Acts 10 21

Acts 10:21 kjv

Then 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?

Acts 10:21 nkjv

Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?"

Acts 10:21 niv

Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

Acts 10:21 esv

And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"

Acts 10:21 nlt

So Peter went down and said, "I'm the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 21 Meaning

Acts 10:21 captures the precise moment Peter, having received divine instruction through a vision and direct word from the Holy Spirit, responds to Gentile messengers sent by Cornelius. Peter confirms his identity as the one they seek, as he was told by the Spirit, and then directly inquires about the specific purpose of their visit. This brief exchange marks a critical step in God's plan to extend the Gospel to the Gentiles, establishing communication across significant social and religious divides.

Acts 10 21 Context

Acts 10:21 is a pivotal moment following two distinct but harmonized divine revelations. Earlier in Joppa, Peter, while praying on a rooftop, received a vision of a sheet filled with all kinds of "unclean" animals and a voice commanding him to "Kill and eat," which he initially refused (Acts 10:9-16). This vision, repeated three times, was challenging Peter's deeply ingrained Jewish dietary and purity laws. While Peter pondered the meaning of this vision (Acts 10:17-19), the Holy Spirit explicitly told him that three men were looking for him and he should go with them without hesitation (Acts 10:20). Concurrently, in Caesarea, a devout Roman centurion named Cornelius, a Gentile, had a vision where an angel instructed him to send for Simon Peter, who was staying in Joppa with Simon the tanner (Acts 10:1-8). Thus, Peter's words in verse 21 represent the culmination of these divine arrangements. He descends from the rooftop, where he received his instructions, to directly encounter the men sent by Cornelius, men whom he otherwise, according to Jewish customs, might have shunned. Historically, a strict division existed between Jews and Gentiles, with many Jews considering contact with Gentiles as defiling. Peter, staying at a tanner's house (a trade involving dead animals, considered impure by some Jewish standards), was already on the edge of social norms. His engagement with these Gentile men, guided by the Spirit, sets the stage for a groundbreaking moment in the early church's mission.

Acts 10 21 Word analysis

• So Peter went down (Greek: ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καταβὰς, ho de Petros katabas):

  • ὁ δὲ (ho de): "And," "Now." A transitional conjunction, indicating immediate sequence to the Spirit's command in the previous verse (Acts 10:20). It marks Peter's direct and prompt action.
  • Πέτρος (Petros): Peter. The key apostolic figure, here demonstrating a willingness to obey, despite his prior hesitancy concerning the vision. His growth in obedience to divine command is significant.
  • καταβὰς (katabas): "Having gone down" (aorist active participle of καταβαίνω - katabainō). This refers to his descent from the rooftop where he was praying and received the Spirit's instruction. It highlights the swiftness of his response to the Spirit's guidance, signaling immediate obedience.

• to the men (Greek: πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας, pros tous andras):

  • ἄνδρας (andras): "Men." Refers specifically to the two servants and the devout soldier sent by Cornelius (Acts 10:7). They are Gentiles, representing the "outsiders" whom Peter is now commanded to encounter and for whom he will ultimately deliver the gospel message. Peter's willingness to approach them directly underscores the radical nature of his obedience, overcoming traditional Jewish separation.

• and said, (Greek: εἶπεν, eupen):

  • εἶπεν (eupen): "He said." Simple, direct speech, conveying authority and purpose.

