Acts 10:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate

NIV: While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate.

NASB: Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon’s house, and they appeared at the gate;

CSB: While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, stood at the gate.

NLT: Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate,

KJV: Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

NKJV: Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

Peter is on the roof of Simon the tanner's house in the coastal town of Joppa. He's just had an odd vision: three times, a sheet filled with animals lowered from heaven and a voice told him to eat. The animals included some that were not allowed to be used as food by the Mosaic law (Acts 11:6). Peter refused, insisting he will never eat non-kosher food (Acts 10:9–16).

Cornelius is a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea Maritima, about thirty-five miles north of Joppa. He is a Gentile, but a devout follower of the Jewish God. An angel came to him and told him to send for Peter and hear what he had to say. Cornelius sent two servants and one of his soldiers who is also a God-follower (Acts 10:1–8). These messengers have just arrived.

That Peter set aside time to pray shows he wanted to be available to God's guidance. He didn't compartmentalize, though. He didn't stop thinking about God's leading once the prayer was over. He remained open. He'll have to remain so.

Despite Peter's strict adherence to food laws, he has already shown Jesus' influence in Joppa. He is there because Jesus-followers found him in nearby Lydda and begged him to come raise a woman named Tabitha from the dead. He went willingly into the room where her dead body lay, creating a real risk for his cleanness (Acts 9:36–42). And, he's living with a tanner, who deals with dead carcasses every day, possibly some of unclean animals (Acts 9:43). The vision has challenged him to reject the food laws he's held since he was born. Now, he has three men asking him to come to the home of a Gentile and a foreign occupier. It's a lot to take in, all in one week.

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.