Acts 10

An angel appears to Cornelius, a centurion, and directs him to send to Joppa, for Peter, to instruct him in the way of salvation, Acts 10:1-6 . He sends accordingly, Acts 10:7 , Acts 10:8 . While the messengers are on their way to Joppa, Peter has a remarkable vision, by which he is taught how he should treat the Gentiles, Acts 10:9-16 . The messengers arrive at the house of Simon the tanner, and deliver their message, Acts 10:17-22 . They lodge there that night, and on the morrow Peter accompanies them to Caesarea, where they find Cornelius and his friends assembled, waiting the coming of Peter, Acts 10:23 , Acts 10:24 . Peter makes an apology for his coming, and inquires for what purpose Cornelius had sent for him, Acts 10:25-29 . Cornelius answers, Acts 10:30-33 . And Peter preaches unto him Jesus, as the Savior of the world, and the Judge of quick and dead, Acts 10:34-43 . While he speaks the Holy Ghost descends on Cornelius and his company; and they speak with new tongues, and magnify God, Acts 10:44-46 . Peter commands them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, Acts 10:47 , Acts 10:48 .

I have already observed (see the conclusion of the preceding chapter) that hitherto the apostles confined their labors among the Jews and circumcised proselytes, not making any offer of salvation to the Gentiles; for they had fully imbibed the opinion that none could enter into the kingdom of God, and be finally saved, unless they were circumcised, and became obedient to the law of Moses. This prejudice would have operated so as finally to prevent them from preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, had not God, by a particular interposition of his mercy and goodness, convinced Peter, and through him all the other apostles, that he had accepted the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and would put no difference between the one and the other, purifying their hearts by faith, and giving the Gentiles the Holy Ghost, as he had before given it to the Jews. The means which he used to produce this conviction in the minds of the apostles are detailed at length in the following chapter.