9 On the next day , as they were on their way and approaching the city , Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray . 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat ; but while they were making preparations , he fell into a trance ; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down , lowered by four corners to the ground , 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air . 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter , kill and eat !" 14 But Peter said , "By no means , Lord , for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean ." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time , " What God has cleansed , no longer consider unholy ." 16 This happened three times , and immediately the object was taken up into the sky . 17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold , the men who had been sent by Cornelius , having asked directions for Simon's house , appeared at the gate ; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon , who was also called Peter , was staying there .
19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision , the Spirit said to him, "Behold , three men are looking for you. 20 "But get up, go downstairs and accompany e them without misgivings , for I have sent them Myself ." 21 Peter went down to the men and said , "Behold , I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come ?" 22 They said , "Cornelius , a centurion , a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews , was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you." 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging . And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 10:9-23
Commentary on Acts 10:9-18
(Read Acts 10:9-18)
The prejudices of Peter against the Gentiles, would have prevented his going to Cornelius, unless the Lord had prepared him for this service. To tell a Jew that God had directed those animals to be reckoned clean which were hitherto deemed unclean, was in effect saying, that the law of Moses was done away. Peter was soon made to know the meaning of it. God knows what services are before us, and how to prepare us; and we know the meaning of what he has taught us, when we find what occasion we have to make use of it.
Commentary on Acts 10:19-33
(Read Acts 10:19-33)
When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.