Ac 10:1
10:1 There {1} was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a
     centurion of the band called the Italian [band],

 (1) Peter consecrates the first fruits of the Gentiles to God
     by the means of two miracles.

Ac 10:2
10:2 [A] {a} devout [man], and one that feared God with {b} all
     his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed
     to God alway.

     (a) So that he worshipped one God, and was not an idolater,
         and neither could he be void of faith in Christ,
         because he was a devout man: but as of yet he did not
         know that Christ had come.
     (b) This is a commendable thing about the man, that he
         laboured to have all his household, and well-known
         friends, and acquaintances to be religious and godly.

Ac 10:4
10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, {c}
     What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and
     thine alms are {d} come up for {e} a memorial before God.

     (c) What do you want with me Lord?  For he prepares himself
         to hear.
     (d) This is a borrowed kind of speech which the Hebrews
         used very much, taken from sacrifices and applied to
         prayers: for it is said of whole burnt sacrifices that
         the smoke and smell of them goes up into God's
         nostrils, and so do our prayers, as a sweet smelling
         sacrifice which the Lord takes great pleasure in.
     (e) That is, in as much that they will not allow God as it
         were to forget you: for so the Scripture often talks
         childish with us as nurses do with little children,
         when they prepare their tongues to speak.

Ac 10:10
10:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they
      made ready, he fell into a {f} trance,

      (f) For though Peter does not stand amazed as one that is
          tongue tied, but talks with God and is instructed in
          his mysteries, yet his mind was far from being as it
          normally was; shortly, however, it returned to its
          normal state.

Ac 10:11
10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending
      unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the {g}
      four corners, and let down to the earth:

      (g) So that it seemed to be a square sheet.

Ac 10:12
10:12 Wherein were {h} all manner of {i} fourfooted beasts of
      the earth, and wild beasts, and {k} creeping things, and
      fowls of the air.

      (h) Here is this word "all" which is general, plainly used
          for something indefinite and uncertain, that is to
          say, for some of all sorts, not for all of every sort.
      (i) That is, such as were proper for men's use.
      (k) To see what is meant by these creeping things see
          @Le 11:2-47.

Ac 10:14
10:14 {2} But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten
      any thing that is common or unclean.

 (2) Peter learns daily in the knowledge of the benefit of
     Christ, yea, even after he had received the Holy Spirit.

Ac 10:15
10:15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What
      God hath cleansed, [that] {l} call not thou common.

      (l) Do not consider them to be unprofitable.

Ac 10:25
10:25 {3} And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and
      fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him].

 (3) Religious adoration of worship is proper only to God: but
     civil worship is given to the ministers of the word,
     although not without danger.

Ac 10:30
10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until {m}
      this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house,
      and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

      (m) He does not mean the very hour at the present time
          (as it was nine o'clock when he spoke to Peter),
          but the like, that is, about nine o'clock the other
          day.

Ac 10:31
10:31 {4} And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine
      alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

 (4) Cornelius' faith demonstrated itself by prayer and charity.

Ac 10:32
10:32 {5} Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose
      surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one] Simon
      a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak
      unto thee.

 (5) As faith comes by hearing, so it is nourished and grows up
     by the same.

Ac 10:34
10:34 {6} Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I
      perceive that {n} God is no respecter of persons:

 (6) Distinction of nations is taken away by the coming of
     Christ: and it is evidently seen by their faith and
     righteousness, which ones are agreeable to him and which
     ones he accepts.
     {n} That God does not judge according to the outward
         appearance.

Ac 10:35
10:35 But in every nation he that {o} feareth him, and worketh
      righteousness, is accepted with him.

      (o) By the "fear of God" the Hebrews understood the whole
          service of God, by which we perceive that Cornelius
          was not void of faith, no more than they were who
          lived before Christ's time: and therefore they deal
          incorrectly who deduce meritorious works and free will
          from this passage.

Ac 10:36
10:36 The {p} word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel,
      preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

      (p) God showed the Israelites that whoever lives godly is
          acceptable to God, no matter what nation he comes
          from, for he preached peace to men through Jesus
          Christ, who is Lord not only of one nation, that is,
          of the Jews, but of all.

Ac 10:37
10:37 {7} That word, [I say], ye know, which was published
      throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the
      baptism which John preached;

 (7) The sum of the Gospel (which will be made manifest at the
     latter day, when Christ himself will sit as judge both of
     the living and the dead), is this, that Christ promised to
     the fathers and exhibited in his time with the mighty power
     of God (which was demonstrated by all means) and at length
     crucified to reconcile us to God, did rise again the third
     day, so that whoever believes in him should be saved
     through the remission of sins.

Ac 10:38
10:38 How God {q} anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
      and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
      that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

      (q) This manner of speaking is taken from an old custom of
          the Jews, who used to anoint their kings and priests,
          because of which it came to pass to call those
          anointed upon whom God bestowed gifts and virtues.

Ac 10:41
10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses {r} chosen
      before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with
      him after he rose from the dead.

      (r) This choosing of the apostles is properly given to
          God: for though God is president in the lawful
          election of ministers, yet there is in this place a
          secret opposition and setting of God's choosing and
          men's voices against one another, for the apostles are
          appointed directly by God, and the Church ministers
          indirectly.

Ac 10:44
10:44 {8} While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell
      on all them which heard the word.

 (8) The Spirit of God seals that in the heart of the hearers
     which the minister of the word speaks by the commandment of
     God, as is evident by the results.

Ac 10:47
10:47 {9} Can any man forbid water, that these should not be
      baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as
      we?

 (9) Baptism does not sanctify or make those holy who receive
     it, but is an outward sign to the world of the profession
     of faith. (Ed.)



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