PETER AT CORNELIUS' HOUSE
Key verse: 33b
NIV
23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers(A) from Joppa went along.(B) 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(C) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”(D)
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(E) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(F) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(G) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(H) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and (A)some of (B)the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and (C)fell down at his feet and (D)worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, (E)“Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew (F)to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but (G)God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
30 And Cornelius said, (H)“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at (I)the ninth hour,[a] and behold, (J)a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, (K)your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 10:30 That is, 3 p.m.
Cross references
- Acts 10:23 : ver. 45; [ch. 11:12]
- Acts 10:23 : See John 21:23
- Acts 10:25 : ch. 16:29; Dan. 2:46
- Acts 10:25 : See Matt. 8:2
- Acts 10:26 : Rev. 19:10; 22:8, 9; [ch. 14:15]
- Acts 10:28 : [ch. 11:3; John 4:9; 18:28; Gal. 2:12]
- Acts 10:28 : [ver. 35]; See ver. 14, 15
- Acts 10:30 : ver. 9, 23, 24
- Acts 10:30 : See ch. 3:1
- Acts 10:30 : [ch. 1:10]
- Acts 10:31 : See ver. 4
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Cornelius welcomes Peter (23b-29)
Cornelius fell at Peter's feet in reverence. Peter made it clear that he was not a god; he was a man, and a servant of the living God. Peter openly confessed that his being there was a violation of Jewish law, but God had shown him that he should not hold on to his old prejudices. All men are created in God's image. So, when Peter was sent for, he came without objection.
2. Cornelius' prepared heart (3
-33)
Cornelius knew that Jews did not enter Gentile homes. He told Peter how God's messenger had visited him while he was praying, and said that God had heard his prayers and seen his generosity in giving to the poor. Cornelius thanked Peter for coming. He and those with him were gathered there in the presence of God, ready to hear everything God had given Peter to say.
Prayer: Lord, cleanse me of pride and prejudice and help me to listen to your word with a prepared heart and mind.
One Word: A heart prepared to hear God's word
