Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
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21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
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THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
CHAPTER TEN:
PETER AND THE FIRST NON-JEWISH BELIEVERS
[“God is not Partial”]
Key word: Cornelius
Acts 10:1-8 – Cornelius [36 AD]
AC10:1 Now in Caesarea
there was a certain man named Cornelius.
He was a centurion
from the Italian Regiment.
| 391 | Caesarea: A beautiful seaport city built by Herod the Great in the 1st Century BC as a government center. In 1961 an inscription
was discovered with the name of Pontius Pilate. |
| 392 | Cornelius: He is to become the first uncircumcised non-Jew
in the Church as a result of Peter’s use of the third of “the keys of the kingdom.” |
| 393 | Centurion:
Commander of 100 Roman soldiers or more. |
| 394 | Italian Regiment: Or, band, cohort, company, troop. The word means
a regiment of 600 men. |
AC10:2 He was reverent and God-fearing
as was his household.
He practiced considerable charity toward the [Jewish] people
and continued in constant prayers to The God.
| 395 | He was reverent and God-fearing: Or, devout, religious, pious, worshipped. The Greek for “reverent” is EUSEBES [Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance #2152, well + revere] and for “God-fearing” PHOBOUMENOS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5399, frightened, awe-struck]. |
| 396 | His household: Thus, his family, and possibly some servants and troops leaned to the Jewish religion and observed their rituals, though not circumcised. |
| 397 | He practiced considerable charity toward the [Jewish] people: Or, GIFTS OF MERCY, alms, liberal, benevolences, generous. A synagogue has been uncovered in Galilee that was built as the result
of a great donation from a Roman centurion. Such righteous and godly supporters of the Jews are called “Righteous.” |
AC10:3 He experienced an enlightening vision
about one in the afternoon when God’s angel came to him
and said: “Cornelius!”
| 398 | He experienced an enlightening vision: Or, ASV: he saw in a vision openly; TCN: he distinctly saw in a vision; KIT: manifestly. The
Greek word for “enlightening” here is PHANEROS, rooted in torch or lamp. |
| 399 | God’s angel came to
him: God operates in several ways: sometimes directly through his Pneuma, and other times by means of His messengers. |
AC10:4 Now Cornelius just stared at him dumbstruck and with great fear,
he asked: “What is it, sir?”
And the angel said to him: “Your prayers and charity have ascended as a memorial offering
into the presence of The God.
| 400 | Now Cornelius just stared at him dumbstruck and with great fear: Or, fastening his eyes, looking steadily, stared in terror, gazing
in terror. This is a tough Roman soldier of many campaigns. There is not much that frightens such a man. |
| 401 | What
is it, sir: He addresses the angel with respect as in Sir, or Senor. |
| 402 | Ascended as a memorial offering:
Or, a memorial, remembered, recorded on high. Despite not being a circumcised Jewish proselyte God is aware of his name, where he lives, and his deeds. |
AC10:5 Now send men to Joppa and ask
for a certain Simon who is also called Peter.
AC10:6 This man is staying with another named Simon the Tanner whose house is by the sea.”
| 403 | House is by the sea: A most lovely place. |
AC10:7 Now after the
angel had spoken and departed, Cornelius called for two household servants as well as a reverent soldier
from among those who waited on him.
| 404 | A reverent soldier: Or, devout, religious, God-fearing. Indicating some of his regiment have also accepted Jewish beliefs. |
AC10:8 He told them everything and then sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:9-16 – Peter’s Vision
AC10:9 Now the next day, as Cornelius’ people were on their way to the city, Peter went up onto the roof to pray about noon.
| 405 | Pray about noon: Whether this was just circumstance or a religious habit we cannot know. We remember Daniel’s manner of offering
formal prayers three times a day. [Daniel 6] |
AC10:10 He became hungry and wanted a meal, and while they made preparations
there came upon him a trance.
| 406 | They made preparations: In the hospitable Middle East it would have been unthinkable that a guest prepared his own meal. |
| 407 | There came upon him a trance: The Greek is ECSTASIS from which comes “ecstasy.” A trance is a state of absolute focus in meditation. |
AC10:11 And Peter saw the sky parting and then descending something like a large linen cloth being let down to the ground by its four corners.
| 408 | A large linen cloth being let down to the ground by its four corners: Or, great sheet, great sail, great sheet of sail-cloth. |
AC10:12 In it were every kind of four-footed animals
and reptiles of the earth, including birds of the skies.
| 409 | Every kind of four-footed animals: These were clearly those animals unclean to the Jews. |
AC10:13 Now a Voice
occurred [speaking] to him: “Peter, rise, kill and eat!”
| 410 | Voice: Here in Peter’s trance neither an angel nor the Pneuma is mentioned in the manifestation. |
AC10:14 But Peter said: “Absolutely not, sir, because I have never eating anything common and unclean!”
