A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 10

Cornelius (Κορνηλιος). The great Cornelian family of Rome may have had a freedman or descendant who is

centurion (εκατον-ταρχης, leader of a hundred, Latin centurio). See on Mt 8:5. These Roman centurions always appear in a favourable light in the N.T. (Matthew 8:5; Luke 7:2; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1; Acts 22:25; Acts 27:3). Furneaux notes the contrasts between Joppa, the oldest town in Palestine, and Caesarea, built by Herod; the Galilean fisherman lodging with a tanner and the Roman officer in the seat of governmental authority.

Of the band called the Italian (εκ σπειρης της καλουμενης Ιταλικης). A legion had ten cohorts or "bands" and sixty centuries. The word σπειρης (note genitive in -ες like the Ionic instead of -ας) is here equal to the Latin cohors. In the provinces were stationed cohorts of Italic citizens (volunteers) as an inscription at Carnuntum on the Danube (Ramsay) has shown (epitaph of an officer in the second Italic cohort). Once more Luke has been vindicated. The soldiers could, of course, be Roman citizens who lived in Caesarea. But the Italian cohorts were sent to any part of the empire as needed. The procurator at Caesarea would need a cohort whose loyalty he could trust, for the Jews were restless.

Devout (ευσεβης). Old word from ευ (well) and σεβομα (to worship, to reverence), but rare in the N.T. (Acts 10:2,7; 2 Peter 2:1). It might refer to a worshipful pagan (Acts 17:23, σεβασματα, objects of worship), but connected with "one that feared God" (φοβουμενος τον θεον) Luke describes "a God-fearing proselyte" as in 10:22,35. This is his usual term for the Gentile seekers after God (13:16, 26; 17:4,17, etc.), who had come into the worship of the synagogue without circumcision, and were not strictly proselytes, though some call such men "proselytes of the gate" (cf. Acts 13:43); but clearly Cornelius and his family were still regarded as outside the pale of Judaism (10:28,34; 11:1,8; 15:7). They had seats in the synagogue, but were not Jews.

Gave much alms (ποιων ελεεμοσυνας πολλας). Doing many alms (the very phrase in Mt 6:2), a characteristic mark of Jewish piety and from a Gentile to the Jewish people.

Prayed (δεομενος). Begging of God. Almsgiving and prayer were two of the cardinal points with the Jews (Jesus adds fasting in his picture of the Pharisee in Mt 6:1-18).

Coming in (εισελθοντα). Ingressive second aorist active participle, not present. So punctiliar, "saw come," not "saw coming." So also "say" or "speak," not "saying." Luke repeats the account of this vision to Cornelius twice (10:30; 11:13) and also the story of the vision to Peter (10:1-16,28; 11:5).

Lord (κυριε). Cornelius recognizes the angel of God (verse 3) as God's messenger.

Are gone up (ανεβησαν). Timeless second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω. Gone up like the smoke of incense in sacrifices.

For a memorial (εις μνημοσυνον). Old word from μνημων. The only other instance in the N.T. is by Jesus about the act of Mary of Bethany (Matthew 26:13). His prayers and his alms proved his sincerity and won the ear of God.

Fetch (μεταπεμψα). First aorist middle (indirect, for one's self) imperative of μεταπεμπω, usual voice in ancient Greek with this verb in sense of sending another for one's own sake. Only in Acts in the N.T. See also 10:22.