Acts 10 24

Acts 10:24 kjv

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

Acts 10:24 nkjv

And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 10:24 niv

The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 10:24 esv

And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 10:24 nlt

They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 24 Meaning

Acts 10:24 describes the arrival of Peter and his companions in Caesarea the day after their departure, finding Cornelius eagerly awaiting them. Cornelius had not only prepared for their visit but had also taken the initiative to gather his entire household, including his relatives and closest friends, demonstrating his faith and desire for them to hear the divine message he anticipated receiving from Peter. This verse highlights Cornelius's zealous readiness and the immediate impact of God's call on his wider community.

Acts 10 24 Context

Acts chapter 10 marks a pivotal turning point in the early church, initiating the clear expansion of the Gospel beyond Jewish believers to include Gentiles without requiring prior conversion to Judaism. The narrative unfolds with two parallel visions: Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, receives a vision instructing him to send for Peter (Acts 10:1-8). Simultaneously, Peter, in Joppa, receives a vision of unclean animals, twice being told, "What God has made clean, do not call common" (Acts 10:9-16). This prepares Peter to break Jewish dietary and social barriers regarding contact with Gentiles. As Cornelius's messengers arrive, Peter understands the prophetic meaning of his vision, and he, accompanied by six Jewish brothers, sets out for Caesarea. Verse 24 is the moment of Peter's arrival at Cornelius's house, revealing Cornelius's diligent preparation and anticipation. Historically, Caesarea Maritima was the Roman capital of Judea, a bustling port city with a significant Gentile population and Roman administrative and military presence. This made it a fitting place for the Gospel to overtly breach the Jewish-Gentile divide.

Acts 10 24 Word analysis

• And the next day (Τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον, Tē de epaurion): This phrase provides a clear temporal marker, indicating a prompt and direct continuation from the previous day's events. It emphasizes the swift progression of God's plan and the immediacy of obedience from Peter and his companions, who had traveled from Joppa.
• they entered (εἰσῆλθεν, eisēlthen): This aorist verb indicates a completed action of arrival. The "they" refers to Peter and the Jewish brethren who accompanied him (Acts 10:23). It highlights the fulfillment of Cornelius's summons and Peter's divine commission.
• Caesarea (Καισάρειαν, Kaisareian): The geographical location is highly significant. Caesarea was not a Jewish city but a Roman administrative hub, populated predominantly by Gentiles. This entry into Caesarea symbolized the Gospel's journey into gentile territory and culture, far from Jerusalem's Jewish-centric sphere.
• And Cornelius (ὁ δὲ Κορνήλιος, ho de Kornēlios): The narrative shifts focus back to Cornelius, whose actions and state of readiness are paramount to this event. He is presented as a central figure in this groundbreaking narrative.
• was waiting for them (προσδοκῶν, prosdokōn): This present participle (from `προσδοκάω` prosdokaō) conveys a sense of active and intense expectation, not merely passive waiting. Cornelius had received a divine message (Acts 10:3-6) and believed it entirely, showing unwavering faith in God's promises. His anticipation demonstrates a heart ready to receive God's word.
• having called together (συγκαλεσάμενος, syngkalesamenos): An aorist participle, indicating an action that preceded or was completed just before Peter's arrival. This verb emphasizes Cornelius's deliberate and proactive effort to gather an audience. It showcases his evangelistic zeal—a Gentile sharing his faith and opportunity before he fully understood it himself.
• his relatives (τοὺς συγγενεῖς, tous syngeneis): Refers to blood relations, immediate and extended family. In ancient societies, family ties were paramount, and the head of the household had influence over their spiritual and social decisions. Cornelius desired the blessing he anticipated to extend to his kin.
• and close friends (καὶ τοὺς ἀναγκαίους φίλους, kai tous anankaious philous): Lit. "necessary friends" or "intimate/obligatory friends." These were not casual acquaintances but individuals bound by strong social, professional, or personal ties, suggesting deep trust and loyalty. Cornelius sought to include those within his trusted inner circle, underscoring the communal and relational aspect of the forthcoming revelation.
• Words-group: And the next day they entered Caesarea. This phrase underscores the efficiency and promptness with which God's plan was unfolding. Peter, despite his initial reluctance concerning Gentiles, was obediently and swiftly fulfilling his divine assignment. The location, Caesarea, foreshadows the mission's scope beyond Israel.
• Words-group: And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and close friends. This section portrays Cornelius as an exemplar of faith and readiness. His "waiting" signifies deep spiritual anticipation. His act of "calling together" his entire network—relatives and close friends—demonstrates a proactive, communal, and zealous response to a divine encounter, anticipating a message of profound importance and seeking to share that blessing with his entire social sphere. It prefigures the concept of household salvation and the early spread of the Gospel through social networks.

Acts 10 24 Bonus section

• The fact that Peter was accompanied by six Jewish brothers (Acts 11:12) means that there were multiple Jewish witnesses to the Spirit's outpouring on the Gentiles. This would be crucial for validating Peter's actions and defense to the Jerusalem church, providing undeniable proof of God's universal intent for the Gospel.
• Cornelius, despite being a devout Gentile (Acts 10:2), had no prior knowledge of Christ until Peter’s sermon. His prayer and almsgiving were acts of sincere worship directed towards the one true God, which God acknowledged and used as a stepping stone to reveal salvation through Christ, demonstrating that God hears and responds to those who sincerely seek Him even without complete theological understanding.
• The use of "relatives and close friends" (not just "household members") expands the sphere of influence from an immediate family to a wider, yet intimate, community. This broader invitation demonstrates the inherent human desire to share good news and blessings with those closest, illustrating how the Gospel naturally radiates through existing social bonds.

Acts 10 24 Commentary

Acts 10:24 is a concise but powerful verse that reveals the readiness of Gentile hearts and the early, relational dynamics of Gospel expansion. Cornelius’s diligent anticipation and his proactive decision to gather his extended family and most trusted friends vividly illustrate a "good soil" heart, prepared by God's Spirit, eager to receive and share the saving message. This was not a passive curiosity but a deep, divinely inspired expectation of significant revelation, marking the Gentile entry into God’s covenant family through the witness of an Apostle previously bound by cultural and religious norms. The verse highlights Cornelius's faith and evangelistic spirit, providing an example of sharing spiritual opportunities within one’s relational spheres. It's a foundational step in demonstrating God's impartiality, showing His desire to draw all peoples to Himself, setting the stage for Peter's unprecedented sermon and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles.