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1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
A certain man named Cornelius, he is an Italian centurion.
2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Cornelius was just, he and his family feared God. They gave to the work of God and never failed to pray to God.
3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
But God gives him a vision. The angel calls him by name.
4And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
His prayers and alms remembered by God.
5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
You need to talk to Peter.
6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
Here is where you will find Peter. He will tell you what you ought to do.
7And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
Cornelius immediately did what God wanted him to do.
8And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
Now the men who waited on Cornelius continually went to find Peter.
9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
In the meantime Peter goes to pray on the housetop.
10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
We learn so much about Peter here. He is a true Israelite and a man who prays.
15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Hmm...not to call uncommon what God has cleansed. This is new to Peter. But it came straight from God to him.
16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Three men are looking for Peter the man with the keys to the kingdom.
17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
He doesn't understand yet what this means.
19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
No doubting Peter God sent them to you.
21Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
Here I am. I'm the man you are looking for. What can I do for you?
22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
The three men use the word warn when speaking of the angel God sent,
and tell him about who Cornelius is. Cornelius has a good report among all the nation of the Jews.
23Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Peter the evangelist lodges these men, then in the morning they all leave for Caesarea for Cornelius's house with certain other brothers..Cornelius is waiting for them along with relatives and close friends.
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Cornelius doesn't quite know what to make of Peter, after all God sent an angel to tell him to send for Peter. So as soon as Peter walks in, Cornelius the Roman centurion falls down to worhsip him.
26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Stand up Cornelius I am am a man also just like you.
27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
We don't know what is said here in this verse by Peter to Cornelius. Not important for us to know or it would have been recorded. But now it gets even more interesting....
28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
God is about to save the first Gentiles.
29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
Peter asks what Cornelius wants, he knows only what God has told him not to call him or anyone unclean.
30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
We are listening Peter to hear what God wants us to hear.
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
In every nation Peter says, whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted with God.
36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Peter said after he told them all the above that whosoever believes in Jesus Christ shall recieve remission of sins. One must believe in Jesus Christ. That God sent his word by Jesus Christ and that word was published throughout all Judea beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. He commanded us to preach to the people he said to them and to testify that is is He which was ordained of God to judge the living and the dead.
He also says that to Jesus Christ give ALL the prohets witness,it is through his name.
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
The Holy Ghost falls on them all which heard the WORD. And what is the Word? Jesus Christ.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
These Jews were actually astonished to see God saving gentiles. They heard them speak with tongues as did they did when they received the Holy Ghost on t he day of Pentecost.
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
You all need to be baptized in water even as we were.
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
It is interesting when Peter tells the others all about this in the next chapter Acts 11.
Cornelius needed to be saved even though he was a just and a good man.
Cornelius NEEDED Jesus Christ. God also saved his family and his close friends.
He is the same God today.
