, before [i.e., Coram Deo before the face of God] + euchomai = speak out, express a wish, pray or vow = in secular Greek = term for invoking a deity) in the NT is always used of prayer addressed to God (to Him as the object of faith and the One who will answer one’s prayer), speaking consciously (with or without vocalization) to Him, with a definite aim. Luke uses the same verb proseuchomai describing Peter's praying on the housetop in Acts 10:9+. God answered Cornelius' prayers even though he is an unbeliever which is fascinating and runs counter to what some teach about prayer. THOUGHT - Does God answer the prayers of sinners and/or unbelievers? Gotquestions says "John 9:31 declares, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” It has also been said that “the only prayer that God hears from a sinner is the prayer for salvation.” As a result, some believe that God does not hear and/or will never answer the prayers of an unbeliever. In context, though, John 9:31 is saying that God does not perform miracles through an unbeliever. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will. This principle, perhaps, applies to unbelievers. If an unbeliever asks a prayer of God that is according to His will, nothing prevents God from answering such a prayer—according to His will. Some Scriptures describe God hearing and answering the prayers of unbelievers. In most of these cases, prayer was involved. In one or two, God responded to the cry of the heart (it is not stated whether that cry was directed toward God). In some of these cases, the prayer seems to be combined with repentance. But in other cases, the prayer was simply for an earthly need or blessing, and God responded either out of compassion or in response to the genuine seeking or the faith of the person. Here are some passages dealing with prayer by an unbeliever: (1) The people of Nineveh prayed that Nineveh might be spared (Jonah 3:5-10). God answered this prayer and did not destroy the city of Nineveh as He had threatened. (2) Hagar asked God to protect her son Ishmael (Genesis 21:14-19). God not only protected Ishmael, God blessed him exceedingly. (3) In 1 Kings 21:17-29, especially 1 Ki 21:27-29, Ahab fasts and mourns over Elijah's prophecy concerning his posterity. God responds by not bringing about the calamity in Ahab's time. (4) The Gentile woman from the Tyre and Sidon area prayed that Jesus would deliver her daughter from a demon (Mark 7:24-30). Jesus cast the demon out of the woman’s daughter. (5) Cornelius, the Roman centurion in Acts 10, had the apostle Peter sent to him in response to Cornelius being a righteous man. Acts 10:2 tells us that Cornelius “prayed to God regularly.” (Read on >) Behold (idou) - Not found in Acts 10:3, but added here by Cornelius to call attention to the suddenness of the onset of the vision. A man stood before me in shining garments - In Acts 10:3+ Luke describes this as a "vision an angel of God," but here he does not use the word vision, but does add that this angel was (1) a man and (2) that he was attired in shining garments. Shining (2986)(lampros from lampo = to shine) is an adjective which means bright, radiant (radiating light), like the heavenly bodies (Rev 22:16), like clear, sparkling water (Rev 22:1), like resplendent, elegant clothing (Lk 23:11) and like lavish, elegant things used for luxurious living (Rev 18:14). Lampros means clear or transparent, being free of anything that prevents one from perceiving the object that is lampros. Herod's soldiers treated Jesus with contempt, mocking him by dressing Him in a gorgeous robe (Lk 23:11, cf "fine clothes" James 2:2,3). In Rev 15:6 John describes "the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes." In Revelation 18:14 John describes "all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from" Babylon. In Revelation 19:8 we see the "antithesis" in a sense of Rev 18:14, for here he describes the church who "was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean." In Rev 22:1 John sees heaven and "a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb." In Revelation 22:16 John records “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Lampros - 9x in 9v - bright(3), clear(1), fine(2), gorgeous(1), shining(1), splendid(1). Not found in the non-apocryphal Septuagint. Lk. 23:11; Acts 10:30; Jas. 2:2; Jas. 2:3; Rev. 15:6; Rev. 18:14; Rev. 19:8; Rev. 22:1; Rev. 22:16 Acts 10:31 and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. KJV Acts 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. your prayer Isaiah 38:5; Daniel 9:23; 10:12; Luke 1:13 your alms have been remembered Acts 10:4; Lev 2:2,9; 5:12; Php 4:18; Heb 6:10; Rev 5:8; 8:3,4 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries And he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God - See comments on Acts 10:3+ which says “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God." Don Richardson has chronicled a number of stories of individuals and groups from all over the world, men and women who were seeking God. While his book is not Scripture, it is historically accurate and serves to show the truth of Solomon's words that God "has put eternity into man's heart," (Ecc 3:11ESV). With that background below is an excerpt from Richardson's classic work entitled "Eternity in their Hearts - Startling Evidence of Belief in the One True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World). Richardson begins by asking the question... Has the God who prepared the Gospel for all peoples also prepared all peoples for the Gospel? If He has, then the current assumption, held by millions of believers and nonbelievers alike, that pagan people cannot understand and generally do not want to receive the Christian Gospel, and that it is therefore unfair (and almost more work than it is worth) to try to get them to accept it, must be a false assumption. In the rest of this book, I will prove that this assumption is false. God has indeed prepared the Gentile world to receive the Gospel. Significant numbers of non-Christians, therefore, have proved themselves many times more willing to receive the Gospel than we Christians historically have been to share it with them. In John 6:44 Jesus declared that "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." The verb draws is helkuo which conveys the idea of an irresistible force and was used in ancient Greek literature of a desperately hungry man being drawn to food and of demonic forces being drawn to animals when they were not able to possess men. Clearly the Father was drawing Cornelius.
