Overview of Acts Chapter 10

Peter and Cornelius

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, ² a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴ And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸ and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

¹⁷ 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 ¹⁸ and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” ²¹ And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of 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 fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “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 to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but 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, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, 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.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Q&A

Acts 10:1-2
Q1: Who was Cornelius, and what was his occupation, as mentioned in Acts 10:1-2?
A1: Cornelius was a centurion of the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God.

Acts 10:3-6
Q2: How did Cornelius receive a vision from God, and what did the vision instruct him to do, as mentioned in Acts 10:3-6?
A2: Cornelius received a vision in which an angel of God appeared to him, instructing him to send men to Joppa and bring back Simon, who was called Peter.

Acts 10:9-16
Q3: What vision did Peter have while on the rooftop in Joppa, and how did he respond, as mentioned in Acts 10:9-16?
A3: Peter had a vision of a sheet descending from heaven with various animals, both clean and unclean. A voice told him to kill and eat, but Peter objected, stating that he had never eaten anything unclean.

Acts 10:17-20
Q4: What message did the Spirit convey to Peter while he was pondering the vision, as mentioned in Acts 10:17-20?
A4: The Spirit told Peter that three men were seeking him and instructed him to go with them, doubting nothing, for the Spirit had sent them.

Acts 10:21-23
Q5: How did Peter respond to the men from Cornelius, and what did he learn about Cornelius, as mentioned in Acts 10:21-23?
A5: Peter went down to meet the men and learned that they were sent by Cornelius, a centurion, who had been instructed by a holy angel to send for Peter.

Acts 10:24-27
Q6: Who accompanied Peter to Cornelius's house, and how did Cornelius respond when Peter arrived, as mentioned in Acts 10:24-27?
A6: Some of Peter's brethren from Joppa accompanied him to Cornelius's house. When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.

Acts 10:28-29
Q7: How did Peter address Cornelius and explain his presence in Acts 10:28-29?
A7: Peter said to Cornelius, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean."

Acts 10:30-33
Q8: What did Cornelius explain to Peter about the vision he received and his gathering of family and friends, as mentioned in Acts 10:30-33?
A8: Cornelius explained that he had been fasting and praying when the angel appeared to him and instructed him to send for Peter. He gathered his relatives and close friends to hear all that Peter had to say.

Acts 10:34-35
Q9: What did Peter declare about God in Acts 10:34-35?
A9: Peter declared, "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him."

Acts 10:36-38
Q10: How did Peter summarize the message of Jesus to Cornelius and those present, as mentioned in Acts 10:36-38?
A10: Peter summarized the message, saying that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

Acts 10:39-43
Q11: What did Peter testify about Jesus in Acts 10:39-43?
A11: Peter testified that they were witnesses of all that Jesus did in Judea and Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, but God raised Him on the third day. All the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

Acts 10:44-48
Q12: What happened while Peter was still speaking to Cornelius and those gathered, as mentioned in Acts 10:44-48?
A12: While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. The Jewish believers were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles, and Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.