By prof. A.P. Lopukhin
Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10. The centurion Cornelius, the looks of the angel, his ambassadorship to Peter (1-8). Peter’s imaginative and prescient and his assembly with the messengers of Cornelius (9-22). Peter’s journey to Cornelius, preaching in his home, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the hearers and their baptism (23-48)
Acts. 10:1. There was in Caesarea a person named Cornelius, a centurion of a regiment known as Italian,
“in Caesarea.” See for this metropolis the interpretation to Acts. 8:40.
“of a regiment known as Italian.” This regiment consisted actually of Italians, not of troopers recruited from the natives. Caesarea was the residence of the Roman procurators of Palestine, and due to this fact that they had a particular regiment of pure Romans or Italians, as extra dependable and skilful warriors. It’s possible that Cornelius, the centurion of this regiment, was additionally a pure Roman or Italian. He was not even a Jewish proselyte, however a Gentile with a very good soul and pure piety (cf. Acts 10:28, 34 and earlier than that Acts 10:11, 1, 18, 15:7). The incorporation of such an individual into the Church of Christ, and that instantly, with none mediation on the a part of the Jews, even within the type of proselytism on the gate, is an occasion of nice significance, an epoch within the historical past of the apostolic Church.
This explicit significance of the occasion of the primary conversion of a pagan to Christ additionally speaks of the truth that it passed off via the mediation of the primary apostle of Christ – Peter, who was intentionally known as by God from one other metropolis, though at the moment in Caesarea there was the well-known evangelist and baptizer of the Ethiopian noble Philip.
Acts. 10:2. a pious and God-fearing man with all his family; he gave many alms to the individuals and at all times prayed to God.
“God-fearing … and at all times prayed to God.” These phrases present that Cornelius was a worshiper of the One true God, of whom he had in all probability realized from intercourse with the Jews and their worship, however who worshiped Him in his personal approach, as his pious coronary heart prompted him, independently and independently of the types of Jewish worship. worship.
Acts. 10:3. Concerning the ninth hour of the day, he clearly noticed in a imaginative and prescient an Angel of God, who got here to him and mentioned to him: Cornelius!
“noticed clearly in a imaginative and prescient” – εἶδεν ἐν ὁράματι φανερῶς. Within the Slavic translation: “noticed in visions appeared”. Which means that the imaginative and prescient was in a waking state, not in a dream (St. John Chrysostom). It occurred concerning the ninth hour of the day (corresponding to three:00 p.m.), which was the same old time for prayer among the many Jews. Cornelius additionally prayed at the moment, having fasted till that hour (Acts 10:30).
Acts. 10:4. And he checked out him and fearfully mentioned: what, Lord? The angel answered him: your prayers and your alms have gone up as a memorial earlier than God.
“scared”. St. John Chrysostom explains this concern to Cornelius as follows: “The imaginative and prescient created concern in him, however a average concern, in order that it solely made him cautious. The angel’s phrases dispelled this concern, or extra exactly, the reward contained in them softened the disagreeable feeling of concern…”.
“went up as a memorial to God” – a human description of God’s favor to Cornelius due to his prayers and good works.
Acts. 10:5. And now, ship males to Joppa and name Simon, who is named Peter:
Acts. 10:6. he’s on a go to to a sure Simona, whose home is by the ocean; he’ll let you know phrases by which you and all of your family might be saved.
“he’ll communicate phrases to you by which you and all of your family might be saved.” Within the Slavic translation: “he speaks to you, you and your whole house might be saved in them.” Nevertheless, the Greek textual content is kind of completely different: “οὗτος λαλήσει σοι τί σε δεῖ ποιεῖν”, which suggests: he’ll let you know what to do.
With this imaginative and prescient, the Lord found that good works and piety are usually not sufficient by themselves – they have to be sanctified via religion within the Savior Christ, which supplies worth and basis to the nice disposition of man.
Acts. 10:7. When the Angel who had spoken to him had departed, Cornelius known as two of his servants and a pious soldier from amongst those that had been continually with him,
“two of his servants” – δύο τῶν οἰκετῶν αὐτοῦ. Actually, it means “his family,” that’s, people who find themselves nearer to the grasp of the home than unusual servants. They had been distinguished by the identical piety as Cornelius himself (Acts 10:2).
Acts. 10:8. and, having instructed all of them, despatched them to Joppa.