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Robertson - "And thou didst well in coming." A regular formula for expressing thanks as in Phil. 4:14; 3 John 1:6; 2 Peter 1:19. The participle completes the idea of kalos poieo neatly. Cornelius commends Peter for his courage in breaking away from Jewish custom and takes no offence at the implied superiority of the Jews over the Gentiles. Cornelius and his circle of kinsmen and close friends are prepared soil for a new era in the history of Christianity. The Samaritans were now nominal Jews and the Ethiopian eunuch was a single case, but here Peter the chief apostle, not Philip the preaching deacon (evangelist), was involved. It was a crisis (decisive moment, crucial time). Cornelius reveals an open mind for the message of God through Peter. (Acts 10 Commentary)
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Robertson adds "The idea is to pay regard to one's looks or circumstances rather than to his intrinsic character. The Jews had come to feel that they were the favorites of God and actually sons of the kingdom of heaven because they were descendants of Abraham. John the Baptist rebuked them for this fallacy (cf Mt 3:8-10)." (Acts 10 Commentary) Paul Apple asks "Did God show favoritism to the Jews in OT times? Yes, in the sense of the privileges that applied to the Jewish nation No, in terms of allowing Gentiles to enter the kingdom as well." There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There’s a kindness in his justice, Which is more than liberty. For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man’s mind; And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind. —Frederick W. Faber
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Robertson says preaching peace is more literally "Gospelizing peace through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to have real peace between individuals and God, between races and nations, than by Jesus Christ. Almost this very language occurs in Eph 2:17 where Paul states that Jesus on the cross "preached (gospelized = euaggelizo/euangelizo) peace to you who are afar off and peace to you who are near." Peter here sees what Paul will see later with great clearness. (Acts 10 Commentary) Kistemaker on preached peace - Jesus proclaimed the biblical concept of peace, which is not merely an absence of hostility. Peace is a comprehensive concept that refers to the restoration of man’s relationship with God (see Isa. 52:7; Rom. 5:1). Peace is evident when man enters the presence of God and receives his favor and grace. Peace means that God blesses man, shields him from danger and harm, and makes him whole again. (Baker NTC). Paul described this peace explaining " that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation," (2 Cor 5:19) and that "Through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." (Col. 1:20) Bock: This is the concept of shalom from the OT (Pss. 29:11; 72:7; 85:8-10; Prov. 3:17; Isa. 48:18; 54:10; Ezek. 34:25-29), a well-being of relationship between the person and God, which now seems to express itself in peace between people as well (Eph. 2:11-22). The idea of preaching peace recalls OT ideas (Isa. 52:7; Nah. 1:15). (See Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament))
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Robertson - Luke does not exclude other diseases (cf. Luke 13:11, 16+), but he lays special emphasis on demoniacal possession (cf. Mark 1:23). (Acts 10 Commentary) NET Note says "Note how healing is tied to the cosmic battle present in creation. Christ's power overcomes the devil and his forces, which seek to destroy humanity." Healing (curing) (2390)(iaomai) means to cure, to heal, to restore. Iaomai is used literally of deliverance from physical diseases and afflictions and so to make whole, restore to bodily health or heal. Figuratively, iaomai speaks of deliverance from sin and its evil consequences and thus to restore (to spiritual good health), make whole, renew (Mt 13.15). Iaomai refers primarily to physical healing in the NT (although clearly there is overlap because some of these instances involved demonic oppression - Lk 9:42), and less commonly to spiritual healing or healing (saving) from "moral illnesses" and the consequences of sin. When used in this sense iaomai has much the same meaning as sozo, to save, make whole, restore to spiritual health. Here are uses of iaomai that have a spiritual meaning = Mt 13:15, John 12:40, Acts 28:27 - preceding quotes from Isa 6:10, 1Pe 2:24+ = quote from Isa 53:5+. All Luke's uses of iaomai - Lk. 5:17; Lk. 6:18; Lk. 6:19; Lk. 7:7; Lk. 8:47; Lk. 9:2; Lk. 9:11; Lk. 9:42; Lk. 14:4; Lk. 17:15; Lk. 22:51; Jn. 4:47; Acts 9:34; Acts 10:38; Acts 28:8; Acts 28:27 Oppressed (2616)(katadunasteuo from katá = down, against + dunasteúo = to rule or dunastes = a ruler or potentate) means to exercise dominion against. In two NT uses it conveys the sense of tyrannize, oppress harshly. The only other NT use is by James 2:6 "But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?" Katadunasteuo - 28x in the Septuagint - Exod. 1:13 (Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel); Exod. 21:16; Deut. 24:7; 1 Sam. 