At this point the Church took a new departure, and the gospel broke over the walls of Jewish exclusiveness and was preached for the first time to pure-blooded Gentiles. Caesarea, built by the great Herod, was practically a Roman city, and the official seat of the Roman government in Judea. Cornelius was an officer of high rank, and it would seem naturally of noble character. He had no sympathy with the religious fables and sensuous indulgence of his time, and was attracted to the Jewish faith, which stood alone in the world for pure and undefiled conceptions of God. He adopted some of its characteristic features-its hours of prayer, its practice of fasting, and its almsgiving.
He had apparently set apart the whole of this memorable day for earnest inquiry as to the way of salvation, and as the sun was declining an angel brought the necessary indication of the steps that he should take. In the meanwhile God was about to prepare Peter to bring Cornelius into the perfect light. On the following day, as the messengers of Cornelius were nearing Joppa, the vision of a redeemed world from which Hebrew restrictions had vanished, opened to the Apostle a new and wider conception of God's purpose. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 10
1Cornelius, a devout man, being commanded by an angel, sends for Peter, 11who by a vision is taught not to despise the Gentiles; 17and is commanded by the Spirit to go with the messenger to Caesarea 25Cornelius shows the occasion of his sending for him 34As he preaches Christ to Cornelius and his company, 44the Holy Spirit falls on them, and they are baptized
Greek Commentary for Acts 10:12
Were [hupērchen)] Imperfect of huparchō in sense of ēn to exist, be. Fish are not mentioned, perhaps because the sheet had no water, though they were clean and unclean also (Leviticus 11:9; Deuteronomy 14:9). [source]
All manner of [panta)] Literally, all, but clearly all varieties, not all individuals. Both clean and unclean animals are in the sheet. [source]
All manner of four-footed beasts [πάντα τὰ τετράποδα] Lit., all the four-footed beasts. Without exception, clean and unclean. Not, of very many kinds. [source]
Greek Commentary for Acts 10:12
Imperfect of huparchō in sense of ēn to exist, be. Fish are not mentioned, perhaps because the sheet had no water, though they were clean and unclean also (Leviticus 11:9; Deuteronomy 14:9). [source]
Literally, all, but clearly all varieties, not all individuals. Both clean and unclean animals are in the sheet. [source]
Lit., all the four-footed beasts. Without exception, clean and unclean. Not, of very many kinds. [source]
The best texts omit. [source]