Act 10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 10:1-8: 10:1-8 a Roman army officer: Literally a centurion , the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the Roman army, in command of a century, a subdivision of roughly 100 men. Luke often describes centurions in favorable terms (10:22 ; 21:32 ; 22:25-26 ; 23:17 , 23 ; 27:6 , 11 , 43 ; 28:16 ; Luke 7:1-10 ; 23:47 ). It was important for Luke to show that Christianity was not hostile to Roman officials or institutions and could, like Judaism, be permitted in the Roman Empire (see Acts Book Introduction, “Purposes of Acts: Politics”). • a captain of the Italian Regiment: A regiment included six centuries; a Roman legion was usually divided into ten regiments. The New Testament mentions the Italian Regiment and the Imperial Regiment (Acts 27:1 ).

Summary for Acts 10:1-8: 10:1-8 ^a a Roman army officer: Literally a centurion, the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the Roman army, in command of a century, a subdivision of roughly 100 men. Luke often describes centurions in favorable terms (10:22 ^b; 21:32 ^c; 22:25-26 ^d; 23:17 ^e, 23 ^f; 27:6 ^g, 11 ^h, 43 ⁱ; 28:16 ^j; Luke 7:1-10 ^k; 23:47 ^l). It was important for Luke to show that Christianity was not hostile to Roman officials or institutions and could, like Judaism, be permitted in the Roman Empire (see Acts Book Introduction, “Purposes of Acts: Politics”).

• a captain of the Italian Regiment: A regiment included six centuries; a Roman legion was usually divided into ten regiments. The New Testament mentions the Italian Regiment and the Imperial Regiment (Acts 27:1 ^m).
10:2 ⁿ a devout, God-fearing man: Gentiles who are described as God-fearing were attracted to the high ethical standards of Judaism but were not prepared to accept the rite of circumcision or the full implications of the Jewish law by becoming full converts to Judaism (cp. 13:43 ^o). Christianity was an attractive option to Gentiles who worshiped God (18:7 ^p; see 13:48 ^q; 16:30 ^r; 17:4 ^s, 12 ^t, 17 ^u). These people would be wide open to the message of the gospel that announced that “there is peace with God through Jesus Christ” (10:36 ^v).
10:3 ^w In Acts, visions are usually related to prayer (9:3-6 ^x, 10-16 ^y; 10:2-6 ^z, 9-12 ^aa; 11:5-9 ^ab; 12:9-17 ^ac; 18:9-10 ^ad; 22:17-21 ^ae; 23:11 ^af). These visions are not chance coincidences, but expressions of God’s saving work, providing divine direction and encouragement.
Summary for Acts 10:9-16: 10:9-16 ^ag Peter received the same vision three times to confirm its truthfulness (see Gen 41:32 ^ah; 2 Cor 13:1 ^ai).
10:14 ^aj See Lev 11 ^ak for a description of animals that Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.
10:17 ^al Peter was very perplexed: The meaning of the vision would become clear through the events that followed (10:17-48 ^am; see 11:1-18 ^an): Peter should not hesitate to enter or even eat in the home of a Gentile because God has accepted Gentiles and cleansed them.
Summary for Acts 10:25-26: 10:25-26 ^ao Cornelius ... worshiped him: This act must have been more than traditional obeisance to a high-ranking person. The Bible restricts worship to God alone (see 14:11-17 ^ap; Exod 20:3 ^aq; Deut 5:7 ^ar; Matt 22:37-38 ^as; Mark 12:29-30 ^at; Luke 10:27 ^au; 1 Cor 10:14 ^av; Col 3:5 ^aw; 1 Pet 4:3 ^ax; 1 Jn 5:21 ^ay; Rev 4:10 ^az; 9:20 ^ba; 22:8-9 ^bb). Peter was just a fellow human being whom Cornelius should not worship.
Summary for Acts 10:34-35: 10:34-35 ^bc God shows no favoritism: See Deut 10:17 ^bd; 2 Chr 19:7 ^be; Job 34:19 ^bf; Luke 20:21 ^bg; Rom 2:11 ^bh; Gal 2:6 ^bi; Col 3:25 ^bj; 1 Pet 1:17 ^bk. The application of this principle is the meaning of Peter’s vision (10:9-16 ^bl).

• In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right: See Rom 10:11-13 ^bm.
Summary for Acts 10:36-43: 10:36-43 ^bn Peter repeatedly underscores the importance of the apostolic witnesses to the message of Good News. The apostles ate and drank with Jesus (see Luke 24:41-43 ^bo) and were eyewitnesses of his resurrection, so they could attest that he had conquered death (see Acts 3:15 ^bp; 4:33 ^bq; 13:30-31 ^br). The original apostles were chosen in advance to be his witnesses (see 1:12-26 ^bs); gradually, others such as Paul and Barnabas carried on this powerful preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus Christ (9:15 ^bt; 14:1-3 ^bu; 26:16 ^bv).
10:43 ^bw Based on what they had seen and heard (10:39-42 ^bx), the apostles could proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the one all the prophets testified about. The whole plan of the Scriptures is profoundly centered in Christ (see Luke 24:25-27 ^by, 44-47 ^bz; John 5:39 ^ca).

• The major point of their message was that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name (see Luke 24:47 ^cb).
Summary for Acts 10:44-48: 10:44-48 ^cc On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the assembly that if they would repent, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, they would receive “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38 ^cd; cp. 19:1-7 ^ce). As Cornelius and his household listened to Peter’s message, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, too, and they were baptized. They received the Holy Spirit just as the Jews did, so clearly God had shown no partiality (10:34-35 ^cf). This event parallels the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (2:1-47 ^cg) and marks the spread of the Holy Spirit’s power to Gentiles (1:8 ^ch; 2:39 ^ci).
10:48 ^cj Cornelius asked Peter to stay with them for several days, perhaps because of his need for instruction in the Christian way.