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Although the Holy Spirit tells Peter of the men and their arrival, He does not inform Peter about
their mission. Peter has to ask them a question.

Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of
good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send
for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just (dikaios) man, and one that feareth (phobeo:
references) God, and of good report (martureo: witness) among all the nation of the Jews, was
warned from God by an holy (hagios) angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words
of (from) thee.

These men give Peter all of Cornelius’s qualifications. They attempt to convince Peter to go
based on the man’s merits. Although Peter does want to know something about Cornelius, he
travels with them only because God has instructed him to do so.

Act 10:23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with
them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

The Lord is honoring Simon the tanner. Although he is considered ceremonially unclean
because he is a tanner, God allows him to witness an important moment in the spiritual history
of the Gentile church. Not only does he have Peter, the greatest spiritual leader of the Jewish
church, in his home, Roman representatives from the house of Cornelius, a top ranking official
in the Italian band, have come. The very people who will witness the Holy Spirit’s transition
into the Gentile nations are in Simon’s home.

THE MEETING OF PETER AND CORNELIUS (24-33)

Upon meeting Cornelius, a Gentile, Peter explains his vision and God’s instruction. Peter then
asks Cornelius to explain why he had been summoned. Cornelius recounts the angel’s visitation
four days earlier.

CORNELIUS WAITS

Act 10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them,
and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

And the morrow (morning) after (leaving Joppa) they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius
waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen (relatives) and near (close) friends.

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