Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 10:17

"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," — Acts 10:17 (ASV)

Doubted in himself. Doubted in his own mind. He was perplexed to understand it.

Behold, the men, etc. 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. It was so arranged that, just at the moment when Peter's mind was filled with perplexity, the very event would occur that would relieve him of his embarrassment.

Such a coincidence is not uncommon. An event of Divine Providence can be as clear an expression of his will, and can as certainly serve to indicate our duty, as the most manifest revelation would. A state of mind can also be produced by an arrangement of circumstances that will be extremely perplexing until some event occurs, or some field of usefulness opens, that exactly corresponds to it and indicates to us the will of God.

Therefore, we should observe the events of God's Providence. We should mark and record the train of our own thoughts and watch with interest any event that occurs when we are perplexed and embarrassed, to obtain, if possible, an expression of God's will.

Before the gate. The word here rendered "gate"—pulwna—refers, properly, to the porch or principal entrance to an Eastern house. (See the notes on Matthew 9:2 and Matthew 26:71).

It does not mean a gate as we use the term, but rather a door. .