| 411 | I have never eating anything common and unclean: Or, defiled or impure, ceremonially not cleansed, profane, unholy, prohibited. Peter
claims to be a kosher Jew. This is interesting, if we can believe Peter, for the Nazarene declared “all foods clean.” [Mark 7:19] Thus, a Christian Jew could eat pork, carp, or birds formerly considered unclean. Paul writes that a Christian may
eat anything sold in a meat market with out being overly scrupulous [1 Corinthians 10:25] and that the Kingdom does not include rules on eating and drinking. [Romans 14:17] |
AC10:15 And the
Voice spoke again a second time to him: “Do not declare unclean what The God has made clean!”
| 412 | Do not declare unclean what The God has made clean: The object lesson to this Christian Jew Peter is that all foods are clean, and
as he will learn, non-Jews are also “clean.” The Nazarene taught that “all foods are clean.” [Mark 7:19] |
AC10:16 Now this happened three times and then instantly the
object was taken up
into the sky.| 413 | Taken up: The Greek ANELEMPHTHE is related to those similar words at Luke 17:34, 35; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9. |
Acts 10:17-23a – Peter Hears of Cornelius
AC10:17 Now as Peter pondered in perplexity
what the vision he saw might mean, look, the men sent by Cornelius – after inquiring found Simon’s house – and now stood at the gate.
| 414 | Pondered in perplexity: Or, doubted in himself, puzzling over, wondering, quite at a loss, mulling over, inwardly perplexed. |
AC10:18 They called out asking if there was a Simon Peter staying there.
AC10:19 Now as Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Pneuma said to him: “Behold, three men are looking for you.
AC10:20 Now get up and go down and leave with them without doubting,
because I have sent them.”
| 415 | Without doubting: Or, hesitate, misgivings. |
AC10:21 Peter went
down to the men and said: “I am the person you seek. What is the reason you are here?”
AC10:22 So they said: “Cornelius – a centurion, a righteous man who fears The God, and is well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews – was given directions by a holy angel to summon you to his
house and to listen to your words.”
AC10:23a So, Peter invited them in and welcomed them as guests. | 416 | Welcomed them as guests: Peter as an elder must manifest hospitality. [1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Peter 5:1] It should be noted these were non-Jewish persons and Peter later mentions that this association with non-Jews was not wrong. However, note Paul’s chastisement of Peter in Galatians 2:11-14. |
Acts 10:23b-29 – Peter in Cornelius’ Household
AC10:23b Now the next day Peter rose and left with them, and some of the brothers in Joppa went with him.
AC10:24 A day later Peter entered Caesarea, and expecting them, Cornelius had called together his relatives and close friends.
AC10:25 And as Peter entered and met him, Cornelius fell at his feet, and bowing kissed his feet.
| 417 | Bowing kissed his feet: Or, KJV: worshipped; TCN: throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground; RHM: do homage; BER:
did reverence to him; NEB: bowed to the ground in deep reverence. The Greek is PROSKYNSEN and means to bow before and kiss, either the feet or the fringe of the garment. It is possible Zechariah 8:23 now begins to undergo fulfillment. For details on PROSKUNEO
see Error of the Trinity. |
AC10:26 But, Peter raised him up and said: “Rise, I am just a human myself.”
| 418 | Rise, I am just a human myself: Despite the words of the first “pope” modern popes have behaved differently than Peter. |
AC10:27 As they talked with him Peter entered to find so many assembled.
AC10:28 And so Peter said to them: “All of you know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate or approach a [non-Jewish] foreigner.
But The God showed me never to call another human common or unclean.
| 419 | It is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate or approach a [non-Jewish] foreigner: This was not part of the Law of Moses but a Jewish
regulation added. Compare John 4:9; 18:20. [See notes on Matthew 18:17.] Compare notes on Galatians 2:11-14. |
AC10:29 As a result I also came here without objecting to being summoned. So, I ask the reason you have summoned me?”
Acts 10:30-33 – Cornelius Relates His Experience
AC10:30 Now Cornelius said: “Four days ago at three in the afternoon I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in radiant clothing.
| 420 | Radiant clothing: Or, bright, dazzling, shining. Compare Mark 9:3. |
AC10:31 And
he said: ‘Cornelius, your prayer was heard and your charitable gifts were remembered in God’s presence.
AC10:32 Now send to Joppa and summon Simon Peter who is staying in Simon the Tanner’s house by the sea.’
AC10:33 So, at once I sent for you and it is good you have come. So here we are present in the sight of The God to hear everything the Master has commanded you.” | 421 | The Master has commanded you: Or, the Supreme Being. Opinions may vary whether Jesus of God is meant. |
Acts 10:34-43 – “God Is Not Partial”
AC10:34 Now Peter began to speak and said: “I absolutely perceive that The God does not show partiality,
| 422 | God does not show partiality: Or, respecter of persons, prejudicial. Compare Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Romans
2:11; Galatians 2:6. God does not care whether one is a Jew or non-Jew. [Galatians 3:29] |
AC10:35 but in every nation the person fearing Him and who continues to work righteousness
is acceptable to Him.
| 423 | The person fearing Him and who continues to work righteousness: These are two of God’s requirements for a person of any national
or race to be acceptable by Him. Cornelius’ righteousness has been already defined by his charity. Note the command of the angel at Revelation 14:7. In this case righteousness does not depend on faith in Christ, for these non-Jews do not know him. |
AC10:36 You are aware of the message that He sent to the sons of Israel proclaiming peace by means of Jesus Christ, that this One is Master of all.
| 424 | This Master is Lord of all: Obviously, not Absolute Lord as the DESPOTA of Acts 4. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:25-28. Compare the degree
of Christ’s lordship at Ephesians 1:19-21. Messiah is one of the “lords” over which Yehowah is “the Master.” [Deuteronomy 10:17] It should be noted that Peter’s two phrases regarding God’s partiality and lordship echo
Deuteronomy 10:17. |
AC10:37 [You are aware] of the events that occurred throughout all of Judea – beginning first in Galilee and the baptism preached by John –
AC10:38 how The God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with holy Pneuma and with Power.
