John Gill

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.

“There was a certain man in Caesarea,.... This was the Caesarea formerly called Strato's tower, not Caesarea Philippi; for the former, and not the latter, lay near Joppa: called Cornelius; which was a Roman name, and he himself was a Roman or an Italian: a…”

Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.

“And now send men to Joppa,.... Which lay near to Caesarea; and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: the angel was not sent to instruct Cornelius himself, but to direct him to an apostle of Christ, and minister of the Gospel, who should…”

They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.

“And called, and asked,.... That is, they called to the people of the house, Simon's family; and in a civil and courteous manner asked them, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter; which they said to distinguish him from Simon the master of the house, and…”

As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

“Which greatly amused him, affected his mind, and employed his thoughts what should be the meaning and design of it: the Spirit said unto him; the holy Spirit of God, either by an articulate voice, or by making an impulse on his mind; behold, three…”

So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

“Arise, therefore, and get thee down,.... From the top of the house where he was: and go with them; the three men, to Caesarea doubting nothing; whether it is right or wrong, lawful or unlawful, to go with them, because not Jews, but uncircumcised Gentiles…”

Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

“Send therefore to Joppa,.... See Gill on Act 10:5, Act 10:6. who when he cometh shall speak unto thee, is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions, but agrees with Act 10:6.”

God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—

“Him God raised up the third day,.... According to the Scriptures, particularly Hos 6:2. The resurrection, of Christ, though it is sometimes ascribed to himself, as God, whereby he was declared to be the Son of God, yet generally to God the Father, as here…”

And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

“And he commanded us, to preach unto the people,.... Not only of the Jews, but of the Gentiles; to all nations, to the whole world, and every creature; for the apostle seems to refer to the commission given to him, and the rest of the…”

All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

“To him give all the prophets witness,.... As David, Psa 32:1 Dan 9:9 that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive the remission of sins; the meaning is, that whoever believes in Christ with a right and true faith, with the heart, he…”

For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

“For they heard them speak with tongues,.... With divers tongues, which they had never learned, and before did not understand: and magnify God; they spoke of the wonderful works of God in these languages, as the apostles did at Pentecost, Act 2:11 they spoke greatly…”

and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

“Saying, thou wentest into men uncircumcised,.... Into the houses of such, and lodged with them, and familiarly conversed with them: and didst eat with them; which, according to the traditions of the Jews, were unlawful; See Gill on Act 10:28 they say nothing about his…”

But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:

“But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning,.... Of the vision at Joppa; and expounded it by order unto them; or related every particular, in a very methodical and orderly manner: he did not insist upon his authority as an apostle, and much less pretended…”

Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’

“And I heard a voice saying unto me,.... As he apprehended in his mind; and this voice he heard in the same sense and manner, as the Apostle Paul heard when in a trance, Act 22:17.”

He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.

“And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house,.... The clause, "in his house", is very appropriately put; for since an angel had entered into his house, it could not be criminal in Peter, and the six brethren, to follow him.”

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.

“And as I began to speak,...., That is, whilst he was speaking; the word "begin" with Luke, both, in his Gospel and in this history, is used not to denote the time or order of any action, but the thing itself; as in Luk 4:21…”

Then I remembered the word of the Lord, as He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

“Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,.... Just before his ascension, Act 1:5.”

When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

“When they heard these things,.... Peter's vision at Joppa, and Cornelius's at Caesarea, and the wonderful pouring forth of the Spirit upon these Gentiles under Peter's sermon: they held their peace; and ceased contending and disputing with Peter, or blaming him for his conduct; for…”

Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.

“Now they which were scattered abroad,.... These were not the apostles, but the other ministers of the word; see Act 8:1 who were dispersed upon the persecution that arose about Stephen; his preaching and miracles, his oration in defence of himself, and his death: these…”

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

“Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus,.... "In Cilicia" to seek Saul; who had been sent thither by the brethren that he might escape the rage of the Grecians, who sought to slay him, Act 9:29.”

In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

“And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch., That is, some time in that year that Saul and Barnabas were at Antioch, there came from Jerusalem thither some Christian prophets; for such there were in the Christian church, who had not only a…”

One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)

“And there stood up one of them named Agabus,.... The same name with Hagaba in Neh 7:48 and with Hagabah, or Hagab in Ezr 2:45 and which the Septuagint there call Agaba and Agab.”

This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

“Which they also did,.... They not only determined, but they put their resolutions into execution, and acted according to a rule which the apostle recommends, 2Co 8:11 and sent it to the elders; to the apostles; for though there were deacons there, yet they chose…”

He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

“And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. This was James, the son of Zebedee, whom our Lord told, that he should be baptized with the baptism he was baptized with, Mat 20:22 meaning the baptism of martyrdom; and he was the…”

And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.

“And when he had considered the thing,.... The whole of the salvation wrought for him; or rather, where he should go, to what house he should betake himself; ere he was aware, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname…”

He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.

“And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, &c. The lesser door in the great gate, or the door of the porch through which they entered into the house.”