John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:1-48
Peter and the Gentiles1-48. Conversion of Cornelius. The baptism of Cornelius was an event of farreaching importance, and is, therefore, described by St. Luke in great detail. If it was not the first actual baptism of a Gentile (see Acts 8:38), it was, at any rate, the first such baptism which was publicly acknowledged. The historical character of the incident has been called in question because St. Peter in Galatians is represented as opposing St. Paul on the Gentile question (Galatians... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 10:9-16
Peter’s vision 10:9-16"Though Peter was not by training or inclination an overly scrupulous Jew, and though as a Christian his inherited prejudices were gradually wearing thin, he was not prepared to go so far as to minister directly to Gentiles. A special revelation was necessary for that, and Luke now tells how God took the initiative in overcoming Peter’s reluctance." [Note: Longenecker, p. 387.] The original Greek, Roman, and Jewish readers of Acts all put much stock in dreams, visions, and... read more