The CommunionFire Commentary on the Book of ACTS Chapter Ten

Acts Chapter 10
Jesus is Lord and Shows Himself Strong by the Power of the Holy Spirit
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Color Code: The Ongoing Ministry of Jesus in around and through the Church
Yellow/gold = Seeing Jesus continued ministry
Teal/blue = Seeing the action of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus
Burgundy/red = Seeing the ongoing and evolving mission/witness of the Church to the Testimony of Jesus
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Acts 10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

​Cornelius’ Visitation and Vision 

1 Now at Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, “Cornelius!” 

4 Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings] 5 Now send men to [Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here]; 6 he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants; 8 and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Roof Prayer & Trance-formation

9 The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray, 10 but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth, 12 and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.” 

15 And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and  pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” 

16 This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

17 Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, arrived at the gate.  18 And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 

19 While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?” 

22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say.” 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night]. 

Peter at Caesarea

The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 

25 When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am only a man.” 27 As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled. 

28 He said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or befriend a Gentile, or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call anyone common or [ceremonially] unclean. 29 Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me, 31 and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered before God [so that He is about to help you]. 32 Therefore send word to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come.

Now then, we are all here present before God to listen to everything that you have been instructed by the Lord [to say].”

Gentiles Hear Good News 
The Power of the Holy Spirit Anoints Peter's Witness & Preaching

34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing], 35 but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him. 36 You know the message which He sent to the sons of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all-- 37 you know the things that have taken place throughout Judea, starting in Galilee after the baptism preached by John-- 

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. 

39 We are [personally] eyewitnesses of everything that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem [in particular].

They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross; 

40 God raised Him [to life] on the third day and caused Him to be plainly seen, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen and designated beforehand by God, that is,

to us who (had Communion) ate and drank together with Him after He rose from the dead. 

42 He commanded us to preach to the people [both Jew and Gentile], and to solemnly testify that He is the One who has been appointed and ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him

[whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus Baptizes The Entire Household in the Holy Spirit While Peter Witnesses and Preaches

44 While Peter was still speaking these words,

the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message [confirming God’s acceptance of Gentiles]. 

45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 

​(How did they know this?) 

​46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages)

and exalting and magnifying and 
​praising God.

Peter Suggests Water Baptism after Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.

Word of Peter's witness and manifestation of Jesus' Ministry through him spread like wildfire. Jesus raised up the paralyzed man and then raised Dorcas from the dead at Peter's command! Yet Peter needed a new level of vision to see the Power of the Gospel for the whole world! If Peter had heard about Saul's conversion it would be okay because Saul/Paul was Jewish.

But this chapter 10 opens with Luke sharing the background of the first Gentile converts to the New Testament witness as confirmed by an Angel sent to Cornelius by Jesus. The angel is speaking to a non-Jew!

So the Lord uses this situation to get peter's attention on something totally outside his capability to comprehend. he uses peter's physical hunger to tell him to kill and eat something he thought was unclean! peter couldn't figure out this new parable. In a trance "ekstasis" Pter is loosed from the natural realm to consider the eternal scoop of the parable. Jesus tried to share His perspective but Peter was towing the the huge barge of the Law as part of his Gospel kit.    

The power of the Holy Spirit was upon Him and he was readied by Jesus for an important new transformation from his 'religious preferences'.

Not entirely free from his disposition to the Law of Moses Peter had a rough time understanding how great New Testament grace and glory was. It was more powerful than the Law! Until this issue is cleared up, Peter would struggle between witnessing in his words and voice and being a clean open conduit for the voice of the Lord. it would take the episode at Cornelius' house to help Peter understand the good news of a Kingdom that was neither Jewish or Non-Jewish. It was neither male nor female. It was neither for those that were bond or free! The Holy Spirit would have to lead him into all truth as an advocate of God's love, Peter's faith and the new realm of the Crown of Jesus. 

He was to discover the revelation of another broader attribute of the Gospel. His witness not just to the Jewish (Old Covenant people of God) in Jerusalem and Israel anymore, but now to all people beginning at the house of a Roman Centurion in Caesarea..

Jesus chose to sovereignly baptize Cornelius and his entire household in the Holy Spirit and fire while Peter preached. This let Peter know he had to toss out his little "How to become a Christian rulebook" and just preach His witness of the miracles, the death of the Cross and Jesus Resurrection from the dead.

As Peter preached the anointing of the Holy Spirit set Peter free from his blindness to the vision he had three times and still did not understand.

As this was happening to Peter, Jesus showed up invisibly and poured out the Holy Spirit on Cornelius and His entire 'uncircumcised" household.

How did they know this happened?

Peter and his "circumcised" (Old Covenant converted to New Covenant Posse saw that the holy Spirit had been poured out because they heard Cornelius and his entire household Speaking in tongues glorifying and praising God!

Lagging a bit behind the Spirit Peter saw Jesus preempt his "Alter Call" Baptising these new believers in the Holy Spirit and fire!

So, Peter wanting to be part of the heavenly happening, responded by saying, "Well if King Jesus Baptises Cornelius and all his household in the Holy Spirit and fire, what is to prevent us from baptising them into water?" so they did.  

I kind of love the reference to how the "circumcised" knew that the Holy Spirit was given (to the uncircumcised) because they heard Cornelius and all of his household glorifying and praising God in a new heavenly language! (The laleo of the glossa = the speech derived from new tongues, tongues or language of heaven)

Peter was not quick to learn or catch on, but Jesus' love was always patient with the fisherman... 3x denial, 3x I love you and 3x the sheet came down...

Tonight, Your will deny me Three Times before the Rooster crows

Three Times Jesus Asked Peter Do you Agape/Love Me? Do you Agape/Love Me? Do You Phileo/Love Me? Feed my Lambs...

Three times the sheet was let down before peter and he still did not understand

​​Footnotes:

1. Acts 10:1 See note 8:40.
2. Acts 10:1 A regiment consisted of about six hundred men, the tenth part of a legion.
3. Acts 10:5 About twenty-four miles south of Caesarea.
4. Acts 10:9 The flat roof of a house of this era was accessed by an outside stairway.
5. Acts 10:10 Lit they were preparing.
6. Acts 10:11 Or vessel.
7. Acts 10:23 It was extremely unusual for a Jew to invite a Gentile into the house, much less offer lodging.
8. Acts 10:25 Or prostrated himself in reverence.
9. Acts 10:36 Or the gospel of peace.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Footnotes:

1. Acts 10:1 See note 8:40.
2. Acts 10:1 A regiment consisted of about six hundred men, the tenth part of a legion.
3. Acts 10:5 About twenty-four miles south of Caesarea.
4. Acts 10:9 The flat roof of a house of this era was accessed by an outside stairway.
5. Acts 10:10 Lit they were preparing.
6. Acts 10:11 Or vessel.
7. Acts 10:23 It was extremely unusual for a Jew to invite a Gentile into the house, much less offer lodging.
8. Acts 10:25 Or prostrated himself in reverence.
9. Acts 10:36 Or the gospel of peace.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.