Bible Study Acts 10: 24-48

 

Commentary of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Acts 10: 24-48

Text:

24 And on the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 And when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and [a]worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man defiled or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was summoned. So I ask for what reason you have summoned me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the [b]ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your [c]alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is lodging at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have [d]been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been ordered by the Lord.”

The Holy Spirit Poured Out on the Gentiles

34 And opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most truly comprehend now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the one who [e]fears Him and does righteousness is welcome to Him. 36 As for the word which He sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 you yourselves know the thing which happened throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 [f]You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, [g]and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the [h]land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He appear, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to [i]preach to the people, and solemnly to bear witness that this is the One who has been designated by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the word. 45 And all the [j]circumcised believers who came with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone refuse water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for a few days.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 24: “And on the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.”

The following day, Peter and six believers from Joppa journeyed to Caesarea. This group of ten likely took longer than the messengers to travel the thirty miles, as they did not arrive in Caesarea until the next day. The six believers accompanied Peter wisely, anticipating the questions that would arise later in Jerusalem.

Verse 25: “And when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.”

Peter had initially been unwilling to enter a Gentile's home, but now he did so. Cornelius, having been instructed by God to summon the apostle, was overwhelmed by Peter's presence.

Verse 26: "But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”

The only thing worthy of our worship is the triune God. We are never to worship man and that includes famous tele evangelists.

Verse 27: “As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.”

Stepping into the gentile house was a significant moment for Peter, marking the first time he had ever entered such a dwelling. Despite still feeling slightly perplexed by God's command to go there, Peter obeyed.

Verse 28: “And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man defiled or unclean.”

“Unlawful” is literally “breaking a taboo.” Peter's remarks show that he has embraced a new standard in which Gentiles are no longer considered unclean. This is a departure from the Jewish customs and traditions that he had followed his entire life.

Verse 29: “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was summoned. So I ask for what reason you have summoned me.”

I'm puzzled by Simon Peter's question. Why didn't he start sharing about Jesus right away? The Holy Spirit is guiding this situation, preventing Peter from rushing in. This is good advice for us today. We should not be quick to witness in our own strength, but follow the Spirit’s leading. 

Verse 30: “And Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,”

The “ninth hour” was 3pm. Cornelius admitted to Peter that he didn't understand why God had instructed him to summon Peter, but he believed Peter had a divine message for him.

Verse 31: “and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.’”

The text only states that "your prayer has been heard" here. Although the specific prayer is not disclosed, if this message was a response to it - which seems likely - we can assume that he prayed for God to reveal more about Himself and the path to salvation, as he recognized the inadequacy of natural light and its inability to guide him towards forgiveness and God's favor. The angel's response to send for Peter, who would provide such insight, supports this assumption.

Verse 32: “Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is lodging at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.”

The angel advised, "Send to Joppa and invite Simon….” Many times we are given only enough direction for the next step. We need to be content with limited direction and be faithful for what we have light on. That is sufficient for obedience. 

Verse 33: “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been ordered by the Lord.”

Cornelius states that he and his friends are ready to hear Peter's message. He says, “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come.," even though they are Gentiles. Faithful ministers do well to come to people who are willing and eager to receive instruction from them, especially when they are invited. Peter has come to do his part, and they are ready to do theirs. "You are here prepared to speak, and we are here prepared to hear" (1 Samuel 3:9, 10).

Verse 34: “And opening his mouth, Peter said:

‘I most truly comprehend now that God is not one to show partiality,’”

The good news is meant for everyone, regardless of whether they are Jewish or Gentile.

Verse 35: “but in every nation the one who fears Him and does righteousness is welcome to Him.”

The Greek term for "welcome" signifies "characterized by a positive expression of God's approval." God will save those from every nation and people. He is no respecter of persons.

Verse 36: “As for the word which He sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—”

Jesus' blood brings peace through reconciliation with God. This peace extends to both Jews and Gentiles, as Jesus is Lord of all.

Verse 37: “you yourselves know the thing which happened throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.”

Cornelius and the group gathered with him were likely aware of some fundamental details concerning Jesus of Nazareth and the ministry of John the Baptist.

Verse 38: “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

They were well aware that he had liberated those who were under the devil's control by healing them. This demonstrated that he was not only sent by God to show kindness to humanity, but also to defeat the devil, over whom he had already triumphed many times.

Verse 39: “And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree.”

Peter relayed the events concerning Jesus Christ, assuming his audience was already familiar with some of them. He emphasized that Jesus was crucified and rose again three days later. God raised Him and showed Him openly. This is the gospel, and nothing less is sufficient.

Verse 40: “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He appear,”

The divine power by which he arose is undeniable: "God raised Him up on the third day," which not only refuted all the false accusations and slander made against him by men, but effectively proved God's acceptance of the satisfaction he made for the sin of man by the blood of his cross. He didn't break out of prison; he had a legal discharge.

Verse 41: “not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.”

Only those who believed in Jesus saw him after his resurrection. These believers were chosen by God in His Sovereignty.

Verse 42: “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and solemnly to bear witness that this is the One who has been designated by God as Judge of the living and the dead.”

The gospel is this: the Lord Jesus Christ died and has risen. Those who believe in Him and repent will have their sins forgiven. We are not sharing the gospel if we neglect to tell people this message.

Verse 43: “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Salvation can only be attained through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Forgiveness follows believing.

Verse 44: “While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the word.”

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, which has been called the Gentile Pentecost, was made evident by their speaking in tongues. This event astonished Peter, who had not expected Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit. The audible tongues served as proof to Peter and his companions that God would save the Gentiles and bestow upon them His Holy Spirit. Later, Peter would cite this event as evidence that these Gentiles had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that God had granted repentance and life to the Gentiles as well.

Verse 45: “And all the circumcised believers who came with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”

God's offer was impartial, but this was difficult for some strict Jews to understand because they had not seen Peter's vision. The Scriptures state that Jews seek a sign. God gave them the sign of tongues so they would accept the Gentiles into the community of faith.

Verse 46: “For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,”

The immense divide between Jews and Gentiles during that time is difficult to fully grasp today. The idea that Gentiles could also be saved was inconceivable to the Jews. Peter's recounting of this event, however, served as undeniable proof that the Holy Ghost had been bestowed upon the Gentiles, and that they, like the Jews, were saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 47: “‘Can anyone refuse water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?’”

The Book of Acts describes three symbolic conversions: the Ethiopian eunuch, a descendant of Ham; Saul of Tarsus, a descendant of Shem; and Cornelius, a descendant of Japheth. In each case, the Holy Spirit used a man of God and the Word of God to initiate the conversion. Having seen evidence of conversion, Peter asked the question about baptism. Who could refuse them?

Verse 48: “And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for a few days.”

Jesus's name is the only path to forgiveness for sins. There is no other name and no other way.