Act 10:1 ¶ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a Centurion of the band called the Italian [band], COMMENT: Now the book of Acts is written in the form of a novel with so many bright shining stars coming and going, we cannot know all of the great things taking place in those days; but this novel is a supernatural reality and not the product of the imaginations of men. We have heard of Jesus ascending into heaven, and of the hundred and twenty speaking in tongues everyone could understand in their own language. We have read of Saint Peter's power preachings and healings, and of the the wickedness of the religious rulers who persecuted believers in Christ mercilessly and stoned Stephen to death as a mad mob. We have just finished reading of Tabitha being raised from the dead and now we are introduced to Cornelius who was the military commander of an all Italian group of a hundred men, a subdivision of a Roman Legion of three to six thousand soldiers sometimes accompanied by calvary. In other words he was one of thirty to sixty elite officers in a Roman Legion.

Act 10:2 [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much (in) alms to the people, and prayed to God alway(s). COMMENT: The Romans valued their Centurions since they ruled the known world by military force, so Cornelius had a house and most likely servants; and his family and servants are probably what is meant here in the phrase where we find he is "one that feared God with all his house,..." But more importantly the Gentile Roman prayed to God always, so he had the heart of a disciple even though he was employed in the Roman army.

Act 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, "Cornelius." And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said unto him, "Your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God." COMMENT: The proper response were an angel of God to come into you would be, "Speak to me Lord, your servant is listening." But the devout Roman Centurion was afraid, so he answered abruptly as he might to another officer among the Romans. Yet the Lord knew his heart, his prayers and his good deeds, so he gave Cornelius the good news. The prayers and alms of Cornelius are come up for a memorial before God, and even to this generation nearly two thousand years later where we hear of him in reading the Scriptures. Then the angel of the Lord said:

Act 10:5 "And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell you what you ought to do. COMMENT: You see Cornelius had men at his disposal to send who also feared God.

Act 10:7 And when the angel which spoke unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; COMMENT: Now you have an insight into how the Roman army worked. A Centurion would probably rank along with a Colonel in the U.S. military, but there is a difference. The Romans ruled the world by force. To do so their soldiers were required to be in absolute obedience to their commanders. They were not allowed to retreat in battle at the threat of execution unless commanded. So Cornelius had a devout soldier waiting "on him continually." The two household servants might have been slaves captured in battle. They too were in obedience to Cornelius who sent all three to find Saint Peter in Joppa from Caesarea where the Italian band was stationed according to the custom of the Romans to occupy foreign lands with small contingencies of soldiers.

Act 10:8/9 And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: COMMENT: Isn't it interesting how the Lord is keeping the Apostle Peter busy in Joppa. Three messengers from Cornelius are on the way to find him while he goes up to the housetop to pray earlier in the day.

Act 10:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, COMMENT: In a trance Peter would have lost all awareness of the world he lived in, and would have entered into a total consciousness of what he was shown in the realm of the Spirit.

Act 10:11/12 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." COMMENT: Peter was inside the vision so it must have seemed to him that he could have killed a creature visible to him there. But he recognized they were all counted "unclean" in the law of Moses.

Act 10:14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." COMMENT: Peter had always been an observer of the law of Moses before the Lord called him into the ministry of the Word and of the Spirit.

Act 10:15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, [that] call not thou common." COMMENT: That which Peter referred to as common God has cleansed, therefore it must have been unclean. Now Peter is to unlearn the law of Moses in this respect, that those things referred to as common or unclean or to no longer be called unclean. A revision in the law of Moses has taken place. Peter is the foremost Apostle ruling over the New Testament Church and he has received a command.

Act 10:16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. COMMENT: To make sure there is no doubt as to the command, the vision was shown three times before being received up again into heaven.

Act 10:17/18 ¶ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. COMMENT: Now we see the divine timing of this vision Peter received in a trance. The three men Cornelius sent were at the gate of Simon's house inquiring whether Simon surnamed Peter was lodged there.

Act 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, "Behold, three men are seeking you." COMMENT: Peter thought to determine the meaning of the vision when the Spirit spoke to him audibly from within where the kingdom anointing is built, telling him three men were seeking him.

