Acts 10 30

Acts 10:30 kjv

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 10:30 nkjv

So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 10:30 niv

Cornelius answered: "Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me

Acts 10:30 esv

And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

Acts 10:30 nlt

Cornelius replied, "Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 30 Meaning

Acts 10:30 narrates Cornelius's account to Peter, describing the divine encounter that led him to summon Peter. Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, explains that four days prior, while engaged in a dedicated period of fasting and prayer culminating at the customary ninth hour (3 PM) prayer time, he was visited by an angel appearing as a man in resplendent clothing. This revelation, received directly from heaven, confirmed God's remembrance of Cornelius's prayers and alms and instructed him to send for Peter, setting the stage for the Gospel's entry into the Gentile world.

Acts 10 30 Context

Acts chapter 10 marks a pivotal moment in the spread of the Gospel, explicitly moving beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles, as envisioned by Jesus in Acts 1:8. The narrative unfolds with two distinct but interconnected divine encounters. Prior to verse 30, we are introduced to Cornelius in Caesarea, a Roman centurion described as "devout and God-fearing, who gave generously to the poor and prayed to God regularly" (Acts 10:2). Despite being a Gentile, his genuine piety caught divine attention. At the ninth hour one afternoon, he experienced a vision of an angel who told him his prayers and alms had ascended as a memorial before God and instructed him to send men to Joppa to find Simon Peter. Simultaneously, Peter, in Joppa, had a vision involving a sheet descending with all sorts of unclean animals, with a voice commanding him to eat, which he resisted. Peter's vision served to prepare him to overcome his Jewish dietary and social scruples regarding Gentiles. Acts 10:30 is Cornelius's recounting of his vision to Peter, after Peter's arrival, clarifying the divine impetus behind Peter's summons. The historical context highlights the profound societal and religious barriers between Jews and Gentiles, which God directly orchestrates to dismantle through these visions.

Acts 10 30 Word analysis

• And Cornelius said,: (Καὶ ὁ Κορνήλιος ἔφη - Kai ho Kornēlios ephē). Cornelius's statement validates the preceding divine narrative by providing his first-hand account. This establishes his sincerity and the reliability of his encounter, crucial for the groundbreaking mission Peter is about to undertake among Gentiles. He speaks from his own profound, personal experience of divine intervention.
• 'Four days ago': (Ἀπὸ τετάρτης ἡμέρας - Apo tetartēs hēmeras - lit. "from the fourth day"). This precise time marker signifies divine orchestration and the synchronous nature of events. Cornelius’s vision and the dispatch of his messengers happened exactly when Peter had his vision in Joppa, highlighting God’s careful planning to connect the two men and initiate the mission to the Gentiles. This synchronicity is a divine signature.
• I was fasting: (ἤμην νηστεύων - ēmēn nēsteuōn). This indicates a continuous or extended period of spiritual devotion. Fasting, in Jewish tradition and early Christianity, was associated with intense prayer, seeking God's will, repentance, or lament (e.g., Acts 13:2-3, Zech 7:5). It demonstrates Cornelius's deep spiritual yearning and commitment despite being a Gentile; his sincerity makes his experience noteworthy to the Jewish audience, underscoring that God acknowledges and responds to sincere seekers regardless of ethnicity.
• until this hour;: (μέχρι ταύτης τῆς ὥρας - mechri tautēs tēs hōras). This phrase, combined with "four days ago," suggests that his period of fasting was still ongoing at the time of the vision. It emphasizes his consistent devotion and spiritual readiness for divine encounter. He wasn't casually praying but engaged in persistent seeking.
• and at the ninth hour: (καὶ ἐνάτῃ ὥρᾳ - kai enatē hōra - 3 PM). The ninth hour was a traditional time for Jewish prayer, particularly associated with the evening sacrifice (Acts 3:1; Dan 9:21). That Cornelius, a Gentile, observed such a time for prayer underscores his devotion to the God of Israel and shows God meeting him within a recognized frame of reference for spiritual encounter, making his experience comprehensible and impactful for a Jewish-Christian audience.
• a man stood before me: (ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ἔστη ἐνώπιον μου - idou anēr estē enōpion mou - "behold, a man stood before me"). The phrase "behold a man" (ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ) often signals a significant or startling divine appearance, frequently referring to an angelic messenger. The directness of "stood before me" indicates an immediate, undeniable personal presence and revelation, not merely a dream or subjective thought.
• in bright clothing,': (ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ - en esthēti lamprā - "in radiant/splendid clothing"). "Bright clothing" consistently identifies angelic or divine beings in biblical accounts (e.g., Mt 28:3; Lk 24:4). This signifies the heavenly origin and glorious nature of the messenger, ensuring Cornelius knew it was a supernatural communication from God, giving it supreme authority and validity. The "brightness" denotes divine light, purity, and holiness.

• "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour": This detailed sequence of events—a period of fasting culminating at a specific, traditional prayer hour—highlights Cornelius's profound spiritual discipline and readiness. It sets the scene for a legitimate divine encounter, emphasizing his persistent seeking of God (often connected to a "God-fearing" Gentile status). This meticulous timing reinforces the providential connection between Cornelius’s vision and Peter’s subsequent journey.
• "a man stood before me in bright clothing": This group of words describes an angelic appearance, presented in a vivid, tangible manner. "A man" makes the encounter relatable, while "bright clothing" immediately signals the extraordinary, celestial nature of the visitor, leaving no doubt that the message was from divine authority and not human imagination. This glorious depiction enhances the message's urgency and divine imperative.

Acts 10 30 Bonus section

The narrative of Cornelius's vision is tightly synchronized with Peter's vision of the clean and unclean animals, which occurred the very next day. This precision underscores the divine choreography behind the integration of Gentiles into the early church. Cornelius’s account of being "four days ago" sets up a timeframe that, when considered with the subsequent travel time of his messengers, perfectly aligns with Peter's preparation to meet him. This parallel timing prevents any interpretation that the Gospel's outreach to Gentiles was an afterthought or merely a human initiative; rather, it was a direct, sovereign act of God meticulously planned and executed to ensure the inclusion of all peoples in His saving purpose. The specificity also counters any notion that Cornelius might have been deceived or hallucinating, as his experience is divinely corroborated by Peter’s distinct but related revelation.

Acts 10 30 Commentary

Acts 10:30 is Cornelius's crucial testimony to Peter, bridging the human search for God with divine revelation. It highlights God's attentiveness to a devout Gentile, demonstrating that sincere prayer and acts of charity transcend ethnic and religious boundaries, rising as a "memorial" before God. The precise timing of Cornelius's extended fasting and the ninth-hour vision—a common time for Jewish prayer—emphasizes his earnest devotion and God's recognition of it, underscoring that God hears all who genuinely seek Him. The angelic messenger in "bright clothing" legitimizes the divine command to send for Peter, setting in motion God's plan to extend the Gospel fully to the Gentiles, confirming the inclusive nature of Christ's salvation. This episode fundamentally dismantles the prior Jewish-Gentile divide concerning salvation.