Acts 10:3-4

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 10:3

He saw in a vision evidently ,.... He was not in a dream, or in a trance, but he was thoroughly awake, and his eyes open, and was himself; it was not in the night, but in clear day: about the ninth hour of the day ; or three o'clock in the afternoon, which was the hour of prayer, Acts 3:1 in which exercise he was now engaged, Acts 10:30 at this time he saw an angel of God coming to him ; into the room where he was at prayer: and saying unto him, Cornelius ; he called him by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 10:4

And when he looked on him, he was afraid ,.... What with the brightness of his clothing, Acts 10:30 and the lustre of his countenance, and the majestic form in which he appeared, he perceived there was something uncommon and divine in this vision, and therefore was filled with awe and reverence, yea, with something of a panic fear; as it was usual, even with good persons, as the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament, Zacharias, the Virgin Mary, and others; from a sense of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:3

He saw in a vision evidently - The text is as plain as it can be, that an angel of God did appear to Cornelius. This was in a vision, i.e. a supernatural representation; and it was φανερως , manifestly, evidently made; and at such a time too as precluded the possibility of his being asleep; for it was about the ninth hour of the day, answering to our three o'clock in the afternoon, (see note on Acts 3:1 ; (note)), the time of public prayer, according to the custom of the Jews, and while... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:4

Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial - Being all performed in simplicity and godly sincerity, they were acceptable to the Most High. Come up for a memorial: This form of speech is evidently borrowed from the sacrificial system of the Jews. Pious and sincere prayers are high in God's estimation; and therefore are said to ascend to him, as the smoke and flame of the burnt-offering appeared to ascend to heaven. These prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God: this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:3

Verse 3 3.He saw in a vision. Luke putteth vision for a kind of oracle coming from God, that we may know that Cornelius was brought unto the faith of Christ after an heavenly manner. And because men are oftentimes deceived with juggling, Luke setteth down the time to avoid all suspicion, when he mentioneth the ninth hour. And at that time they were wont to divide the day into twelve hours; from the rising of the sun until the going down thereof. Whereupon it followeth that it was fair daylight... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 10:4

Verse 4 4.And he beheld, and was afraid. Luke expresseth his attentiveness in plain words, that we may know that it was no vain imagination which came upon the man as he was sleeping or doing some other thing. The fear wherewith he was taken (655) proceeded from the perceiving of the majesty of God; (656) for so soon as men conceive the presence of God, they must needs be afraid and cast down with fear. And whereas his words do no whit terrify us, that must be imputed to our sluggishness,... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 10:1-8

The pious centurion. I. THE SCENE OF THE STORY . It was at Caesarea. Hitherto we have heard of Judaea, Samaria, and Galilee. Here the fiery baptism had descended, and here the martyrs had sealed their testimony in blood. Now the second part of the early Church history begins, and the great thought of the gospel, the conversion of the Gentiles to Christ, begins to be an accomplished fact. II. THE GENTILE SUBJECT OF CONVERSION . 1. A centurion; a captain; a... read more

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