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

The verse signifies a pivotal moment where Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, is instructed by an angel to send for Peter. This divine intervention sets the stage for the gospel’s expansion beyond Jewish boundaries to the Gentiles, fulfilling God's broader redemptive plan.

Acts 10 21 Context

Acts chapter 10 describes a profound shift in the early church's understanding and practice of God’s salvific plan. The chapter centers on Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and Peter, the Apostle. Cornelius, a Gentile, is described as devout, God-fearing, and generous. He receives a vision from an angel who directs him to summon Peter from Joppa. Concurrently, Peter is praying on a rooftop and has a visionary experience involving a sheet filled with unclean animals, accompanied by a divine message to eat them, symbolizing God's declaration that no person is unclean. This vision directly challenges the Jewish dietary laws and, by extension, the separation between Jews and Gentiles. Peter then goes to Caesarea, meets Cornelius, and preaches the gospel to his household. The Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles, confirming Peter's realization that God’s grace extends equally to them. Acts 10:21, therefore, is the verse immediately preceding Peter's journey to Cornelius's home, detailing Cornelius's obedience to the angelic command.

Acts 10 21 Word Analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting clauses or words. Here, it links Cornelius’s recognition of Peter's arrival with his previous instruction.

• behold, (ἰδὼν - idōn): Aorist participle of ὁράω (horaō), meaning "to see" or "to perceive." It emphasizes the act of seeing with understanding or recognition.

• two (δύο - duo): The numeral two. It specifies the number of messengers sent.

• men (ἄνδρας - andras): Accusative plural of ἀνήρ (anēr), meaning "man" (as opposed to a boy or a male person of any age). It signifies adult males.

• sent (πέμψας - pempsas): Aorist participle of πέμπω (pempō), meaning "to send" or "to dispatch." It highlights the action of sending with a purpose.

• sent (τὸν) (ton): The definite article "the."

• sent (οἶκον - oikon): Accusative singular of οἶκος (oikos), meaning "house," "household," or "family." It indicates the destination or association of the men.

• sent (Αὐτῶν) (Autōn): Genitive plural of αὐτός (autos), meaning "himself" or "themselves." Here it modifies "house" or "household," referring to Cornelius's household.

• and (καὶ - kai): Conjunction.

• after (τῇ - tē): Dative feminine singular of the definite article, "the." Used here with a temporal sense indicating time "after."

• calling (προσαγορεύσας - prosagoreusas): Aorist participle of προσαγορεύω (prosagoreuō), meaning "to address," "to name," or "to greet." It suggests more than a simple address; it implies a respectful hailing or naming of a specific person.

• calling (τινὰς - tinas): Accusative plural of τις (tis), an indefinite pronoun, "certain" or "some." It denotes an unspecified number of individuals.

• calling (οἰκέτας - oiketas): Accusative plural of οἰκέτης (oikētēs), meaning "household servants" or "slaves." This highlights Cornelius's employing those who were part of his domestic staff for this mission.

Acts 10 21 Bonus Section

Cornelius's story is instrumental in illustrating God's proactive outreach to the Gentiles. His righteousness and devotion were recognized by God before he heard the gospel. This challenges any notion that salvation is solely dependent on prior explicit knowledge of Christ. Instead, it highlights that sincere seeking and obedience to the light one possesses can attract divine attention and lead to further revelation. The emphasis on "household servants" also speaks to the spiritual influence that leaders can have within their families and households, with God responding to the faith and actions of the entire unit. This narrative sets the precedent for the inclusion of Gentiles in the early church, a theme that would continue to be debated and clarified in later apostolic teachings.

Acts 10 21 Commentary

Acts 10:21 is a crucial narrative bridge, demonstrating the immediate and practical obedience of Cornelius to divine instruction. The angel's words to Cornelius in verse 20 are, "Get ready and go, and with them, for I have sent them." Verse 21 shows Cornelius acting on this heavenly directive. He identifies the messengers from the vision – two of his own trusted household servants – and dispatches them to Joppa to find Peter. This obedience, a hallmark of Cornelius's character established earlier, showcases his faith in action and readiness to follow God's leading, even when it involves unconventional requests and crossing societal barriers. The specificity of "two men" and "his household servants" emphasizes the detailed nature of God's guidance and Cornelius’s meticulous execution of it, paving the way for Peter’s eventual arrival and the significant expansion of the gospel.