“instructed all of them.” The aim of the servants is to steer Peter to go along with them to their grasp (Acts 10:22). Blessed Theophylact writes: “He instructed them all the things with the intention to persuade Peter to come back to him, as a result of he thought of it indecent to name him to him due to his authority (of a centurion).”
Acts. 10:9. The following day, as they had been touring and approaching town, Peter, concerning the sixth hour, went up on the flat roof of the home to hope.
“The following day … about six o’clock.” The space from Caesarea to Joppa is about 40-45 versts (1 verst – 1066.8 m.). These despatched by Cornelius after the ninth hour (after 3 p.m., Acts 10:3) in all probability left the identical day within the night. So they might arrive in Joppa the following day at midday (about six o’clock).
“went as much as the flat roof of the home to hope.” The flat roofs of homes within the East are very snug locations for prayer. That is the place Peter additionally goes as much as pray on the appointed hour.
Acts. 10:10. And being hungry, he requested to eat; whereas they had been making ready him, he drifted off,
“he got here into rapture” – ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἔκστασις (lit. fell into ecstasy). Within the Slavic translation: “horror struck me”. In keeping with Blessed Theophylact, this can be a state wherein “an individual has no management over his senses, being drawn into the non secular world.” Saint John Chrysostom writes the identical.
Acts. 10:11. and – he sees heaven opened, and a vessel descending to him, because it had been a terrific fabric tied on the 4 ends and let all the way down to the earth;
Acts. 10:12. in it had been all of the quadrupeds of the earth, beasts, creeping issues, and birds of the air.
“in it had been all of the quadrupeds of the earth” – πάντα τὰ τετράποδα τῆς γῆς. Actually: all of the four-legged creatures of the earth. Within the Slavic translation: “all four-legged land”. As one interpreter justly remarks, “This contemplation can’t be measured humanly, for the ecstasy gave Peter different eyes…”.
Acts. 10:13. And a voice was heard to him: stand up, Peter, slaughter and eat!
“stand up, Peter” – ἀναστάς, Πέτρε, θῦσον καὶ φάγε. Within the Slavic translation: stand up Petre, slaughter and eat! The participle ἀναστάς is used, which right here means incitement to the motion commanded, as in Acts. 9:11, 39 and elsewhere.
“slaughter and eat”. The imaginative and prescient accommodates the starvation skilled by Peter at that second, and suggests probably the most unusual preparation of meals, however with uncommon consumption.
Acts. 10:14. And Peter mentioned: No, Lord, for I’ve by no means eaten something unclean or unclean.
Though within the descending fabric Peter might discover clear animals to be eaten, but he solutions the invitation with a particular adverse – μηδαμῶς, Κύριες· Actually: “certainly not, Lord!” He solutions on this approach due to the weird for he indifference with which the voice treats the unclean animals prohibited to be used in line with the legislation, and it’s exactly them that he has in thoughts.
“Lord.” For the reason that voice got here from the open sky, Peter answered it with the same old tackle “Lord!”, feeling in his coronary heart that the imaginative and prescient got here from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The which means and function of this imaginative and prescient is as follows: all of the animals within the canvas symbolically symbolize all mankind: the clear animals imply the Jewish individuals, and the unclean animals the Gentiles. With the demise of Christ the Savior on the Cross, as a sacrifice to God, provided for the entire world, purification is given to all, not solely to the Jews, but additionally to the Gentiles, who collectively should enter the Church of Christ, into the dominion of the Messiah, alien to each vice and defilement, being washed and frequently washed by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Acts. 10:15. And once more a voice got here to him: what God has cleansed, you don’t think about unclean.
Additionally it is understood that the purification of the Gentiles and their entry into the Church of Christ didn’t require the mediation of Jewish exterior rites and rules, which for Judaism itself had a short lived and transitory character. The fitting of this entrance is given solely due to the all-encompassing significance of the sacrifice of God’s Son on the Cross.
Acts. 10:16. This occurred thrice, and the judgment went as much as heaven once more.
“It shall be thrice.” I.e. the imaginative and prescient, the dialog with Peter was repeated thrice, as an indication of the undoubted fact of what was seen and heard, and to guarantee Peter of the immutability of the Divine resolution.
“and the judgment went up once more to heaven.” Within the pure and holy realm, the place even the impure is made pure and preserved as such by God, along with that which has at all times been pure.
Acts. 10:17. And when Peter was at a loss as to what the imaginative and prescient which he noticed meant, behold, the boys despatched by Cornelia, inquiring about Simon’s home, stopped on the door
“Peter was perplexed.” Peter doesn’t instantly notice what this imaginative and prescient means, however additional occasions clarify it.