Act 10:20 "Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. COMMENT: We think the Apostles were leaders, but do you see how Peter was a follower of the Spirit of the Lord who commanded him to rise up and get down from the roof and go with them without any doubts. Those who think the Lord of glory is looking for leaders are mistaken. He is looking for followers.

Act 10:21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek: what [is] the cause wherefore you are come? COMMENT: Peter knew he was commanded to go, but before he became their servant he wanted to know the purpose of their coming.

Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the Centurion, a just man, and one that fears God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy Angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words from you. COMMENT: Peter made no comment one way or the other as to whether he had heard of Cornelius the Centurion and his good reputation among the Israelites nor did he comment on the report that Cornelius had received a visitation from a holy Angel. Peter was "QUICK TO HEAR AND SLOW TO SPEAK," and according rules for communication in the holy Word he LET HIS WORDS BE FEW.

Act 10:23 Then called he them in, and lodged [them]. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. COMMENT: Much travel was on foot in those days in what was more than likely desert land, so the next day was preferable for the timing of the journey so they didn't get caught after dark on the road where there were no man made lights.

Act 10:24 ¶ And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. COMMENT: This was no small occasion for the Centurion knowing the Apostle Peter by reputation, that something great spiritually was sure to take place. So he gathered his kinsmen and close friends.

Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him]. COMMENT: Peter was undoubtedly angelic in appearance as he was coming in, so Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet, and worshipped him.

Act 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. COMMENT: Peter possesses chrisma. He is of a quick mind and is able to deal with any situation with a personableness that enables those with whom he has contact to join him in the Spirit of God's perfect will where he walks.

Act 10:28 And he said unto them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. COMMENT: Now the unveiling of the vision takes place. It was not just unclean food the Spirit of the Lord was referring to in the vision given to Peter, but the Jews were to no longer "call any (Gentile) man common or unclean."

Act 10:29 Therefore came I [unto you] without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent you have sent for me? COMMENT: Without "gainsaying," means Peter did not converse for his expenses or for pay or lodging or any other kind of financial gain. He came immediately free of any and all financial charges and wanted to know why they sent for him.

Act 10:30/32 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, "Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 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 comes, shall speak unto you." COMMENT: Cornelius answered Peter.

Act 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to you; and you have well done that you are come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you of God. COMMENT: Peter is truly a great preacher as well as an Apostle and a Prophet. He follows the law of the Spirit here to OPEN HIS MOUTH AND THE LORD WILL FILL IT, and the Lord preaches through him without a prepared script.

Act 10:34 ¶ Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.

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

Act 10:37 That word, [I say], you know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Act 10:38 How God 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.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;

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

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. COMMENT: The "quick and dead" are two categories of believers. The "quick" are those "QUICKENED BY THE HOLY GHOST THAT DWELLS WITHIN" and the "dead" are those who are not yet sufficiently sanctified to be quickened by the Spirit as would be expected of disciples and Saints set apart unto God. Jesus will be the Judge of the quick and the dead at the Judgment Seat of Christ upon his return to set up his thousand year reign. Then the Saints shall sit at the feet of the Master but ungodly believers will not stand in the judgment.

Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.

Act 10:44 ¶ While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. COMMENT: This is the gift of the Holy Ghost many try to fabricate and more more point to it as though it were the same as the hundred and twenty receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Lord who made Balaam's donkey talk made the Gentiles Cornelius's house talk in tongues. That did not make them spiritually prepared like the hundred and twenty to serve God. Nonetheless, the Israelites who came with Peter were astonished because they had seen God work a gift of the Spirit among Gentiles, and this was unheard of; though there were already Gentile converts as we already read previously in the book of Acts. Likewise they were awestruck at Peter who was the chief voice of God among them saying they were not to refrain from going in to the Gentiles nor were they to call them common anymore, though we are of "THE COMMON FAITH." (Titus 1:4)

Act 10:46/47 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? COMMENT: Peter conferred with the fellow Jewish believers in Christ with him asking them if they had a mind to forbid the Gentiles present from being baptized in water which you will remember Philip had already done with the Ethiopian eunuch, but there were no other witnesses of that occurrence that we know of.

Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. COMMENT: You will notice Peter did not ask Cornelius to be baptized though the Romans ruled Israel, he commanded them as a group, and when it was done; they prayed for him to stay a certain number of days with them.