Acts 10:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 10:1-8

The bringing of the gospel to the Gentiles, and the bringing of those who had been strangers and foreigners to be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, were such a mystery to the apostles themselves, and such a surprise (Eph. 3:3, 6), that it concerns us carefully to observe all the circumstances of the beginning of this great work, this part of the mystery of godliness?Christ preached to the Gentiles, and believed on in this world, 1 Tim. 3:16. It is not unlikely that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 10:1-8

10:1-8 There was a man in Caesarea called Cornelius. He was a centurion in the battalion called the Italian battalion. He was a devout man and a God-fearer with all his household. He did many an act of charity to the people and he was constant in prayer to God. About three o'clock in the afternoon in a vision he clearly saw the angel of God coming to him and saying, "Cornelius." He gazed at him and he was awe-stricken. He said, "What is it, sir?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your works... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 10:1

There was a certain man in Caesarea ,.... This was the Caesarea formerly called Strato's tower, not Caesarea Philippi; for the former, and not the latter, lay near Joppa: called Cornelius ; which was a Roman name, and he himself was a Roman or an Italian: a centurion of the band called the Italian band ; which consisted of soldiers collected out of Italy, from whence the band took its name, in which Cornelius was a centurion, having a hundred men under him, as the name of his office... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 10:2

A devout man ,.... A truly religious person, who had forsaken the Roman idolatry and superstition, in which he was brought up: and one that feared God : the one only living and true God, the God of Israel; he had the fear of God wrought in his heart, which is a part of the covenant of grace, a blessing of it, and the beginning of wisdom; he was truly a gracious man, a converted person, and who from an internal principle worshipped God externally: with all his house ; he brought up... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:1

There was a certain man in Caesarea - This was Caesarea of Palestine, called also Strato's Tower, as has been already noted, and the residence of the Roman procurator. A centurion - Ἑκατονταρχης , The chief or captain of 100 men, as both the Greek and Latin words imply. How the Roman armies were formed, divided, and marshalled, see in the notes on Matthew 20:16 ; (note). A centurion among the Romans was about the same rank as a captain among us. The band called the Italian band -... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:2

A devout man - Ευσεβης , from ευ , well, and σεβομαι , I worship. A person who worships the true God, and is no idolater. One that feared God - Φοβουμενος τον Θεον , One who was acquainted with the true God, by means of his word and laws; who respected these laws, and would not dare to offend his Maker and his Judge. This is necessarily implied in the fear of God. With all his house - He took care to instruct his family in the knowledge which he himself had received; and to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:1

Verse 1 1.Luke passeth over now unto a worthy (643) history, to wit, that God vouchsafeth to advance a stranger, and one uncircumcised, unto singular honor above all the Jews, because he doth both send his angel unto him, and for his sake bringeth Peter to Cesarea, that he may instruct him in the gospel. But first of all Luke showeth what manner of person this Cornelius was, for whose cause an angel descended from heaven, and God spake to Peter in a vision. He was a captain [centurion] of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:2

Verse 2 2.He saith that he was a godly man, and one that feared God; secondly, that like a good householder he had a care to instruct his families; he praiseth him afterward for the offices of love, because he was beneficial [beneficent] toward all the people; and, lastly, that he prayed [to] God continually. The sum is this, that Cornelius was a man of singular virtues, wherein the integrity of the godly consisteth, so that his life was framed, in all points, according to the rule which God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 10:1

Now there was (two last words in italics) for there was (in roman), A.V. and T.R.; Cornelius by name for called Cornelius, A.V. A glance at the map will show that Caesarea (see note to Acts 9:30 ) was but a short distance, some thirty miles, from Joppa. It was doubtless with a view to Peter's momentous errand to Caesarea that Luke recorded his previous visit to Lydda and his residence at Joppa, consequent upon the restoring of Dorcas to life: the origines of Gentile... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 10:1-8

Piety, its place, its associations, and its reward. We gather— I. THAT GOD HAS HIS SERVANTS IN UNEXPECTED PLACES . We look for piety in certain quarters where it may be supposed to flourish; in others we do not look to see it; yet in these latter it may be found. Who would have expected that a centurion in a Roman regiment would prove to be a worshipper of God—one that " feared God with all his house"? He and his family must have been living in a way that contrasted... read more

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