Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 10:27
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
27. And as he talked with him, he went in ] So that the previous part of the interview had been without. The action of Cornelius in thus coming forth to meet Peter is in the spirit of that other centurion in the Gospel, who said (Luk 7:6), “I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.” The Greek word here rendered “talked” indicates the communication made during an interview of some length. The subsequent remarks of St Peter shew us that he had been told many things by Cornelius, which are not specially mentioned, but comprehended under this word “talked.”
and found ( findeth) many, &c.] For the character of Cornelius had won him many attached friends.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And as he talked with him – He probably met him at the door, or at a small distance from the house. It was an expression of joy thus to go out to meet him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 27. And as he talked with him] Cornelius had met Peter at some short distance from his house, and they conversed together till they went in.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As he talked with him; they went talking together into the house, probably of the goodness of God, that they should be directed so happily unto one another; for they could not but see and acknowledge God in it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And as he talked with him,…. About the excessive respect he showed him, and his own infirmity and frailty, and unworthiness, as a creature:
he went in; to Cornelius’s house, at the door, and through the porch, to some interior room and apartment in it:
and found many that were come together; besides his family, many of his relations and intimate friends, whom he had got together on this occasion, that they might receive some advantage, as well as himself.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
As he talked with him ( ). Present active participle of , rare compound and here alone in the N.T., with associative instrumental case. The uncompounded verb is common enough though in the N.T. only in Lu 24:14 which see and Acts 20:11; Acts 24:26.
Findeth (). Vivid historical present indicative active.
Come together (). Second perfect active participle of . It was an expectant group of Gentiles eager for Peter’s interpretation of the vision of Cornelius.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And as he talked with him,” (kai sunomilon auto) “And while he was talking with him (Cornelius),” as a matter of introduction and personal identity the one to the other – Racially a Jew and a Gentile, both interested in their souls and the will of God for them and their lives, Joh 7:17; Eph 5:17; Eph 2:13-22.
2) “He went in,” (eiselthen) “He (Peter) went in,” went into Cornelius’ home, an expression of Christian humility, compassion, and care for the souls of those he had, before the vision, considered as unclean, Act 10:13-15; Col 2:14-17.
3) “And found many that were come together,” (kai heuriskei auneleluthotas pollous) “And found (finds). many people who had come together, for a special purpose, as relatives and intimate friends who respected his testimony of life and devotion, Act 10:2; Act 10:4; Act 10:24.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(27) And as he talked with him.The word implies a conversation of some length; possibly, as the sequel seems to show, leading to the resolve that each should state separately how they, who had previously been strangers to each other, had thus been brought together.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Went in From the porch into the reception room. (See notes on vol. i, p. 325.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And as he talked with him, he went in, and finds many come together,’
Then he talked further with Cornelius and went up to the upper chamber with him, where he found a number of guests gathered. Normally a Jew would wait outside in such a situation, and the Gentile would come out to him, thus preventing the Jew from being defiled by something in the Gentile’s house of which the Gentile would be totally unaware. Or in the circumstances of an ‘official request’ that he visit, a request that would be difficult sometimes to refuse, he might reluctantly enter knowing that he had no choice but to do so, aware, however, that he would later have to go through whatever cleansing ritual proved necessary. But he would not enter voluntarily. However, the vision that he had had, probably made Peter more willing than usual to enter. Those who were with him lived constantly among Gentiles and were probably a little less particular anyway, and they may well have considered that as he had been summoned by a Centurion he had little choice. There are some people that you do not argue with.
