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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_10:23-29
23bAnd on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." 27As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me."
Act_10:24 "some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him" Act_11:12 says there were six of them. Peter knew that this incident would cause problems among some of the Jewish followers of Jesus. Therefore, he took several witnesses with him (cf. Act_11:12).
▣ "Caesarea" Caesarea was the beautiful city by the sea. It was named in honor of the Roman Caesar. It was the Palestinian quarters for the Roman occupation force. The Romans had made it into a small harbor.
▣ "called together his relatives and close friends" Cornelius, expecting a speaker from God, had called all his close family, friends, servants, and possibly other soldiers. They may have all been waiting for hours and hours. What a spirit of anticipation and expectation must have filled this house! All of these would have been discussing the vision and its message.
This is what shocked the leaders of the Jewish segment of the church, that a large number of Gentiles, many of them not God-fearers, had been included in the filling of the Spirit and baptism (cf. Act_10:27).
Act_10:25; Act_10:27 "When Paul entered. . .he entered" There is an apparent discrepancy in the Greek text here. However, the first "entering" mentioned in Act_10:25 could be the city gate on the courtyard of the house, and the second "entering" in Act_10:27 could be Cornelius' house. Whichever is the case, again Peter is violating Jewish ceremonial ritualism by entering a Gentile home.
Act_10:25 "fell at his feet and worshiped him" This is the regular idiom in the Septuagint and the Gospels for worship. But, in this context "give respect" may better catch the idea (cf. NJB). An angel had prepared Peter's coming; of course Cornelius would honor and respect this messenger (cf. Rev_19:10; Rev_22:8-9).
Act_10:28 "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate" Peter is quoting his rabbinical training or synagogue school; however, this is not found in the OT, but simply in rabbinical interpretations.
▣ "a foreigner" This term is another unique text found only here in the NT. Luke has chosen several very rare words in this chapter.
1. eusebçs, Act_10:2; Act_10:7, devout (cf. 2Pe_2:9)
2. prospeinos, Act_10:10, hungry
3. dienthumeomai, Act_10:19, reflecting
4. sunomileô, Act_10:27, talked
5. athemiton, Act_10:28, unlawful
6. allophulô, Act_10:28, foreigner
7. anantirrçtos, Act_10:29, without even raising any objections (cf. Act_19:36)
8. prosôpolçmpçs, Act_10:34, respecter of persons (similar to Rom_2:11; Eph_6:9; Jas_2:19)
9. katadunasteuô, Act_10:38, oppress (cf. Jas_2:6)
10. procheirotoneô, Act_10:41, elect before
It is uncertain whether Luke copied some of these early sermons and events in Acts from other sources or records verbal interviews with those who were present.
▣ "yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean" Peter got the message! The animals in the sheet represented all human beings made in the image of God (cf. Gen_1:26-27). God's love for Cornelius and his family and friends showed Peter the worldwide scope of the gospel! This would confirm the witness of Stephen and the preaching of Philip.