101 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius , a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort , 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household , and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually e . 3 About e the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius !" 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed , he said , "What is it, Lord ?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God . 5 "Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon , who is also called Peter ; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon , whose house is by the sea ." 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left , he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants , 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa .
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 ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 10:1-20
Commentary on Acts 10:1-8
(Read Acts 10:1-8)
Hitherto none had been baptized into the Christian church but Jews, Samaritans, and those converts who had been circumcised and observed the ceremonial law; but now the Gentiles were to be called to partake all the privileges of God's people, without first becoming Jews. Pure and undefiled religion is sometimes found where we least expect it. Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of charity and of piety, neither will excuse from the other. Doubtless Cornelius had true faith in God's word, as far as he understood it, though not as yet clear faith in Christ. This was the work of the Spirit of God, through the mediation of Jesus, even before Cornelius knew him, as is the case with us all when we, who before were dead in sin, are made alive. Through Christ also his prayers and alms were accepted, which otherwise would have been rejected. Without dispute or delay Cornelius was obedient to the heavenly vision. In the affairs of our souls, let us not lose time.
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.