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Acts 10:1
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Cornelius Sends a Delegation

1 There was a certain man in aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian1 Regiment,  
2 aa devout man and one who bfeared God with all his household, who gave1 alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.  
3 About1 the ninth hour of the day ahe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5 Now asend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.  
6 He is lodging with aSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. bHe will tell you what you must do.”  
7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, aPeter went up on the housetop to pray, about1 the sixth hour.  
10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
11 and asaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.  
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! aFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”  
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, a“What God has cleansed you must not call common.”  
16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

17 Now while Peter1 wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.  
18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, athe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.  
20 aArise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”  
21 Then Peter went down to the men1 who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”  
22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ahas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”  
23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, aand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  

Peter Meets Cornelius

24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, a“Stand up; I myself am also a man.”  
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
28 Then he said to them, “You know how aunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But bGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  
29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”
30 So Cornelius said,1 “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, aa man stood before me bin bright clothing,  
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, ayour prayer has been heard, and byour alms are remembered in the sight of God.  
32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.1 When he comes, he will speak to you.’  
33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
<< Acts 9:43   Acts 10:2 >>


Acts 10:1

There was a certain man in Caesarea - This was Caesarea of Palestine, called also Strato' s Tower, as has been already noted, and the residence of the Roman procurator.

A centurion - ̔ , The chief or captain of 100 men, as both the Greek and Latin words imply. How the Roman armies were formed, divided, and marshalled, see in the notes on Matthew 20:16 (note). A centurion among the Romans was about the same rank as a captain among us.

The band called the Italian band - The word , which we translate band, signifies the same as cohort or regiment, which sometimes consisted of 555 infantry, and 66 cavalry; but the cohors prima , or first cohort, consisted of 1105 infantry, and 132 cavalry, in the time of Vegetius. But the cavalry are not to be considered as part of the cohort, but rather a company joined to it. A Roman legion consisted of ten cohorts; the first of which surpassed all the others, both in numbers and in dignity. When in former times the Roman legion contained 6000, each cohort consisted of 600, and was divided into three manipuli ; but both the legions and cohorts were afterwards various in the numbers they contained. As there were doubtless many Syrian auxiliaries, the regiment in question was distinguished from them as consisting of Italian, i.e. Roman, soldiers. The Italian cohort is not unknown among the Roman writers: Gruter gives an inscription, which was found in the Forum Sempronii, on a fine table of marble, nine feet long, four feet broad, and four inches thick; on which are the following words: -

l. maesio. l. f. pol.

rvfo. proc. avg.

trib. mil. leg. x.

appollinaris. trib.

coh. mil. ITALIC. volunt.

qvae. est. in. syria. praef.

fabrvm. bis.

See Gruter' s Inscriptions, p. ccccxxxiii-iv.

This was probably the same cohort as that mentioned here by St. Luke; for the tenth legion mentioned in the above inscription was certainly in Judea, a.d. 69. Tacitus also mentions the Italica legio , the Italic legion, lib. i. c. 59, which Junius Blaesus had under his command in the province of Lyons. We learn, from the Roman historians, that the fifth, tenth, and fifteenth legions were stationed in Judea; and the third, fourth, sixth, and twelfth in Syria. The Italic legion was in the battle of Bedriacum, fought, a.d. 69, between the troops of Vitellius and Otho; and performed essential services to the Vitellian army. See Tacitus, Hist. lib. ii. cap. 41. The issue of this battle was the defeat of the Othonians, on which Otho slew himself, and the empire was confirmed to Vitellius.

Wherever he sees it necessary, St. Luke carefully gives dates and facts, to which any might have recourse who might be disposed to doubt his statements: we have had several proofs of this in his Gospel. See especially Luke 1:1 (note), etc., and Luke 3:1 (note), etc., and the notes there.




Other Adam Clarke entries containing Acts 10:1:

Matthew 8:10
Luke 15:7
Acts 15:7

 

<< Acts 9:43   Acts 10:2 >>

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