Acts 10 22

Acts 10:22 kjv

And 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.

Acts 10:22 nkjv

And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you."

Acts 10:22 niv

The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say."

Acts 10:22 esv

And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."

Acts 10:22 nlt

They said, "We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message."

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 22 Meaning

Acts 10:22 introduces Cornelius through the testimony of his messengers to Peter. It portrays Cornelius as a Gentile of exceptional moral and spiritual standing, respected by both God and the Jewish community, who received a direct divine command through a holy angel. This command was for him to send for Peter, whose message Cornelius was divinely instructed to hear. The verse serves to validate Cornelius's intentions and to explain the supernatural origin of his summons, thus addressing Peter's reservations about interacting with Gentiles.

Acts 10 22 Context

Acts chapter 10 marks a pivotal moment in early Christian history: the expansion of the Gospel beyond its Jewish confines to the Gentiles. The preceding verses introduce Cornelius, a Roman centurion residing in Caesarea, as a devout, God-fearing man who prayed regularly and gave alms generously (Acts 10:1-2). An angel appears to him, instructing him to send men to Joppa to summon Simon Peter (Acts 10:3-8). Simultaneously, Peter receives a vision involving an unclean sheet of animals, which thrice tells him to "kill and eat," signifying God's nullification of dietary laws and, more importantly, the end of the Jew-Gentile distinction (Acts 10:9-16). While Peter is perplexed, Cornelius's messengers arrive. Acts 10:22 is spoken by these messengers to Peter, explaining why they have come, serving as divine confirmation for Peter's visionary experience and bridging the gap between his understanding and God's surprising directive. This encounter, orchestrated by God, shatters long-standing ethnic and religious barriers.

Acts 10 22 Word analysis

• And they said, (Εἶπον δέ, Eipon de): This emphasizes the direct speech and personal testimony of Cornelius's three delegates—two servants and a devout soldier—confirming the legitimacy of their mission.

• Cornelius (Κορνήλιος, Kornēlios): A Roman cognomen, here identifying a Gentile. This name, connected to a Roman centurion, highlights the profound implications of his encounter for the inclusion of non-Jews.

• the centurion, (ἑκατοντάρχης, hekatontarchēs): A Roman military officer in charge of approximately 100 soldiers. This position signifies Roman authority, power, and often, an administrator of law and order, yet here also a man of spiritual sensitivity.

• a righteous man (ἀνὴρ δίκαιος, anēr dikaios): "Righteous" (dikaios) in this context describes one who lives in accordance with God's moral law, upholding justice and integrity. For a Gentile, this denotes a moral uprightness recognized even by the Jews, signifying a heart already prepared by God's grace. It points to his character and ethical conduct, reflecting genuine devotion.

• and one who fears God, (φοβούμενος τὸν Θεόν, phoboumenos ton Theon): This is a technical term for Gentiles who revered the God of Israel, observed certain Jewish customs (like prayer and almsgiving) but had not fully converted to Judaism (e.g., circumcision). This class of people served as a bridge between Judaism and early Christianity, demonstrating God's wider drawing of people. His fear of God implies reverence, obedience, and sincere worship.

• well spoken of (μαρτυρούμενός τε, martyroumenos te): Implies a positive testimony or witness. His good character was universally acknowledged and attested to by his community, not just personally held.

• by the whole nation of the Jews, (ὑπὸ ὅλου τοῦ ἔθνους τῶν Ἰουδαίων, hypo holou tou ethnous tōn Ioudaiōn): This detail is crucial. For a Roman centurion (a symbol of occupation) to be held in high esteem by all Jews (the ethnous - nation), signifies an extraordinary character and highlights the Jewish acknowledgment of his genuine piety despite not being one of them. This corroborates his standing for Peter, a Jew.

• was directed (ἐχρηματίσθη, echrēmatisthē): Literally "was divinely instructed" or "received a divine message/warning." This strong term confirms that Cornelius's action was not arbitrary but came as a direct revelation from God. It indicates a prophetic utterance or supernatural directive, emphasizing divine authority.

• by a holy angel (ὑπὸ ἀγγέλου ἁγίου, hypo angelou hagiou): The source of the instruction. An "angel" (angelos) means messenger, and "holy" (hagios) confirms its divine origin and pure nature. This guarantees the message's legitimacy and authority to Peter, who also experienced an angelic encounter (implied through his vision's clarity) and was used to divine/angelic communications.

• to send for you (μεταπέμψασθαί σε, metapempsasthai se): The specific command given to Cornelius—to summon Peter. This is the crux of their visit and the direct purpose for their presence in Peter's house.

• to his house (εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, eis ton oikon autou): Peter is to come to Cornelius's personal residence. This signifies the breaking of a significant social and religious barrier, as a Jew entering a Gentile home could lead to ritual impurity.

• and hear words from you. (καὶ ἀκοῦσαι ῥήματα παρὰ σοῦ, kai akousai rhēmata para sou): The ultimate purpose. It wasn't merely to see Peter but specifically to "hear words" (rhēmata), which often signifies inspired, living, or divinely revealed utterances—the Gospel message. This highlights that Cornelius, despite his righteousness and fear of God, still needed to hear a specific message of salvation through Christ.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Cornelius the centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God": This cumulative description immediately establishes Cornelius's exceptional character and spiritual earnestness, pre-qualifying him as worthy of divine attention and Peter's engagement, breaking through Jewish preconceptions about Gentiles.
  • "well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews": This endorsement by the very people (Jews) who would typically view Gentiles with disdain adds significant weight to Cornelius's credibility and validates the unusual nature of the request. It suggests an extraordinary openness among the Jewish people toward Cornelius, making the invitation less contentious.
  • "was directed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and hear words from you": This entire phrase underscores the supernatural mandate behind the summons. The divine initiative, delivered through a celestial messenger, frames the mission not as a human whim but as God's will. It clearly states the ultimate purpose: the reception of God's revealed message, bringing Peter to the forefront as the vessel for this message.

Acts 10 22 Bonus section

• The detail of "by the whole nation of the Jews" is particularly striking given the usual animosity between Jews and Roman occupiers. This testifies to Cornelius's integrity going beyond mere civic duty, hinting at his philanthropic acts (mentioned in Acts 10:2).
• The phrase rhēmata (words/utterances) here points not just to Peter speaking, but to Peter conveying divinely revealed, spirit-empowered declarations—the saving message of Jesus Christ—which goes beyond general moral instruction.
• The fact that a holy angel facilitates this meeting, rather than simply delivering the full Gospel message itself, underscores the divine economy in using human instruments (like Peter) for the preaching of the Word. Angels prepare the way, but humans deliver the message.

Acts 10 22 Commentary

Acts 10:22 is crucial as it clarifies and validates God's extraordinary initiative in sending the Gospel to the Gentiles. Peter, wrestling with his vision, receives this explicit human testimony confirming the divine source of the command for his journey. The verse highlights Cornelius's multifaceted credibility: his moral excellence ("righteous man"), spiritual devotion ("fears God"), and an impeccable reputation validated even by the Jewish community ("well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews"). This unusual standing for a Roman centurion makes the divine intervention of a "holy angel" logical within the narrative, affirming that God acknowledges and responds to sincere hearts wherever they are found. Crucially, while Cornelius possessed commendable pre-conversion piety, the phrase "hear words from you" underscores that even such an upright individual needed to hear the explicit Gospel message for salvation in Christ, as the "righteousness" of God comes through faith (Rom 3:22). It serves as a concise, yet profound, explanation for Peter of why he, a Jew, must go to a Gentile's home, signaling the impending dismantling of old covenant distinctions.