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Author: Ron Graham

Book of Acts

Acts 10:1-23
—Verse by verse

This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 10:1-23, about two visions, one experienced by the good man Cornelius, and the other by the apostle Peter. God prepares these two men, a Gentile and a Jew, to meet each other.

Cornelius and Peter See Visions

Acts 10:1-23

¶“1In Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, who was a centurion of the Italian Battalion as it was known. 2Cornelius was a devout man, who feared God and so did all his household. He gave generous gifts to the needy among the people, and he prayed to God often.” (Acts 10:1-2).

¶“3At about three o'clock in the afternoon, Cornelius saw a clear vision of an angel of God. The angel came to him, and spoke his name, 'Cornelius!' 4Cornelius was frightened, but he looked intently at the angel and asked, 'What do you want with me, Lord?' The angel replied, 'Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up to heaven for a memorial before God. 5Now I want you to send men to Joppa, and call for Simon who is also called Peter. 6He lodges with another Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. Peter will tell you what you should do.' ” (Acts 10:3-6).

¶“7When the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him constantly. 8Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9Next day, while they were on their journey and nearing the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray. It was about noon.” (Acts 10:7-9).

¶“10On the housetop, Peter became hungry and desired to eat, but while a meal was being prepared, a trance came upon him. 11He saw heaven opened and an object descending toward him. It was like a great sheet let down to the earth by four corners. 12Inside it there were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth. There were wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13A voice came to him, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!' 14But Peter said, 'No way Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.' 15A voice came to him a second time, 'What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.' 16This happened three times, then the sheet was drawn back up into heaven.” (Acts 10:10-16).

¶“17Peter was feeling very disturbed in his spirit about the meaning of this vision he'd just seen. At this moment, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s address, stood before the gate. 18They called out and asked whether Simon Peter, was lodging there. 19While Peter was still pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Behold, three men seek you. 20Arise, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.' ” (Acts 10:17-20).

¶“21Peter went down to the men, and said, 'Look here, I am the one you seek. Why have you come?' 22They answered, 'Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.' 23So Peter invited the men inside and gave them lodging for the night. Next day Peter arose and set out with them for Caesarea. Some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” (Acts 10:21-23).

1 Cornelius’s Vision at Caesarea

Verses 1-2

¶ "In Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, who was a centurion of the Italian Battalion as it was known. Cornelius was a devout man, who feared God with all his household. He gave generous gifts to the needy among the people, and he prayed to God often." (Acts 10:1-2).

Map Gaza

The Goodness of Cornelius

  • Cornelius was a centurion (Acts 10:1). This means he was the captain of around 80 soldiers in the Roman army. His responsibility was to keep the peace and to enforce the law.
  • Cornelius was a devout man and one who feared God (Acts 10:2). From the story, we gather that he was a Gentile. However certain Gentiles were God-fearers, meaning that they rejected pagan religion and worshipped the true God.
  • His household also joined him in his devotion to God (Acts 10:2). His wife, children, and servants shared his godliness, and there were no idols in his house.
  • Cornelius gave many alms to the Jewish people. He was generous in charitable gifts to the poor, and he did not distribute his alms with partiality or prejudice.
  • He prayed to God continually (Acts 10:2). Cornelius gave thanks to God and sought help from God. He was seeking God always in his prayers. His prayers and alms "ascended as a memorial before God" (Acts 10:4).
  • Cornelius was a just man (Acts 10:22). He was not a man who thought evil, spoke evil, or did evil. He was a righteous man.
  • He had a good reputation "well spoken of by the entire nation" (Acts 10:22).
  • He received a vision from an angel of God (Acts 10:22, cf 10:3-4). That's a rare privilege.
  • Cornelius and his household were baptized with the Holy Spirit, just as the apostles had been on the day of Pentecost! (Acts 10:44-45, 11:15).

Verses 3-6

¶ "At about three o'clock in the afternoon, Cornelius saw a clear vision of an angel of God. The angel came to him, and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius was frightened, but he looked intently at the angel and asked, “What do you want with me, Lord?” The angel replied, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up to heaven for a memorial before God. Now I want you to send men to Joppa, and call for Simon who is also called Peter. He lodges with another Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. Peter will tell you what you should do” " (Acts 10:3-6).

Verses 7-9

¶ "When the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him constantly. Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Next day, while they were on their journey and nearing the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray. It was about noon." (Acts 10:7-9).

2 Peter’s Vision at Joppa

Verses 10-16

¶ "On the housetop, Peter became hungry and desired to eat, but while a meal was being prepared, a trance came upon him. He saw heaven opened and an object descending toward him. It was like a great sheet let down to the earth by four corners. Inside it there were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth. There were wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “No way Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” A voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” This happened three times, then the sheet was drawn back up into heaven." (Acts 10:10-16).

Verses 17-20

¶ "Peter was feeling very disturbed in his spirit about the meaning of this vision he'd just seen. At this moment, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate. They called out and asked whether Simon Peter, was lodging there. While Peter was still pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. Arise, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” " (Acts 10:17-20).

3 Peter Goes to Meet Cornelius

Verses 21-23

¶ "Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” So Peter invited the men inside and gave them lodging for the night. Next day Peter arose and set out with them for Caesarea. Some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him." (Acts 10:21-23).


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