Acts 10:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

NIV: He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

NASB: But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;

CSB: He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance.

NLT: and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

KJV: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

NKJV: Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

It is around noon. Peter is praying on the rooftop of Simon the tanner in Joppa, on the coast of the Mediterranean, near modern-day Tel Aviv (Acts 10:9). It's time for lunch, but first God has something to say.

Approaching the house are three men: two servants and one Roman soldier. They all serve a Roman centurion named Cornelius who is stationed in Caesarea, about thirty-five miles north. Cornelius is known for his charitable works and for devoutly following and praying to the Jewish God. An angel told him to send to Joppa to bring back Peter. Peter is thinking about food; God uses his hunger to teach him about Gentiles (Acts 10:1–8).

A "trance" typically happens when someone is awake (Acts 22:17–18), whereas a "dream" happens when the person is asleep. In Peter's vision, he will see a sheet drop down from heaven, filled with animals, some that are allowed to be consumed by the Mosaic law and some that aren't. Jesus has already "declared all foods clean" (Mark 7:19), but in an oblique way Peter has not yet recognized. After this vision and his visit with Cornelius, Peter will understand that the dietary restrictions in the Mosaic law have been lifted and that Gentiles can accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Both are hard things for a devout Jew to swallow.

Acts 10:9–23 occurs as Peter is in Joppa, after having healed a paralyzed man in nearby Lydda and raising Tabitha from the dead in Joppa (Acts 9:32–43). Peter doesn't know that a Roman centurion who worships the Jewish God is sending three men to bring Peter to Caesarea. The centurion wished to learn what God has planned for him, which he will find is to be saved in Jesus' name. First, God makes Peter understand that Jesus' offer of salvation is as available for Gentiles as it is for Jews.

Peter has been a dominant voice in the spread of Jesus' message to Jews and proselytes. Now he brings the gospel to Gentiles. An angel tells Cornelius, a centurion, to ask Peter to come to him. Peter is praying when he receives a vision of food—including non-kosher food—and God's voice telling him to eat. When the centurion's messengers arrive, Peter realizes the dream meant that Gentiles are no longer unclean. He follows the messengers and tells Cornelius' household about salvation through Jesus. Before Peter can lay his hands on them or baptize them, the Holy Spirit falls on them.

Jesus told the disciples they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Oddly, the disciples didn't understand this meant the Holy Spirit would come upon Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike. After several years reaching Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem (Acts 1—7) and Samaritans in Samaria (Acts 8:4–25), God calls Peter to bring the message to Gentiles. Peter's witness that Gentiles can be saved (Acts 11) clears the way for Paul's ministry to Gentiles in modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Italy (Acts 13—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.