Acts. 10:18. and, having known as one, they requested: Is Simon, who is named Peter, staying right here?
“they known as one, they requested”. It’s not clear from the narrative whether or not Peter heard this exclamation. It’s additional mentioned that the Holy Spirit, via a brand new inside revelation, communicated to him the messengers of Cornelius.
Acts. 10:19. And whereas Peter was interested by the imaginative and prescient, the Spirit mentioned to him: behold, three individuals are in search of you.
Acts. 10:20. Rise up, get down, and go along with them with out the least hesitation; for I despatched them.
“Come up, come down, and go along with them” – ἀναστὰς κατάβηθι καὶ πορεύου. See the interpretation on Acts. 10:13.
“with out hesitating within the least” – μηδὲν διακρινόμενος. Meaning with none hesitation. Was this prescient warning given in view of the well-known strict views of the apostle, which will need to have put him in issue whether or not to observe the invitation to go to Gentiles, with whom intercourse was forbidden by the Jewish legislation (Acts 10:28)?
Acts. 10:21. When he went all the way down to the boys despatched by Cornelius to him, Peter mentioned: I’m the one you’re in search of; what job did you come for?
“for what enterprise did you come?” Within the Russian translation (“For what function did you come?”) once more, an inaccuracy was admitted, because the Slavic translation is nearer to the unique: “kaya есть vina, ее же ради приидосте?”. In Greek: τίς ἡ αἰτία δι᾿ ἣν πάρεστε; That’s, the literal translation is: What’s the cause why you might have come?
Acts. 10:22. And so they answered: the centurion Cornelius, a virtuous and God-fearing man, with a very good title amongst all of the Jewish individuals, obtained a revelation from a holy angel to name you to his home and take heed to your speeches.
“with a very good title amongst all of the Jewish individuals.” From these phrases, it turns into clear that a big a part of Cornelius’ benefactions had been exactly among the many Jews, who on this respect resembled the opposite well-known evangelical centurion – the one from Capernaum.
“to take heed to your speeches” – ἀκοῦσαι ῥήματα παρὰ σοῦ. I.e. to listen to your phrases, your sermon, which ought to educate me what I have to do for my salvation.
Acts. 10:23. Then Peter invited them in and gave them a feast. And the following day he arose and went with them; and a number of the Joppian brothers went with him.
“a number of the brothers of Joppa” – i.e. of the believers at Joppa, who had been six, as seems from the additional account (Acts 11:12).
Peter entertained the messengers of Cornelius, and as they wanted relaxation, they didn’t set out till the following day, and doubtless not very early. They didn’t arrive at Caesarea till the following day, the fourth day after the imaginative and prescient obtained by Cornelius (Acts 10:30).
Acts. 10:24. The following day they entered Caesarea. And Cornelius was ready for them, having summoned his family members and shut buddies.
“had known as collectively his family members and shut buddies”, who had been fairly a big group of individuals (Acts 10:27), of 1 thoughts with Cornelius and prepared with him to imagine in Christ in line with the phrase of Peter. It was the primary neighborhood of pure pagans to affix Christianity with out the mediation of Jewish cultic establishments.
Acts. 10:25. As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his ft, and worshiped him.
Acts. 10:26. And Peter lifted him up and mentioned: stand up, I’m additionally a person!
Peter refused Cornelius’s obeisance, not solely out of humility, however as a result of he felt on this act that Cornelius was honoring him as some embodiment of a better energy, which was so attribute of the heathen conception of gods in human type (Acts 14:11).
Acts. 10:27. And conversing with him, he entered and located many assembled.
Acts. 10:28. And he mentioned to them: you realize that it’s not forgiven for a Jew to collect or get shut to a different tribe; however God revealed to me to not think about any individual soiled or impure.
There isn’t any prohibition within the Mosaic Legislation for a Jew to speak with foreigners (Gentiles); it’s the petty severity of the later rabbinate, which, below the affect of Pharisaism, developed the thought of the holiness of the chosen individuals to an extreme diploma.
Because of the well-known affect of the Pharisaic teachings on the individuals, this view of relations with the pagans instantly acquired the which means of a common customized and a firmly established rule – a legislation, which was additionally mirrored in the way in which of motion of the primary supreme apostle.
“to not think about any individual soiled or impure” – within the sense of the above-mentioned Pharisaic views, because the impossibility of a pagan to be purified and sanctified via religion in Christ, no matter Judaism.
