Acts 10:27

10:19-33 When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.

And as he talked with him,.... About the excessive respect he showed him, and his own infirmity and frailty, and unworthiness, as a creature: he went in; to Cornelius's house, at the door, and through the porch, to some interior room and apartment in it: and found many that were come together; besides his family, many of his relations and intimate friends, whom he had got together on this occasion, that they might receive some advantage, as well as himself.

25-29. as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him—a mark of the highest respect. fell down at his feet, and worshipped him—In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mortal [Grotius]. "Those who claim to have succeeded Peter, have not imitated this part of his conduct" [Alford] (therein only verifying 2Th 2:4, and compare Re 19:10; 22:9).

27 . And as he talked with him, he went in ] So that the previous part of the interview had been without. The action of Cornelius in thus coming forth to meet Peter is in the spirit of that other centurion in the Gospel, who said ( Luke 7:6 ), “I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.” The Greek word here rendered “talked” indicates the communication made during an interview of some length. The subsequent remarks of St Peter shew us that he had been told many things by Cornelius, which are not specially mentioned, but comprehended under this word “talked.” and found ( findeth ) many , &c.] For the character of Cornelius had won him many attached friends.

Acts 10:27 . καὶ συνομιλῶν αὐτῷ : “and as he talked with him,” R.V.; only here in N.T., not in LXX (but συνόμιλος , Symm. Job 19:19 ), cf. Acts 20:11 for similar use of the simple verb ὁμιλέω , which is also used in a similar sense in LXX and in Josephus (so too in Xen.), and also in modern Greek (Kennedy).— εἰσῆλθε , i.e. , into the room, in distinction to Acts 10:25 of entrance into the house, or it may signify the completion of his entering in (so De Wette, Weiss).

Among these are seven compounds of pleo, describing the motion and management of a ship, as follows: pleo, to sail, Luke 8:23; Acts 21:3; 27:6, 24. apopleo, to sail from, Acts 13:4; 14:26; 20:15; 27:1.braduploeo (from bradus, slow), to sail slowly, Acts 27:7. diapleo, to sail through (not " over," as in the A. V.), Acts 27:5. ekpleo, to sail away, Acts 15:39; 18:18; 20:6. katapleo, to arrive, Luke 8:26. hupopleo, to sail under the lee, Acts 27:4, 7. parapleo, to sail by, Acts 20:16. Add to these the following nautical terms: hanagomai, to get under way, to put to sea, Acts 27:4. diaperao to sail over, Acts 21:2. diapheromai, to be driven to and fro, Acts 27:27. epikello, to run the ship ashore, Acts 27:41. euthudromeo, to make a straight course, Acts 16:11; 21:1. paralegomai (middle), to sail by, Acts 27:8, 13. hupotrecho (aor. 2, hupedramon), to run under the lee, Acts 27:16. pheromai (pass.), to be driven, Acts 27:15, 17. Also, ekbolen epoiounto, Acts 27:18, and ekouphizon to ploion, 27:38, which are technical terms for lightening the ship by throwing cargo overboard. See James Smith, i.e., and Schaff's Companion to the Gr. Test., pneuma hagion or pneuma alone, Luke 1:15, 34, 35, 41, 67; 2:25, 26, 27; 3:16, 22, 4:1, 14, 18; 12:10, 12; and still more frequently in the Acts, which is the Gospel of the Holy Spirit.