Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 10:27

"And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together:" — Acts 10:27 (ASV)

In Cornelius’s living quarters Peter found a large group waiting to hear what he had to say. Perhaps self-consciously, he began by saying that Jewish law prohibited a Jew from associating with Gentiles. Admittedly, this was an ideal representation of the Jewish position, for Jewish ethical law contained a number of provisions for Jewish-Gentile business partnerships. But such contacts made a Jew ceremonially unclean, as did entering Gentiles’ buildings or touching their possessions. Above all, it was forbidden to accept the hospitality of Gentiles and eat with them, particularly because Gentiles did not tithe. But, Peter said, God had taught him in a vision not to call anyone impure or unclean; so now he was associating with them without traditional scruples. Then he asked, “May I ask why you sent for me?”