Acts. 10:29. Subsequently, being invited, I got here with out objection. Now, I ask, on what enterprise did you ship for me?
“on what errand didst thou ship for me.” Peter already knew partially what the aim of his coming was. However now he needs to listen to this as soon as extra from the mouth of Cornelius and the others current, “in order that they themselves might confess and be corrected within the religion.” (Blessed Theophylact, Saint John Chrysostom).
The apostle addresses not solely Cornelius, but additionally the remainder of the assembled individuals, assuming in them the identical intention and perceiving the invitation of Cornelius as addressed on behalf of all of them.
Acts. 10:30. Cornelius answered: from 4 days till this hour I fasted, and on the ninth hour I prayed at house; and behold, there stood earlier than me a person in a vivid garment
Acts. 10:31. and mentioned: Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered earlier than God.
Acts. 10:32. So ship to Joppa and name for Simon, who is named Peter; he’s a visitor at Simona Usmarya’s, by the ocean; he’ll come and speak to you.
Acts. 10:33. I despatched for you without delay, and you probably did properly to come back. Now, due to this fact, all of us stand earlier than God to listen to all the things that God has commanded you.
“all of us stand earlier than God.” These phrases are a reverent expression of religion in an omnipresent and omniscient God, and present a readiness to meet His will, which they anticipate to be revealed to them by Peter.
Acts. 10:34. Peter spoke and mentioned: actually, I confess that God doesn’t look on faces;
“Peter spoke and mentioned” – Ἀνοίξας δὲ Πέτρος τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ εἶπεν. Within the Slavic translation: otverz ze Peter usta mentioned. Actually: Peter opened his mouth and mentioned. See Acts. 8:35.
“certainly, I admit” – ἐπ᾿ ἀληθειας καταλαμβάνομαι. Actually: I actually perceive. These phrases present the best diploma of certainty and confidence.
Acts. 10:35. however in each nation the one who fears Him and walks in righteousness is suitable to Him.
“is pleasant to Him” – δεκτὸς αὐτῷ ἐστι, i.e. they’re accepted by Him, they aren’t rejected, they aren’t disadvantaged of the fitting to take part within the gracious kingdom of Christ. This doesn’t imply that an individual can imagine no matter he needs and thus be pleasing to God, so long as he acts in line with pure justice. Such an understanding would imply that the Christian religion isn’t crucial for salvation and pleasing God and would permit spiritual indifference, which is unimaginable. As it’s unimaginable to be blessed with out Christ, outdoors Christ’s church.
Peter’s level isn’t that religion doesn’t matter, however that nationality doesn’t matter in bringing to Christ: he who is pleasant to God in any nation on earth may be dropped at Christ and joined to His church the place he turns into righteous earlier than God. In such a spirit is the interpretation of St. John Chrysostom: “”How? Is he who’s of the Persians pleasing to Him? If he’s worthy, he might be preferred in such a approach as to advantage religion. Subsequently He didn’t despise even the Ethiopian eunuch. However what, say some, are we to consider males who concern God and but are uncared for? No, no godly man is uncared for, for such a person can by no means be despised.’
Acts. 10:36. He despatched the kids of Israel the phrase, asserting peace via Jesus Christ, who’s the Lord of all.
“ship . . . the phrase,” i.e. The Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, the Son of God, who preaches the dominion of God, the dominion of peace and salvation on earth.
“Who’s Lord of all.” These phrases are nice for each Jews and Gentiles, as a result of right here for the primary time in entrance of Gentiles Jesus Christ is clearly known as the Lord “of all” – i.e. each Jews and Gentiles. He calls all males into His kingdom, and all have an equal proper to enter it.
Acts. 10:37. You understand concerning the occasions that passed off all through Judea, which started in Galilee after the baptism preached by John:
“you realize concerning the occasions that occurred”. The apostle supposes that his hearers had heard of those occasions, at the very least of an important ones of the lifetime of Jesus Christ, as a result of they lived not removed from these locations, and likewise as a result of, being properly disposed to the Jewish religion, they might not fail to have an interest within the occasions, the rumor of which additionally circulated within the surrounding lands of Palestine.
“they began from Galilee”- τὸ γενόμενον ῥῆμα … ἀρξάμενον ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας. Within the Slavic translation: vy veste verb, which was all through Judea, starting with Galilee. The phrase “ῥῆμα” means a verb, a phrase, a phrase, after which that which causes them.