12:3; 1 Sam. 12:4; 2 Sam. 8:11 (the nations which he had subdued); 2 Chr. 21:17; Neh. 5:5; Jer. 7:6 (you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow,); Jer. 22:3; Jer. 50:33; Ezek. 18:7; Ezek. 18:12; Ezek. 18:16; Ezek. 22:7; Ezek. 22:29; Ezek. 45:8 (My princes shall no longer oppress My people); Ezek. 46:18; Hos. 5:11; Hos. 12:7; Amos 4:1; Amos 8:4; Mic. 2:2; Hab. 1:4; Zech. 7:10 (do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.); Mal. 3:5; Acts 10:38; Jas. 2:6 Devil (1228)(diabolos from diá = through, between + ballo = to cast, throw) means a false accuser, slanderer (one who utters false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation), backbiting (malicious comment about one not present), one given to malicious gossip or a calumniator (one who utters maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about, this term imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions). Luke's uses of diabolos - Lk. 4:2; Lk. 4:3; Lk. 4:6; Lk. 4:13; Lk. 8:12; Acts 10:38; Acts 13:10 God was with Him speaks of Jesus' enablement for ministry. Do you have the sense that God is with you and enabling your ministry? Are you relying on your natural power or the supernatural power of the Spirit Who is with you continually. For God was with Him - God was with Jesus (enabling the external manifestations of His power - cp Jn 10:30, 38; 14:9–10) and He is with believers today! This is a great truth for all believers to lay hold of - In Acts 7:9 God was with Joseph and in Hebrews 13:5 the non-lying God promises "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU." God is with us when we minister, when we sleep, whenever and wherever we are! Is this not a comforting truth! Matthew reminds us that "HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” (Mt 1:23 quoting Isaiah 7:14+) Indeed, Jesus is with us and in us (Col 1:28) as is God the Father and as is God the Spirit. Yes the Father was with Jesus but so was His Spirit and Luke clearly indicates that Jesus' ministry as the perfect Man (which serves as an example to all men), was enabled or empowered by the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit to Whom all believers have access and Who enables all of us for supernatural ministry! Are you ministering in your power or His power? It makes all the difference in this world and the world to come (for apart from Him you can do nothing of eternal value!). Lk 4:1+ Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness Lk 4:14+ And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all THOUGHT - NOTE: IF JESUS RELIED ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TEACH SO MUST WE DEAR TEACHER OR PREACHER! ONE WONDERS IF THIS IS THE REASON SO MANY PREACHERS ARE BURNING OUT? JUST A THOUGHT. CERTAINLY THE ETERNAL SPIRIT OF GRACE DOES NOT BURN OUT! Lk 4:18+ “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, Ray
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Robertson - The prophets bear witness to Jesus Christ to this effect. It is God's plan and no race distinctions are drawn. Peter had already said the same thing at Pentecost (Acts 2:38), but now he sees himself that Gentiles do not have to become Jews, but have only to believe in Jesus as Messiah and Judge as foretold by the prophets. It was glorious news to Cornelius and his group. (Acts 10 Commentary) Larkin - Salvation blessings come to those who hear, receive, believe and hold fast to the Word, the gospel message (Lk 8:15; Acts 2:22; 3:22–23; 4:4; 15:7; 13:44; 19:5; 26:29; 28:26–28. ED: REGARDING "HOLD FAST" READ 1 Cor 15:2+, Hebrews 3:6+, Col 1:22, 23+, cf 2 Pe 1:10-12+, see also Perseverance of the Saints). (The Mission Is Inaugurated Through Peter Acts 9:32-11:18) Believes (4100)(pisteuo from pistis; pistos; related studies the faith, the obedience of faith) means to consider to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something or someone. To consider to be true. To accept the word or evidence of. It is critical to state that not just a profession of "I believe" results in forgiveness of sins. There are NT passages that clearly teach there is a type of faith or belief that DOES NOT result in salvation. For more discussion of this critically important topic see "A Disturbing Passage: Two Types of Faith." The present tense of pisteuo marks the believing as an abiding characteristic or a trait. A genuine faith is a continuing faith! Can it ebb and flow? Sure, but it continues to believe even when at "low tide" so to speak. The respected Greek lexicon author W E Vine defines belief as consisting of (1) a firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2Th 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.") (2) a personal surrender to the Truth (Jn 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe [pisteuo] in His name") and (3) a conduct inspired by and consistent with that surrender. (See a similar description below) See Spurgeon's sermon - Believing on Jesus, And Its Counterfeits Sola fide—the doctrine of justification by faith alone apart from works—is simply recognizing what is taught over and over in Scripture—that at some point in time God declares ungodly sinners righteous by imputing Christ’s