Acts 10 19

Acts 10:19 kjv

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Acts 10:19 nkjv

While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.

Acts 10:19 niv

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you.

Acts 10:19 esv

And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.

Acts 10:19 nlt

Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 19 Meaning

Acts 10:19 describes a pivotal moment where the Apostle Peter, still processing a profound and perplexing vision concerning ritual purity and dietary laws, receives a direct, verbal message from the Holy Spirit. This divine communication immediately connects Peter's theological struggle with a concrete, real-world directive: three men have arrived and are seeking him. This moment serves as the critical transition, preparing Peter to understand the implications of his vision – that God is breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile – and to act upon this new understanding by engaging with Gentile visitors, specifically Cornelius's household.

Acts 10 19 Context

Acts chapter 10 recounts the momentous events surrounding the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, and his household, which represents a crucial turning point in the early Christian mission. Simultaneously, God prepares Peter, a devout Jew bound by tradition and dietary laws, for this unprecedented move. Earlier in the chapter, Cornelius, a "devout man who feared God," receives an angelic vision instructing him to send men to Joppa to find Simon Peter (Acts 10:1-8). While Cornelius's messengers are en route, Peter, on a rooftop in Joppa, experiences a profound vision of a sheet descending from heaven filled with all kinds of "unclean" animals, accompanied by a voice commanding him to eat (Acts 10:9-16). Peter's vision challenges centuries of Jewish dietary laws and cultural separation from Gentiles, leaving him in a state of confusion.

Acts 10:19 acts as the bridge, directly linking Peter's perplexing spiritual revelation with the imminent practical reality. It's the moment the Holy Spirit intervenes to explain the vision's purpose by directing Peter to the three men sent by Cornelius. This event occurred in a historical and cultural context where Jewish people strictly observed ceremonial purity, leading to deeply ingrained segregation from Gentiles, whom they considered "unclean" or "common." Contacting or eating with Gentiles was a serious breach of religious custom. This verse signifies God's direct intervention to overcome these barriers and propel the gospel's expansion beyond Jewish boundaries, confirming that the new covenant's reach is for all humanity.

Acts 10 19 Word analysis

• While Peter was wondering (ὁ δὲ Πέτρος διηπορεῖτο, ho de Petros diēporeito)

  • δὲ (de): A particle indicating a transition or slight contrast, "but" or "and." Here it signifies the next step in the narrative, following Peter's vision.
  • Πέτρος (Petros): Simon Peter, a chief apostle, still grappling with long-held traditions. His human perplexity underscores the revolutionary nature of God's command.
  • διηπορεῖτο (diēporeito): Imperfect middle indicative of diaporeō, meaning to be completely at a loss, to be greatly perplexed, or in much doubt. The prefix dia- intensifies the verb aporeō (to be at a loss). Peter isn't just thinking; he's actively struggling to grasp the meaning. This emphasizes the magnitude of the paradigm shift God was introducing and the difficulty Peter faced in overcoming deeply ingrained Jewish religious thought.

• about the meaning (περὶ τοῦ, peri tou)

  • περὶ (peri): Preposition meaning "concerning" or "about."
  • τοῦ (tou): Definite article "the."

• of the vision (ὁράματος, horamatos)

  • ὁράματος (horamatos): Genitive singular of horama, "a sight, appearance, vision." It denotes a divine, supernatural appearance conveying instruction or revelation. This vision was not a dream, but a clear, waking encounter, emphasizing its divine origin and importance. Its nature directly challenged Peter's deeply held understanding of clean and unclean distinctions (Lev 11).

• the Spirit said (εἶπεν τὸ Πνεῦμα, eipen to Pneuma)

  • εἶπεν (eipen): Aorist active indicative of eipon, "he said" or "spoke." This denotes a decisive and completed action of speaking.
  • τὸ Πνεῦμα (to Pneuma): "The Spirit," referring unmistakably to the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 8:29; 11:12; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6). This is direct divine intervention and instruction, not Peter's personal reflection or a general inner prompting, establishing the authority of the message. This marks a critical moment of explicit Spirit guidance in the expansion of the gospel to the Gentiles.

• to him (αὐτῷ, autō): Dative pronoun, "to him," specifically referring to Peter.

• "Simon (Σίμων, Simōn): The Spirit addresses Peter by his original, given name, "Simon." While he was known as Peter (Cephas), calling him "Simon" can be seen as a deeply personal and perhaps familiar address. It connects to his human identity before his apostleship, emphasizing the radical personal change God was bringing about in him concerning Gentile inclusion, reminding him of his origins and identity before Christ.

• three men (ἄνδρες τρεῖς, andres treis):

  • ἄνδρες (andres): Plural of anēr, meaning "men" or "males."
  • τρεῖς (treis): "Three." This specific number provides concrete, undeniable confirmation. It matches Cornelius's action of sending three individuals (Acts 10:7) and grounds the spiritual vision in physical reality. The specific detail of "three men" could also hold significance in a Jewish legal context, where two or three witnesses could establish testimony (Deut 17:6).

• are looking for you (ζητοῦσίν σε, zētousin se):

  • ζητοῦσίν (zētousin): Present active indicative of zēteō, "to seek," "to look for." The present tense indicates they are actively looking for him at that very moment.
  • σε (se): Accusative pronoun "you," referring to Peter. This immediately connects Peter's inward struggle to the outward arrival of Gentiles, who unknowingly held the key to his understanding.

Acts 10 19 Bonus section

• The timing in this verse is highly significant: the Holy Spirit's message comes "while Peter was wondering." This emphasizes God's precision and perfect timing in addressing human confusion or hesitation, immediately providing clarity when it is most needed to advance His divine purpose.
• The parallel accounts in Acts 10 (Cornelius's vision and Peter's vision) arriving simultaneously, followed by this specific directive to Peter, reveal God's orchestrated plan for the inclusion of Gentiles. It wasn't a random event but a carefully coordinated divine initiative, ensuring both parties were prepared.
• The transition from "Peter" (the rock, his apostolic name) to "Simon" (his original name) by the Holy Spirit might subtly signify the intensely personal nature of the command and the profound change of mindset required for Peter, reaching back to his very identity to reshape his worldview.

Acts 10 19 Commentary

Acts 10:19 is a lynchpin verse in the narrative of the early church, strategically bridging profound divine revelation with immediate practical application. Peter's "wondering" highlights the theological weight of his recent vision, challenging deep-seated Jewish identity and tradition. His struggle with "clean" and "unclean" foods was intrinsically linked to the strict separation from Gentiles. This verse underscores that Peter's breakthrough understanding was not achieved through human reasoning alone but by direct divine intervention. The Holy Spirit's clear, personal address to "Simon" immediately cuts through Peter's confusion, providing the interpretative key to his vision. By connecting the spiritual message of Gentile acceptance with the physical presence of Gentile seekers, the Spirit confirms the urgency and reality of God's expanded mission. This is a foundational moment where the Holy Spirit actively shapes the apostolic understanding, empowering the apostles to transcend cultural and religious boundaries, directly opening the door for the gospel to the "ends of the earth" as foretold by Jesus (Acts 1:8). The entire encounter stresses the Holy Spirit's indispensable role in guiding God's people to understand and fulfill His universal plan of salvation, marking a profound shift in the Christian mission from a primarily Jewish context to a genuinely global one.