The Strand Study Bible

ACTS 10:20

ACTS 10:37

1800

men seek thee . 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for 1 I have sent them . 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centuri- on, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the na- tion of the Jews, was warned from G O D [ TR INI TY ] by an 2 HOLY ANGEL to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Peter witnesses to Cornelius 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and 3 certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Corne- lius met him, and fell down at his feet, and 4 worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, 5 Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that 6 it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the 7 ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a 2 MAN stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remem- brance in the sight of G O D [ TR INI TY ] . 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hith- er Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee . 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here pres- ent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that 8 God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he 9 that feareth him, and 10 worketh righteousness is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching 11 peace by Jesus Christ: ( 12 HE is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, 13 and began from Galilee, 14 after the baptism which John preached;

1. Acts 10:5 2. or, “Holy Spirit” - vs 3 3. or, “six”- Acts 11:12 4. Rev 19:10 & 22:8-9 5. Acts 14:14-15 & Rev 19:10 & 22:8-9 6. Jn 4:9 7. or, “3 PM” 8. that is, “God does not play favorites” - Deut 10:17 & II Chro 19:7 & Job 34:19 9. Jn 7:17 10. or, “want what is right” - Jn 3:21 11. Isa 9:6 12. or, “Christ” -Rom 10:9-13 13. Mt 4:12 & Lk 4:14-18 14. Mk 1:4 & Acts 13:23-24 & 19:3-4

MED SEA

• Nazareth

• Caesarea

• Joppa

• Jerusalem

Peter travels to Caesarea and witnesses to Cornelius Map #37

10:35 The only prerequisite for a healthy relationship with an omnipotent God is an open and honest heart that wants what is right ( worketh righteousness – Mt 3:13-16, Jn 3:19-21, Heb 1:9 and Rom 2:7,10). It’s called virtue . As a man, King David didn’t always do right (II Sam 11), but he always wanted what was right (I Sam 12:13). As humans, we can think wrong (II Sam 11:1-2); we can even do wrong (II Sam 11:3-4 and Rom 7:15-25), but we cannot “ want ” wrong if we are to gain the attention and much-needed help of Almighty God. People who fear God and prepare their heart to seek Him (want to give God the last say in their lives – II Chro 30:18-20) will always have an open relationship with God and people around them. In short, we have to want what’s right before we can do what’s right. What Peter is saying here is that God desires the root (the internal reality of wanting what’s right ) before the fruit (the mere external conformity of doing what is right). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: You have to “want what’s right” before you can work what’s right