• “I am the one you are looking for." (Greek: Ἰδοὺ ἐγώ εἰμι ὃν ζητεῖτε, Idou egō eimi hon zēteite):

  • Ἰδοὺ (Idou): "Behold!", "Look!" An interjection that grabs attention. In this context, it functions as an emphatic "Here I am," confirming his presence and identity with divine certainty, not mere guess-work.
  • ἐγώ εἰμι (egō eimi): "I am." While in a simple grammatical sense, it means "I am he," the phrase carries deeper biblical echoes (Exo 3:14, John 8:58) though here it is used for human identification, strengthened by the divine foreknowledge given by the Spirit. Peter speaks with confidence because the Spirit just told him these men were seeking him.
  • ὃν ζητεῖτε (hon zēteite): "Whom you seek/are looking for." The present tense of ζητέω (zēteō) indicates that their quest is ongoing until they find him. This is a direct confirmation based on the Spirit's previous instruction to Peter in Acts 10:20, "Look, three men are searching for you." Peter is not just reacting; he is acting on divine intelligence.

• "What is the reason for your coming?” (Greek: Τίς ἡ αἰτία δι’ ἣν πάρεστε;, Tis hē aitia di’ hēn pareste):

  • Τίς ἡ αἰτία (Tis hē aitia): "What is the cause/reason?" Peter's question is direct and purposeful. It is not out of ignorance, as the Spirit has already confirmed their seeking him, but a strategic inquiry to allow the messengers to present their mission and confirm God's specific plan to Peter. This also demonstrates Peter's respect for the process of inquiry and verification.
  • δι’ ἣν (di’ hēn): "For which," connecting the reason to their presence.
  • πάρεστε (pareste): "You are present," or "You have come." Implies their current state of presence resulting from their journey, emphasizing the purpose behind their arrival.

Acts 10 21 Bonus section

• Narrative Symmetry: Luke frequently uses paired accounts or parallel scenes. Peter's vision and Cornelius's vision (Acts 10:1-8, 10:9-16) perfectly synchronize, with this verse marking the critical point where the two divinely initiated threads intersect through human interaction.
• Significance of "Tanner's House": Peter was already staying with Simon the tanner in Joppa (Acts 9:43), whose trade involved working with dead animal hides, making him and his home ceremonially unclean in strict Jewish estimation. Peter's willingness to stay there subtly demonstrates a prior loosening of strict adherence to certain purity codes, preparing him experientially for the even greater challenge of entering a Gentile home and fellowship with them. This setup likely made the Spirit's command in the vision (Acts 10:13) and the command to go with Gentiles less jarring.
• Empowered Communication: Peter's words are precise and efficient. The Spirit's guidance provided him with both knowledge of the men's presence and the boldness to address them directly, avoiding prolonged ambiguity or suspicion, which might have arisen in such an intercultural encounter. This swiftness is key to moving the narrative forward without unnecessary delay.
• Overcoming Prejudice: The interaction here is crucial as Peter, a prominent Jewish apostle, engages directly and respectfully with Gentiles, signaling the first visible breakdown of the social barrier. It anticipates Peter's subsequent actions in going with them and preaching to them, actions he later defends in Acts 11.

Acts 10 21 Commentary

Acts 10:21, though concise, is highly significant. It showcases Peter's pivotal moment of active obedience following explicit divine revelation. Having just grappled with challenging cultural and religious boundaries in his vision, Peter promptly responds to the Spirit's directive without hesitation, "going down" from the rooftop. His confident self-identification, "I am the one you are looking for," stems directly from the Holy Spirit's prior instruction (Acts 10:20), illustrating the divine orchestration of events. It is not mere human intuition but divinely imparted knowledge that enables Peter to greet these Gentile messengers with such certainty. His follow-up question, "What is the reason for your coming?" serves to establish formal communication and allows the men to explain Cornelius's God-given vision (Acts 10:22), thus confirming the synchronicity of God's plan for both Jew and Gentile. This verse beautifully demonstrates how God's preparatory work (visions to Peter and Cornelius) leads to obedient human action, overcoming deeply ingrained prejudices and initiating the universal reach of the Gospel. It underscores the importance of listening to and acting upon God's clear leading, even when it requires stepping outside of comfort zones and established norms. Practically, it encourages believers to seek divine guidance, trust God's orchestrations, and be willing to engage with those beyond their familiar circles, guided by the Holy Spirit.