righteousness to them (Romans 4:5, 5:8, 5:19). This happens apart from any works and before the individual actually begins to become righteous. This is an important distinction between Catholic theology that teaches righteous works are meritorious towards salvation and Protestant theology that affirms the biblical teaching that righteous works are the result and evidence of a born-again person who has been justified by God and regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit. How important is sola fide? It is so important to the Gospel message and a biblical understanding of salvation that Martin Luther described it as being “the article with and by which the church stands.” Those who reject sola fide reject the only Gospel that can save them and by necessity embrace a false gospel. That is why Paul so adamantly denounces those who taught law-keeping or other works of righteousness in Galatians 1:9 and other passages. Yet today this important biblical doctrine is once again under attack. Too often sola fide is relegated to secondary importance instead of being recognized as an essential doctrine of Christianity, which it certainly is. “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Galatians 3:6-11). Receives forgiveness of sins - Paul equates redemption with forgiveness of sins in Colossians 1:14+. Forgiveness of sins - this phrase occurs 9x in 9v Matthew 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; Luke 24:47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Acts 5:31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 10:43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ Colossians 1:14+ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. John
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Robertson says "They stood out of themselves." (Acts 10 Commentary) Larkin on the Spirit falling on the Gentiles - This challenges the Jews’ basic assumption that a holy and pure God would not pour out his Holy Spirit on profane, common and unclean Gentiles, unless they became holy and ritually pure through becoming Jews. No wonder that Jewish Christians with a commitment to circumcision showed the same “astonishment” at this phenomenon as the Pentecost crowd did (Acts 2:7, 12; compare Acts 8:13; 9:21). (The Mission Is Inaugurated Through Peter Acts 9:32-11:18) Amazed (1839) (existemi from ek = out + hístemi = to stand) literally means to stand out from or to stand outside oneself (and thus to be beside oneself). To put out of position, to displace or to change. To remove from its place. For example Aristotle writes "you won't budge (existemi) me from my position on these matters." Richards adds that existemi "suggests astonishment mixed with anxiety, stimulated by extraordinary events that cannot be explained." It can describe one who is so astonished almost to the point of failing to comprehend what one has experienced. Existemi can also mean to be out of one's senses, to be beside oneself. Because (hoti) - Term of explanation - Luke explains why the Jewish believers were so amazed. The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. Poured out (1632)(ekcheo from ek = out + chéo = pour) means literally to flow out, to gush forth or to pour out . The inherent idea is to cause something to be emitted in quantity. Holy Spirit poured out or forth - Acts 2:17-18, 2:33, Acts 10:45. The love of God poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:6) Acts 2:17-18;‘ AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; 18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy. Acts 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. Larkin - Luke’s description of the Spirit’s coming lets us know that the Gentiles’ salvation is divinely worked, complete and authentic. It is all of God, for Peter has not even finished his speech. He has not given an invitation. God, the knower of all hearts, has chosen to cleanse their hearts by faith (Acts 15:8–9). He demonstrates that these Gentiles have indeed been given “repentance unto life” (11:18) by pouring out the gift of his Spirit on them, as he did on Jewish believers at Pentecost (Acts 2:4, 17, 33; compare Acts 2:38; 8:20; 11:17). That the Spirit came on them (literally, “falling on,” Acts 8:16; 11:15) points not only to arrival but also to suddenness and intensity (Turner 1981:49). By combining this description with the imagery of “pouring out on,” inundating with as with an overwhelming tidal wave (Acts 10:45), Luke highlights the completeness of the salvation experienced. Its authenticity is manifested by the Gentiles’ speaking in tongues. (The Mission Is Inaugurated Through Peter Acts 9:32-11:18) Acts 10:46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, KJV Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, speaking Acts 2:4,11; 19:6; 1 Cor 14:20-25 Acts 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries For (gar) - Another term of explanation - Luke explains how the Jewish believers knew the Gentiles had received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Robertson - The negative mēti expects the answer No. The evidence was indisputable that these Gentiles were converted and so were entitled to be baptized. See the similar