Tyndale Open Study NotesActs 10

• a centurion: This was the highest rank for an officer in the Roman army who was not commissioned. He led a century, a group of about 100 men. Luke often describes centurions positively (10:22; 21:32; 22:25–26; 23:17, 23; 27:6, 11, 43; 28:16; Luke 7:1–10; 23:47).

  Luke wanted to show that Christianity was not against Roman officials or institutions. It could, like Judaism, be permitted in the Roman Empire (see Acts Book Introduction, “Purposes of Acts: Politics”).

• in what was called the Italian Regiment: A regiment included six centuries; a Roman legion was usually divided into ten regiments. The New Testament mentions the Italian Regiment and the Imperial Regiment (Acts 27:1).

devout and God-fearing: Gentiles described as God-fearing admired Judaism's high ethical standards. However, they were not ready to undergo circumcision or fully convert to Judaism (see 13:43).

Christianity appealed to these Gentiles who worshiped God (18:7; see 13:48; 16:30; 17:4, 12, 17). These individuals were open to the message of the gospel that announced that “there is peace with God through Jesus Christ” (10:36).

In Acts, visions often happen while people are praying (9:3–6, 10–16; 10:2–6, 9–12; 11:5–9; 12:9–17; 18:9–10; 22:17–21; 23:11). These visions are not random. They show God's saving work and give divine guidance and encouragement.

God gave Peter the same vision three times to confirm it was true (see Genesis 41:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1).

See Leviticus 11 for a list of animals that Jewish laws have declared impure and ceremonially unclean.

Peter was puzzling over: The events that followed would clarify the meaning of the vision (10:17–48; see 11:1–18). Peter should not hesitate to enter or eat in a non-Jewish (Gentile) home because God has accepted and cleansed them.

Cornelius … fell at his feet to worship him: This act was probably more than just bowing to an important person of rank. The Bible says worship is for God alone (see 14:11–17; Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Matthew 22:37–38; Mark 12:29–30; Luke 10:27; 1 Corinthians 10:14; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 4:10; 9:20; 22:8–9).

Peter was just a fellow human being whom Cornelius should not worship.

• God does not show favoritism: See Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Luke 20:21; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17.

  The application of this principle is the meaning of Peter’s vision (10:9–16).

• welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right: See Romans 10:11–13.

Peter often emphasizes the role of the apostles as witnesses to the good news (the message about Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection). He reminds his listeners that they had direct contact with Jesus.

The apostles ate and drank with Jesus after he rose from the dead (see Luke 24:41–43). They saw him alive again. Because they were eyewitnesses of his resurrection, they could testify that Jesus had defeated death (see Acts 3:15; 4:33; 13:30–31).

Jesus chose the original apostles ahead of time to be his witnesses (see 1:12–26). Later, others continued this work. For example, Paul and Barnabas preached and taught in the name of Jesus Christ (see 9:15; 14:1–3; 26:16).

• Based on what they saw and heard, the apostles could declare that Jesus of Nazareth was the one about whom all the prophets spoke (10:39–42). The whole message and purpose of Scripture center on Christ (see Luke 24:25–27, 44–47; John 5:39).

• The main point of their message was that everyone who believes in Jesus will have sins forgiven through his name (see Luke 24:47).

On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the people that if they stopped sinning, repented, asked forgiveness from God, and received baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, they would "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (2:38; see also 19:1–7).

As Cornelius and his household listened to Peter's message, they received the Holy Spirit just like the Jews had earlier. This event confirmed again that God did not favor one group over another (10:34–35). This event is similar to the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (2:1–47). It shows that the power of the Holy Spirit now came to the Gentiles as well (1:8; 2:39).

Cornelius asked Peter to stay for a few days with them, possibly because he needed more instruction in the Christian faith.