“from Galilee”. There the Lord begins His public ministry after baptism (John 2ff.)
Acts. 10:38. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with energy, who went out into Judea, doing good and therapeutic all these oppressed by the satan, as a result of God was with Him.
“anointed … Jesus.” In fact, when it comes to humanity – because the blessed Theophylact of Ohrid interpreted this place: “since He humbled Himself and accepted our flesh and blood (Heb. 2:14), it’s mentioned of Him that He, as a person, accepts what’s in a nature like God’. This anointing passed off on the baptism of Jesus Christ.
“God was with Him.” It is a cautious expression of the considered the divinity of Jesus Christ. The apostle expresses himself in such a approach as to not give rise to pagan concepts concerning the divinity of Jesus, whom the pagans might simply take for the incarnation of 1 or one other pagan deity. Due to the weak spot of the listeners, the apostle spoke much less concerning the Individual of Christ than he ought to (St. John Chrysostom).
Acts. 10:39. And we’re witnesses of all that He did within the Judean nation and in Jerusalem, and the way they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.
Acts. 10:40. God resurrected Him on the third day and gave Him to seem –
Cf. Acts. 1:8, 3:15, 5:30, 2:32.
Acts 10:41. to not all of the individuals, however to us, the pre-chosen witnesses of God, who ate and drank with Him, after His resurrection from the useless.
Cf. John 17:6, 9, 11, 6:37; Rome. 50:1; 1 Cor.1:1; Gal. 1:1, 15; Luke 24:41–43; John 21:12.
Acts. 10:42. And he commanded us to evangelise to the individuals and to testify that He’s the Choose appointed by God over the residing and the useless.
Cf. Acts. 3:24, 2:38; John 3:15; Rome. 3:25, 10:10.
Act. 10:43. Of Him, all of the prophets testify that whoever believes in Him will obtain forgiveness of sins via His title.
Acts. 10:44. Whereas Peter was nonetheless talking these phrases, the Holy Spirit came across all who had been listening to the phrase.
“Whereas Peter was nonetheless talking…” (see Acts chapter 11). That is the one case in all the apostolic historical past wherein the Holy Spirit descends on those that be a part of the Christian neighborhood even earlier than they’re baptized. Little doubt this was crucial due to the intense significance of the occasions – the primary accession of Gentiles to the Church of Christ with out the mediation of Judaism, after which this mode of accession was to obtain an authority of indisputability.
St. John Chrysostom wrote on this event: “Take a look at God’s house-building. Peter had not but completed his speech, and the baptism was not but completed, however as they … obtained the start of the educating and believed … the Spirit got here [upon them]. God does this with the intention of giving Peter a robust justification. Not solely did they obtain the Spirit, however they started to talk in tongues… Why does it occur this fashion? For the sake of the Jews, for it was too displeasing for them to see this.’
Act. 10:45. And the believers from among the many circumcised who had include Peter had been amazed that the present of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Gentiles as properly;
“the believers of the circumcision . . . had been astonished.” This astonishment is defined by the prevailing perception at the moment that the Gentiles ought to be accepted into the Church of Christ solely after they turn out to be proselytes of Judaism – an opinion with which they continued to conform even after this occasion, as may be seen from the next occasions (Acts. 11 et seq.; Acts 15).
Acts. 10:46. for they heard them communicate in tongues and glorify God. Then Peter mentioned:
Acts. 10:47. can anybody forestall those that have obtained the Holy Spirit, in addition to we, from being baptized with water?
Peter attracts a totally pure conclusion from the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, particularly, that via this descent all obstacles to their inclusion within the Church of Christ, in addition to the necessity for the mediation of the Jewish cult rules, have been eliminated. However he thinks that those that have obtained the Holy Spirit ought to be baptized, as a result of that is an unchangeable commandment of the Lord (Matt. 28:18).
Acts. 10:48. And he ordered them to be baptized within the title of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to stick with them for just a few days.
“commanded them to be baptized.” Clearly, he didn’t baptize them himself, however a kind of who got here with him (1 Cor. 1:17).
“within the title of Jesus Christ”. Cf. Acts. 2:36.
“he was requested.” Peter definitely granted their request to determine them within the new Christian religion.
The scribe tells nothing extra about Cornelius. In keeping with church custom, he was later bishop of Caesarea, preached Christ in varied international locations and died a martyr’s demise. His reminiscence is widely known on September 13.
Supply in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all of the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Previous and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A.P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.
