Acts 10 27

Acts 10:27 kjv

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

Acts 10:27 nkjv

And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

Acts 10:27 niv

While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.

Acts 10:27 esv

And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.

Acts 10:27 nlt

So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 27 Meaning

Acts 10:27 describes Peter's physical act of entering Cornelius's Gentile household while engaging in conversation. Upon entering, he discovered a considerable number of people, all eagerly gathered together. This moment signifies Peter's direct obedience to God's transformative vision, breaking ancient social and religious barriers separating Jews from Gentiles. It establishes a critical turning point where the Gospel's inclusive nature is overtly manifested, as God's Spirit prepares to extend salvation to uncircumcised Gentiles.

Acts 10 27 Context

Acts chapter 10 records a pivotal moment in early Christian history: the direct inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith without requiring prior conversion to Judaism. This chapter bridges two crucial events: Cornelius, a Roman centurion and God-fearer, receives a divine vision instructing him to send for Peter (Acts 10:1-8). Concurrently, Peter receives a vision involving a sheet descending with all kinds of 'unclean' animals, along with a divine command to eat, signifying God's removal of dietary and, by extension, people group distinctions (Acts 10:9-16). This verse (Acts 10:27) immediately follows Peter's encounter with Cornelius's messengers and his journey to Caesarea, marking the culmination of God's preparation for this unprecedented encounter. Peter's action of "going in" a Gentile house directly challenges long-held Jewish traditions regarding ritual purity and separation, signifying his obedience to the Holy Spirit's guidance, overriding personal prejudices and cultural norms.

Acts 10 27 Word analysis

• And as he talked with him:
  • And (Καὶ / Kai): A conjunction, indicating a continuation of the narrative.
  • as he talked (λαλέων / laleōn): Present participle, meaning "speaking" or "conversing." This implies an ongoing discussion. Peter was already verbally processing and perhaps even explaining his new understanding of God's non-partiality to Cornelius before fully entering the main gathering. This personal interaction suggests a crucial relational bridge-building even as the momentous act of entering unfolded. It highlights an active, intentional dialogue rather than a silent entry.
  • with him (αὐτῷ / autō): Refers to Cornelius. The conversation was between Peter and Cornelius.
• he went in (εἰσῆλθεν / eisēlthen):
  • Aorist indicative of "to enter." This is the central action of the verse. "He" refers to Peter. For a devout Jew like Peter, entering the house of a Gentile was a culturally and religiously forbidden act, as Gentiles were considered ceremonially unclean. This action signifies Peter's complete obedience to God's vision and command, overriding centuries of Jewish tradition. It is a physical demonstration of the spiritual barrier being broken, paving the way for the Gospel's universal reach.
• and found (εὗρεν / heuren):
  • Aorist indicative of "to find." Peter's active discovery of the situation inside the house. It might have surprised him, emphasizing the large-scale receptivity to God's word among the Gentiles, already set in motion by Cornelius's faith.
• many people gathered together:
  • many (πολλούς / pollous): This word is crucial. It means a great number, more than just Cornelius and his immediate family. Cornelius, through his proactive faith, had intentionally assembled kinsmen and close friends (Acts 10:24), demonstrating their collective eagerness to hear what Peter had to say. This shows God had prepared a large audience, not just an individual.
  • gathered together (συναθροισμένους / synathroismenous): A perfect passive participle, indicating they "had been gathered" and were in a state of being assembled. This wasn't a casual collection of individuals; it was an intentional, pre-arranged assembly awaiting Peter's arrival. This reflects Cornelius's absolute conviction in the angel's promise and his role as a spiritual leader to his household and wider circle.

Acts 10 27 Bonus section

The immediate and significant gathering of many people underscores the providential synchronicity between Peter's vision and Cornelius's readiness. It wasn't an isolated spiritual awakening but a communal one, signaling the beginning of Gentile Christian communities. The term "people" in many translations implicitly conveys "persons" or "souls," highlighting that Peter's mission was to individuals beyond any national or ethnic boundary. This collective waiting indicates a spiritual hunger that God, through Peter, was about to satisfy. This incident stands as a crucial precedent for future missionary efforts, demonstrating that God often prepares hearts simultaneously on both sides of a cultural divide.

Acts 10 27 Commentary

Acts 10:27 serves as the hinge connecting Peter's internal transformation with the external fulfillment of God's universal plan. Peter, having received a divine mandate, transcends deeply ingrained cultural and religious taboos by entering a Gentile home while already engaged in dialogue, suggesting his journey from reluctance to confident obedience is progressing. His discovery of "many people gathered together" is highly significant; it reveals God's meticulous preparation not just of the messenger, but also of a waiting, receptive Gentile audience, far beyond a single convert. This verse sets the stage for a collective reception of the Gospel by uncircumcised Gentiles, a radical expansion of the early church that forever altered its trajectory, signaling that salvation, once seen as primarily for Israel, was now demonstrably offered to all who would believe.