Acts 10:1-22
1, 2. Cæsarea—(See on Ac 8:40).
the Italian band—a cohort of Italians, as distinguished from native soldiers, quartered at Cæsarea, probably as a bodyguard to the Roman procurator who resided there. An ancient coin makes express mention of such a cohort in Syria. [AKERMAN, Numismatic Illustrations of the New Testament.]2. A devout man, &c.—an uncircumcised Gentile proselyte to the Jewish faith, of whom there were a very great number at this time; a distinguished proselyte, who had brought his whole household establishment under the hallowing influence of the Jewish faith and the regular observance of its principal seasons of worship.
gave much alms to the people—that is, the Jewish people, on the same principle as another centurion before him (Lu 7:5); thinking it no "great thing," if they had "sown unto him spiritual things, that they should reap his carnal things" (1Co 9:11). prayed to God alway—at the stated daily seasons. (See on Ac 10:3).3-6. saw . . . evidently—"distinctly."
the ninth hour of the day—three o'clock, the hour of the evening sacrifice. But he had been "fasting until that hour" (Ac 10:30), perhaps from the sixth hour (Ac 10:9).4. What is it, Lord?—language which, tremulously though it was uttered, betokened childlike reverence and humility.
Thy prayers and thine alms—The way in which both are specified is emphatic. The one denotes the spiritual outgoing of his soul to God, the other its practical outgoing to men. are come up for a memorial before God—that is, as a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God, as an odor of a sweet smell (Re 8:4).5. send to Joppa . . . for one Simon, &c.—(See on Ac 9:11).
3-6. saw . . . evidently—"distinctly."
the ninth hour of the day—three o'clock, the hour of the evening sacrifice. But he had been "fasting until that hour" (Ac 10:30), perhaps from the sixth hour (Ac 10:9).7, 8. when the angel . . . was departed, he called—immediately doing as directed, and thereby showing the simplicity of his faith.
a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually—of the "soldiers under him," such as the centurion at Capernaum had (Mt 8:9). Who this "devout soldier" was, can only be matter of conjecture. DA COSTA [Four Witnesses] gives a number of ingenious reasons for thinking that, having attached himself henceforth to Peter—whose influence in the composition of the second Gospel is attested by the earliest tradition, and is stamped on that Gospel itself—he is no other than the Evangelist Mark.9-16. upon the housetop—the flat roof, the chosen place in the East for cool retirement.
the sixth hour—noon.10. a trance—differing from the "vision" of Cornelius, in so far as the things seen had not the same objective reality, though both were supernatural.
9-16. upon the housetop—the flat roof, the chosen place in the East for cool retirement.
the sixth hour—noon.12. all manner of four-footed beasts, &c.—that is, the clean and the unclean (ceremonially) all mixed together.
9-16. upon the housetop—the flat roof, the chosen place in the East for cool retirement.
the sixth hour—noon.14. Not so, Lord—See Marginal reference.
I have never eaten anything that is common—that is, not sanctified by divine permission to eat of it, and so "unclean." "The distinction of meats was a sacrament of national distinction, separation, and consecration" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].15. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common—The ceremonial distinctions are at an end, and Gentiles, ceremonially separated from the chosen people (Ac 10:28), and debarred from that access to God in the visible ordinances of His Church which they enjoyed, are now on a perfect equality with them.
16. done thrice—See Ge 41:32.
17-24. while Peter doubted . . . what this should mean, behold, the three men . . . stood before the gate . . . and asked—"were inquiring," that is, in the act of doing so. The preparations here made—of Peter for his Gentile visitors, as of Cornelius for him—are devoutly to be noted. But besides this, at the same moment, "the Spirit" expressly informs him that three men were inquiring for him, and bids him unhesitatingly go with them, as sent by Him.
21. I am he whom ye seek—This seems to have been said without any communication being made to Peter regarding the men or their errand.
22. they said, Cornelius . . . a just man, &c.—fine testimony this from his own servants.
of good report among all the nation of the Jews—specified, no doubt, to conciliate the favorable regard of the Jewish apostle. to hear words of thee—(See on Ac 11:14).