Bible Study series: Acts 10:17-29. This is the third scene in the kingdom change on who is acceptable to God. Peter is summoned to a divine appointment. You too can hear the voice of the Spirit.
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I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 10:17-29
17 As Peter was inwardly figuring out what the vision he saw might mean, then look! The men sent by Cornelius, after they inquired about Simon’s house, appeared at the gate, 18 calling and asking whether Simon, nicknamed Peter, was staying inside. 19 Now, while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit spoke to him, “Look! Three men are asking about you. 20 Get up and go down and go with them without hesitating and overthinking it, because I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “See, I am the one you’re looking for. What’s the cause of your coming?” 22 And they replied, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, attested by the entire nation of the Jews, was instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and hear spoken words from you.” 23 Therefore, he invited them in and hosted them.
The next day, he got up and left with them, and certain brothers of Joppa accompanied him.
24 The day after, he got to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet and began to worship. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up. I myself am also a human.” 27 He talked with him and went inside and found many people had gathered. 28 He spoke to them. “You understand how it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or visit Gentiles, but God revealed that no one should call a human common or unclean. 29 Therefore being summoned, I came without raising an objection. So I ask what is the reason you summoned me.” (Acts 10:17-29)
Comments:
17-18:
Peter was perplexed in himself (Greek diaporeō and pronounced dee-ah-pohr-eh-oh), which for me works out to “figuring out.” He thought too much about it, while Cornelius obeyed without question. Peter has to be told not to hesitate or over-think things.
“vision”: see v. 3 for a closer look.
“look!”: It translate the common Greek (and Hebrew) term “Behold!” “Amazing!” carries the same connotation.
These two verses keep the divine convergence or appointment in the forefront of the readers’ minds. While this was going on, that was happening too. God sees where you are. Let’s say you are praying for a relative to come to the saving knowledge of Christ or return to his walk with God he once had. God is working out circumstances right now that you are not even aware of. Just keep praying for him, not out of fear or anxiety, but out of confidence that “God’s got this!”
19:
“reflecting on”: The mind thinks or ponders or reflects, and here it does so through and through.
“the Spirit spoke to him”: Renewalists certainly (and probably other people of the Church around the globe) believe that the Spirit speaks to the human spirit and soul (and not just the human spirit as some teachers claim. We are a package—body, soul, and spirit).
“Look”: Again, it translates the older word “Behold!”
“vision”: see v. 3 for a closer look.
20:
“without hesitating or overthinking”: But when it comes to this verse the Greek dictionary guys would have us translate it as “hesitate.” Yes, hesitation is a mental activity in the mind, so I translate the verb in its fullest sense. Peter, who is famous among current preachers as being a blabbermouth and speaking without thinking, was actually a thoughtful man. In this verse the Spirit has to tell him to put away his doubts and mental gymnastics and just obey. But let’s not be too hard on him, because he had a difficult time visiting and eating with non-Jews, even after this visit with Cornelius (Gal. 2:11-21). He is about to be cross-examined by Messianic Jews back in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1-18)
21-22:
It is good to have an exemplary reputation before the people. Guard it as you would your life (Prov. 3:4; 10:7; 22:1; 1 Pet. 2:12). Cornelius had one. So should we.
“angel”: see v. 3 for more comments.
23:
Peter’s fellow Jews (“brothers”) accompanied him to be witnesses of the conversion and outpouring that is about to happen (Acts 10:47; 11:1-18). They were six in number, so they and Peter make seven, the number of completeness in the Bible. Peter was not a loner in ministry. We can be sure that when he went from Jerusalem to Lydda and Joppa, he had assistants or at least traveling companions with him, but as usual, the Bible omits such details, but not here. He needed supporters who could shore up his testimony that God accepted Gentiles, when Peter got back to Jerusalem and had to answer for his actions (Acts 11:1-18).
Bruce provides a short timeline:
Day One: Cornelius saw an angel and sent messengers to Joppa;
Day Two: they arrived at Joppa about midday, just after Peter’s vision on roof of Simon’s house
Day Three: They spent the night between Caesarea and Joppa.
Day Four: they reached Caesarea where Peter was staying.
24:
Cornelius was on the edge of his seat waiting for Peter to come. In the intervening days, he must have heard how important and powerful, spiritually speaking, Peter was—and he was. He certainly heard of the growth of the Way (v. 37). He must have heard about Aeneas being healed (Acts 9:32-35) and Tabitha being resurrected in (Acts 9:36-43), in nearby towns. He had an expectant heart. Peter coming to his house was a big deal.
As noted, for Peter, however, it was a dubious deal, because Jews don’t associate with Gentiles in the format or setting of sitting down and eating (v. 28). Peter had a tough time with it, even after Cornelius was overwhelmed and filled with the Spirit (Gal. 2:11-21).
Cornelius also invited his relatives and close friends. There’s a lesson in those words for all of us. We need to invite our relatives and close friends to our “small group.”
25-27:
When Cornelius fell at his feet and bowed, he was confused, but he must have built Peter up so highly in his mind that he had to pay him the utmost respect, almost like a man before a great king. Peter was right to raise him up. Peter was not a divine man, as a Greek or Roman would be quick to believe. He was a mere mortal or a human. Then they chatted outside for a bit, before they went inside. Peter must have been a little startled to see a large gathering. In the previous section, the Spirit focused just on Cornelius. Now the audience has expanded. The narrative comes alive with such details!
28-29:
Peter lays it on the line: It is unlawful for him to be here. But God overrode Jewish misgivings and told him to come anyway.
“without raising an objection”: The Greek literally means “no-anti-speaking” or more lyrically: “without verbally contradicting.” The adverb is used only here, and the adjective is used only in Acts 19:36, so it is used only twice in the NT.
Bruce:
The most ordinary kinds of food, such as bread, milk or olive oil, coming from Gentiles, might not be eaten by strict Jews, not to mention flesh, which might have come from a forbidden animal or from one that had been sacrificed to a pagan divinity, and which in nay case contained blood. Hence, of all forms or intercourse [social interaction] with Gentiles, to accept their hospitality and sit at table with them was the most intolerable. However, Peter’s lesson [in the vision] had so impressed itself on his mind that he accompanied Cornelius’s messengers without scruple or protest. And now that he had arrived, he asked them to state more fully their reason for inviting him. (comment on vv. 27-29)
GrowApp for Acts 10:17-29
1. The Spirit tells Peter not to hesitate or overthink things about God’s command. Describe how obedience is better than the paralysis of over-analysis (over-thinking things)?
2. Peter, without hesitation, allowed Cornelius to host him inside his house. This was a major step towards change in God’s plan of salvation. Have ever taken even a small step and see God work in wonderful ways?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
For the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
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