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Acts 10:17

in Acts 10

While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,

KJV

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

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This verse in Acts 10

Commentary

12 notes on this verse
Doubted in himself - Doubted in his own mind. He was perplexed, and did not know how to understand it. Behold, the men ... - We see here an admirable arrangement of the events of Providence to fit each other. Every part of this transaction is made to harmonize with every other part; and it was so arranged that just in the moment when the mind of Peter was filled with perplexity, the very event should occur which would relieve him of his embarrassment. Such a coincidence is not uncommon.

This site's exposition

puzzling over the meaning

on Acts 10:17-20

While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate, so the meaning arrives at the door first. The Spirit tells him that three men are looking for him and to go without hesitation, because I have sent them. That word joins the vision, the visitors and the visit to come as the work of one sender.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 22 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

And for all this, he knew not what it meant. "Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, and called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there." But while Peter, it says, "doubted in himself," the men come at the right moment to solve his doubt: just as the Lord suffered Joseph first to be perturbed in mind, and then sends the Angel: for the soul with ease accepts the solution, when it has first been in perplexity.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.17 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

At the right time, the men come who resolve his confusion. When Christ allowed Joseph to be thrown into confusion, then too, he sent an archangel to him. Here Peter's soul, having been confused, calmly accepts the resolution … when they inquire whether he is staying there.

A commentator

Cassiodorus

Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles · Written before 585.

proposed

"Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself, what the vision that he had seen should mean," etc. As Peter thought in bewilderment about the above-mentioned vision, the Holy Ghost said to him: "Behold, men seek thee; Cornelius hath sent them. Arise and go with them, …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

"And having called out they inquired." Since they inquired into a humble house from below, and they asked not the neighbors. Great is the power of the Spirit in what was said, that "for I have sent them." When Peter went down he inquired into …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

The sheet (shroud) signifies the earth, and the beasts in it signify the Gentiles. The saying "kill and eat" (v. 13) means that they too must come to Christ, and the fact that this is repeated three times signifies baptism. Thus, the true meaning of …
5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

30 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, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

While Peter doubted in himself, behold the men - Frequently the things which befall us within and from without at the same time, are a key to each other.
Now while Peter doubted in himself,.... For notwithstanding what he had heard and seen, he had not at once a full knowledge of this matter.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

while Peter doubted . . . what this should mean, behold, the three men . . . stood before the gate . . . and asked--"were inquiring," that is, in the act of doing so. The preparations here made--of Peter for his Gentile visitors, as of Cornelius for him--are devoutly to be noted.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

While Peter doubted - the men - stood before the gate - In all this we find an admirable display of the economy of Providence. Cornelius prays, and has a vision which prepares him to receive instruction from Peter: Peter prays, and has a vision which prepares and disposes him to give instruction to Cornelius. While he is in doubts and perplexity what the full meaning of the vision might be, the messengers, who had been despatched under the guidance of an especial Providence, came to the door; and the Holy Spirit gives him information that his doubts should be all cleared up by accompanying the men who were now inquiring for him. How exactly does every thing in the conduct of Providence occur; and how completely is every thing adapted to time, place, and occasion! All is in weight, measure, and number. Those simple occurrences which men snatch at, and press into the service of their own wishes, and call them providential openings may, indeed, be links of a providential chain, in reference to some other matter; but unless they be found to speak the same language in all their parts, occurrence corresponding with occurrence, they are not to be construed as indications of the Divine will in reference to the claimants. Many persons, through these misapprehensions, miscarrying, have been led to charge God foolishly for the unsuccessful issue of some business in which their passions, not his providence, prompted them to engage.

The words behind it

31 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Luke 1:29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.5 worksNumbers 12:6He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.4 worksActs 10:3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”3 worksActs 10:7–19When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.2 works1 Peter 1:11trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.2 worksActs 9:43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.2 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 2:12Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”2 worksActs 25:20Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.2 worksActs 5:24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.2 worksJohn 13:12When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?2 worksActs 17:20For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”2 worksActs 12:9So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.1 worksIsaiah 1:1This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.-1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Peter 1:11

    trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

    it leads to

    • Luke 24:25–27

      Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

    • 2 Peter 1:21

      For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

    • Isaiah 52:13–14

      Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

    • Romans 8:9

      You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong…

    • Acts 26:22–23

      But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:

  • Through

    Acts 9:43

    And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

    it leads to

    • Acts 10:6

      He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

    • Acts 10:32

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

  • Through

    Acts 2:12

    Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

    it leads to

    • Luke 18:36

      When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 10 →
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 22; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.17; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 10 →