‘Many come together.’ Luke continues to emphasise how the word is going out to ‘many’. The intricacy of the story must not hide from us the fact that this is a further example of the spreading and multiplying of the word.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Ver. 27. He found many that were come together ] With good and honest hearts, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, resolved to be ruled by God, and to pass into the likeness of the heavenly pattern. Lord, saith Nazianzen, I am an instrument for thee to touch. I am only thy clay and wax, said another.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
27. ] The second [see Act 10:25 ] betokens the completion of his entering in; or (as De W. and Meyer) the former, his entering the house , this latter, the chamber .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 10:27 . : “and as he talked with him,” R.V.; only here in N.T., not in LXX (but , Symm. Job 19:19 ), cf. Act 20:11 for similar use of the simple verb , which is also used in a similar sense in LXX and in Josephus (so too in Xen.), and also in modern Greek (Kennedy). , i.e. , into the room, in distinction to Act 10:25 of entrance into the house, or it may signify the completion of his entering in (so De Wette, Weiss).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
as he talked with = conversing with. Greek. sunomileo. Only here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
27.] The second [see Act 10:25] betokens the completion of his entering in; or (as De W. and Meyer) the former, his entering the house,-this latter, the chamber.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 10:27. , talking with them) familiarly.-, he went in) into the inner part of the house.-, many) A joyous harvest of souls to be reaped.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
and found: Act 10:24, Act 14:27, Joh 4:35, 1Co 16:9, 2Co 2:12, Col 4:3
Reciprocal: Jos 2:18 – thy father
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
Act 10:27. The above conversation took place near the entrance of the house of Cornelius. Peter then went on in and observed that quite an audience had assembled.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 10:27. As he talked with him, he went in. Free and friendly intercourse with a Gentile is now become comparatively easy to Peter. He has reached a further step in the learning of his great lesson. The conversation at this point probably related to casual matters, such as health or the incidents of the journey.
Many. This adds much force to what was said before (see note above on Act 10:24). Peter seems to have been surprised and much impressed by what he saw on entering.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 25
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
27-38. Peter now enters, and Cornelius introduces him to his holiness band, who are so delighted with a visit by the senior apostle. He now proceeds to give them the benefit of the heavenly sunburst he had received at Joppa, shining away all the clouds which, in Jewish vision, had hung over the Gentile world from the days of Abraham, assuring them of their glorious privileges and equal rights in the wonderful plan of salvation, and throwing wide open the golden gate of gospel grace, and ringing aloud the heavenly proclamation to the Gentile world represented in his congregation.
39-43 . In his burning pathos, sweeping vehemence and transcendent eloquence, the Spirit flooding his mind with supernatural illuminations, he arrays before his Gentile audience all the prophets in bold panorama, proclaiming to Jews and Gentiles indiscriminately the remission of sins on the simple condition of faith in Christ, all carnal ordinances, ecclesiastical dogmata, rites and ceremonies, legal obedience and symbolisms forever eliminated, thus enforcing with iron logic and electrical enthusiasm the creed of Christendom for Jews and Gentiles, i. e., Jews only.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
It was taboo for Jews to associate with Gentiles and to visit them in their homes. [Note: Mishnah Demai 3:4.] Gentiles did not observe the strict rules Jews followed in eating, preparing, and even handling food, nor did they tithe or practice circumcision. Any physical contact with Gentiles laid a Jew open to becoming ceremonially unclean because of the Gentiles’ failure to observe these Mosaic laws.
"There is nothing more binding on the average person than social custom." [Note: Robertson, 3:141.]
Food was the crux of the issue that separated them. However, Peter had gotten the message of the sheet full of food: food does not make a person unholy or unclean. Consequently he had come without further objection. Peter’s explanation in these verses stressed the fact that God had convinced him to go against traditional Jewish custom, which was wellknown among the Gentiles.
"If the food laws of the Jews no longer were valid, there was no real reason to avoid social contact with gentiles, for those distinctions lay at the heart of Jewish clannishness." [Note: Kent, p. 93.]
"He [Peter] violates the first rule of homiletics when he begins his message with an apology. What he says is not a friendly thing to say. In fact, it is an insult. . . . How would you feel, especially if you are a lady who is a housekeeper, if some visitor came into your home and his first words were, ’I am coming into your home, which I consider dirty’?" [Note: McGee, 4:557.]
Nevertheless Peter quickly and humbly explained that he had been wrong about how he formerly felt about Gentiles (Act 10:29).
". . . the Christian preacher or teacher must call no man common or unclean." [Note: Morgan, p. 218.]