He then went traveling everywhere, doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, because The God was with him.
| 425 | The God anointed Jesus: It is clear Jesus is not “The God” [HO THEOS]. Compare Psalm 2:1 and Peter’s quote of it
at Acts 4:24f. |
| 426 | Pneuma and with Power: The holy Pneuma is the force of God’s Mind that exerts an invisible
pressure or force. Power is the energy so created. |
| 427 | The God was with him: Jesus was not “The God.” |
AC10:39 Now we are witnesses of everything he did,
both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. [The Jews] killed him by hanging him on a tree.
| 428 | Now we are witnesses of everything he did: It is likely other “brothers” in Peter’s entourage were eyewitnesses
of the Nazarene. [1 John 1:1-3] |
| 429 | [The Jews] killed him by hanging him on a tree: Peter does not testify about
a “cross” but the Tree. As elsewhere he puts the blame on the Jews. |
AC10:40 The God raised up this person on the third day
and granted him to become visible.
| 430 | The God raised up this person on the third day: Jesus did not resurrect himself, but his Father did – The God. |
| 431 | Granted him to become visible: Or, manifest. [John 21:1] “Visible” as UBS interlinear has it. [NAS] It suggests the Risen Jesus
could not materialize as he wished but only upon his father’s authority. The Greek is EU-PHANE [well + torch, or well-lit]. |
AC10:41 Not to all the people
but rather to witnesses who had been chosen by our God beforehand. To us, who ate and drank together with him after he was resurrected from the dead.
| 432 | Not to all the people: Compare notes on John 14:19. |
| 433 | Ate and drank together with him after he was resurrected from the dead: Compare Luke 24:30; John 21:13. |
AC10:42 And he commanded
us to preach to the people
and to give our testimony that this is the One appointed by The God as judge of the living and the dead.
| 434 | He commanded us to preach to the people: Compare Matthew 28:19. |
| 435 | This is the One appointed by The God as judge of the living and the dead: The Son is “appointed” by The God to judge. [John 5:22; Acts 17:31] Christ will judge on two primary moments:
upon the resurrection of the Church and later humankind in general. [1 John 2:28; Revelation 20:5, 12, 13] On both occasions there will be two categories: the dead and the living. [2 Timothy 4:1, 2] At the Parousia “the living” are raptured. [1
Thessalonians 4:16, 17] For details on the subject of judgment see the Biblical Article in Nazarene Commentary 2000© entitled God and Judgment. |
AC10:43 On this matter
all the prophets bear witness – everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins
on the basis of his name.” | 436 |
Everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins: Compare Romans 10:11 and Galatians 3:22. |
| 437 | On the
basis of his name: Note Peter has said something similar in all three instances of his use of the keys of the kingdom: the Jews [Acts 2], the Samaritans [Acts 8], and now the non-Jews. |
Acts 10:44-48 – Non-Jews Receive the Pneuma
AC10:44 As Peter was speaking these words the holy Pneuma fell upon all those hearing the Word.
AC10:45 Now Peter and those of the Circumcision
with him were amazed that the gift of the holy Pneuma was poured out on non-Jews.
| 438 | Those of the Circumcision: Or, Jewish believers. This has not been necessary to state before, since only Jews were Christians. Now
a word appears which will become one of the Church’s major causes for division – between Jew and non-Jew. Note Acts 11:2 and Acts 15:1, 2. At first Peter was part of this sectarian schism. [Galatians 2] |
AC10:46 For they were now hearing all of them speaking in tongues
and exalting The God. Then Peter responded:
| 439 | Speaking in tongues: The main purpose for this, as probably all spoke known languages, was to give a visible manifestation that the
Pneuma was upon non-Jews. For details see notes on 1 Corinthians 14. |
AC10:47 “Surely no one will refuse the water of baptism
to these who have received the holy Pneuma just as we have?”
| 440 | Water of baptism: Or, water for baptism, This is the only case of the Pneuma manifesting itself on unbaptized persons, and non-Jews
at that. |
AC10:48 And so Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they asked Peter to remain for several days. | 441 | Peter to remain for several days: Preaching precedes baptism and teaching follows it. [Matthew 28:19] |
Review Questions on Chapter Ten
- What vision did Cornelius have?
- What did Peter learn in his own vision?
- What was Peter’s sermon to the household of Cornelius?
- Describe how the first non-Jews received the Pneuma?
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Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
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