idiom in Luke 6:39. Note the article with "water." Here the baptism of the Holy Spirit had preceded the baptism of water (Acts 1:5; Acts 11:16). "The greater had been bestowed; could the lesser be withheld?" (Knowling). (Acts 10 Commentary) Refuse (hinder, forbid, prevent) (2967)(koluo from kólos = docked, lopped, clipped, kolazo = curtail) means to cut off, to cut short, to weaken and generally to hinder, to prevent, to check, to restrain or to forbid by word or act. The idea is to cause something not to happen. Koluo can describe the keeping back of something from someone. To be baptized - Note that at regeneration they were spiritually baptized (1 Cor 12:13, cp Ro 8:9+), but now they are to be baptized in water. Baptized (907)(baptizo from bapto = cover wholly with a fluid; stain or dip as with dye; used of the smith tempering the red-hot steel, used of dyeing the hair; of a ship that "dipped" = sank) has a literal and a figurative meaning in the NT. The literal meaning is to submerge, to dip or immerse as in water. A study of the 77 NT uses reveals that most of the uses of baptizo in the Gospels and Acts are associated with literal water baptism. The Greeks used baptizo to describe the dyeing of a garment, in which the whole material was plunged in and taken out from the element used. Baptizo was used of the act of sinking ships. Baptizo also meant to bathe of a boat which had been wrecked by being submerged and then stranded on the shore. Figuratively, baptizo pictures the introduction or placing of a person or thing into a new environment or into union with something else so as to alter its condition or its relationship to its previous environment or condition. In this sense baptizo means to be identified with. James Montgomery Boice helps understand this figurative meaning of baptizo writing that "The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo ) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism... mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with Him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!" (Bolding added) Who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did - Peter's point is that the manner in which the Gentiles in Cornelius' house received salvation and the evidence of it by the falling of the Spirit was the same manner as the Jews on the day of Pentecost. Jews and Gentiles were on equal footing in every way regarding salvation in Jesus Christ.
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Robertson - Peter himself abstained from baptizing on this occasion (cf. Paul in 1 Cor. 1:14). Evidently it was done by the six Jewish brethren. (Acts 10 Commentary) Robertson on in the name of Jesus Christ - The essential name in Christian baptism as in Acts 2:38; Acts 19:5. But these passages give the authority for the act, not the formula that was employed . "Golden days" (Bengel) were these for the whole group. (Acts 10 Commentary) Kistemaker on the name of Jesus Christ - The name Jesus Christ signifies the full revelation of everything Jesus did and said. Further, it denotes all that the Scriptures disclose about the coming, the office, and the function of the Messiah. Accordingly, when in apostolic times a believer was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, he declared that as a baptismal candidate he completely identified with this name. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days - These new Gentile believer now desired fellowship with their Jewish brethren. We see a similar request by the Gentile Lydia after she was saved (Acts 16:14+), Luke recording And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16:15) These Gentiles were newborn babes and did not yet know the Word of God, so they wisely ask Peter to stay, and it was Peter who later wrote (possibly based on experiences like this)... Like newborn babies, long for (NOT A SUGGESTION BUT A COMMAND - aorist imperative. Just do it is the idea!) the pure milk (NO ADDITIVES!) of the word, so that (STRATEGIC TERM OF PURPOSE OR RESULT) by it you may grow in respect to salvation (NOT GROW TO BE "SMARTER SINNERS" BUT MORE LIKE CHRIST - cf 2 Peter 3:18+), 3 if (FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL = "SINCE") you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.(1 Peter 2:2-3+) Barton - HUNGERING FOR GROWTH- Cornelius wanted Peter to stay with him for several days. As a new believer, he realized his need for teaching and fellowship. Are you as eager to learn more about Christ? Do you look for ways to grow deeper and stronger in your spiritual walk? Recognize your need to be with more mature Christians, and strive to learn from them. (See Acts - Page 185) William Larkin summarizes the message of Acts 10 - The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross. What a comfort to all the racially and culturally despised in our day, who thirst for the dignity that comes from spiritual equality in the “Christ identity.” What a challenge to the church to live out, through acceptance across racial, class, ethnic and gender lines, our profession that we serve an impartial God who has sent us a universal Lord and Savior. (The Mission Is Inaugurated Through Peter Acts 9:32-11:18) Warren