Acts 10:31
in Acts 10and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
KJV
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
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This verse in Acts 10
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThy prayer is heard - See the note on Act 10:4. Cornelius prayed, fasted, and gave alms. It was in this way he looked for salvation; not to purchase it: a thought of this kind does not appear to have entered into his mind; but these were the means he used to get his soul brought to the knowledge of the truth. The reader must recollect that in the case of Cornelius there was no open vision; he used the light and power which God had already given; and behold how mightily God increased his gifts!
This site's exposition
Four days ago I was fasting until this hour
on Acts 10:30-33
Cornelius repeats the angel's words almost exactly as Luke first reported them, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God, the doubled telling underlining how carefully Luke wants the reader to trust this account. Four days ago I was fasting until this hour anchors the vision in specific time, matching the ninth hour of Peter's own trance days before, the two men's experiences running on a shared timetable neither could have arranged. Cornelius's closing words, now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God, is as complete a statement of readiness to receive the gospel as any preacher could ask for from a congregation.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
What then does Cornelius? He does not say, Why, did not the soldiers tell thee? but observe again, how humbly he speaks. For he says, "From the fourth day 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, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." "And at the ninth hour," he says, "I was praying." It seems to me, that this man had also fixed for himself set times of a life under stricter rule, and on certain days. For this is why he says, "From the fourth day." See how great a thing prayer is! When he advanced in piety, then the Angel appears to him. "From the fourth day:" i.e. of the week; not "four days ago." For, "on the morrow Peter went away with them, and on the morrow after they entered into Caesarea:" this is one day: and the day on which the persons sent came (to Joppa) one day: and on the third (the Angel) appeared: so that there are two days after that on which (Cornelius) had been praying. "And, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing:" he does not say, an Angel, so unassuming is he: "and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God."
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Thy prayer is heard - Doubtless he had been praying for instruction, how to worship God in the most acceptable manner.
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard,.... What he was now particularly making to God, as well as others he had before put up to him: and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God; See Gill on Act 10:4.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φησίν· | phesin | said; | G5346 → | 66 times |
| Κορνήλιε, | kornelie | Cornelius, | G2883 → | 8 times |
| εἰσηκούσθη | eisekousthe | has been heard | G1522 → | |
| σου | sou | your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προσευχὴ | proseuche | prayer | G4335 → | 35 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αἱ | hai | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐλεημοσύναι | eleemosunai | alms | G1654 → | 13 times |
| σου | sou | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐμνήσθησαν | emnesthesan | was remembered | G3403 → | |
| ἐνώπιον | enopion | before | G1799 → | 94 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ. | theou | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φησίν·said;
phesinG5346 →66 times
Κορνήλιε,Cornelius,
kornelieG2883 →8 times
εἰσηκούσθηhas been heard
eisekoustheG1522 →
σουyour
souG4771 →2973 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
προσευχὴprayer
proseucheG4335 →35 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αἱthe
haiG3588 →19766 times
ἐλεημοσύναιalms
eleemosunaiG1654 →13 times
σουof you
souG4771 →2973 times
ἐμνήσθησανwas remembered
emnesthesanG3403 →
ἐνώπιονbefore
enopionG1799 →94 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ.God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Acts 10:4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 4:6
Through
Daniel 10:12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response…
it leads to
- Daniel 10:19
“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord,…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 10:30–31
Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
- Daniel 10:19
Through
Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 2:21
So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
- Psalms 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
- Genesis 25:21
Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
- Psalms 127:3–5
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
- 1 Samuel 2:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies7
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 23; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.