Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 10:31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Verse 31. Thy prayer is heard] See Clarke on Ac 10:4. Cornelius prayed, fasted, and gave alms. It was in this way he looked for salvation; not to purchase it: a thought of this kind does not appear to have entered into his mind; but these were the means he used to get his soul brought to the knowledge of the truth. The reader must recollect that in the case of Cornelius there was no open vision; he used the light and power which God had already given; and behold how mightily God increased his gifts! He that hath, i.e., that uses what he has, shall receive; and no man can expect any increase of light or life, who does not improve the grace already given.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Alms; of which see in Act 10:4.
In the sight of God; unto which, not only the outward gift, but the inward affection, is visible; and this is peculiarly in the sight of God, the other may be seen also by men.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard,…. What he was now particularly making to God, as well as others he had before put up to him:
and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God;
[See comments on Ac 10:4].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Is heard (). Sort of timeless first aorist passive indicative as is “are had in remembrance” (. See verse 4 “are gone up for a memorial”).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Said [] . Rev., saith. The historical present, giving vividness to the narrative.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard,” (kai phesin Kornelie eisekousthe sou he prosluche) “And says, Cornelius, your prayer was heard,” though he was a Gentile, Act 10:34-35. Let it be understood that no race, family or person has a restricted franchise on praying to God and being heard, Luk 18:13-14; Rom 10:13; Act 17:29; Psa 145:18-19. God hears sinners’ prayers and answers them.
2) “And thine alms,” (kai hai eleemosunai sou) “And the mercy deeds, alms, or eeleomosinary deeds of you,” the charitable and hospitable good will deeds he rendered acknowledging his belief in God and the value of human life, important in expressing faith in the existence of God, Heb 1:1; Heb 1:6.
3) “Are had in remembrance in the sight of God,” (emnes thesan enopion tou theou) “Were (and have been) remembered before God,” in His presence, or in His sight. God observes earnest prayers, fasting, and alms devoutly offered to Him still. This man confirmed and reconfirmed the sincerity of his faith or belief in God by charitable deeds, prayers, and devotions, so that God responded to his expression of faith, (Heb 11:1; Heb 11:6) and sent one to tell him what to do to be saved, even as He does to every honest person, Joh 7:17; as He did to the eunuch, Act 8:29; Luk 19:10; Joh 20:21; Rom 1:14-16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(31) Thy prayer is heard.The singular number gives a greater definiteness to the object of the prayer than in Act. 10:4. It must have been, in the nature of the case, a prayer for fuller light and knowledge of the Truth. One who had heard, through Philips work at Csarea, or, it may be, through the brother-officer who had been stationed at Capernaum (Luk. 7:2), of the teaching and the life of Jesus, and of the new society that acknowledged Him as its Head, may well have sought for guidance as to the special conditions of admission to that society. Philip was not as yet authorised to admit one who had not taken on himself the sign of the covenant of Israel. Was that an indispensable condition?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Act 10:31. Thy prayer is heard, &c. The case of Cornelius before St. Peter was sent to him, was, I have no doubt, the case of many, who were far from being in any degree Jewish proselytes, and had never heard of the Jews and their religion; as it was most certainly the case of many before the peculiarities of Judaism existed, and even before the institution of the Abrahamic covenant; though Cornelius was one of the most eminent for piety of these persons. This history evidently proves, that God would sooner send an angel to direct pious and upright persons to the knowledge of the gospel, than suffer them to perish by ignorance of it. But I refer my readers to my annotations on the epistle to the Romans for the fullexplanation of my sentiments, on the salvation of the pious heathen by the righteousness which is of God by faith. God forbid, however, that I should intimate, that any persons like Cornelius, may be found among those whoreject Christianity, when offered to them in its full evidence. But see the next note.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Ver. 31. Cornelius, thy prayer is heard ] This was a singular happiness, and a sure seal of his good estate to Godward, Psa 66:18-19 Joh 9:31 . Every access to God with success, every gracious return of prayer, sealeth up this comfort to the soul, that since He that hath the keys of David hath once opened unto us not only a door of utterance, but a door of entrance to the throne of grace, it shall never be shut again any more.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
31 .] The two are separated here, which were placed together in Act 10:4 , and each has its proper verb: . .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 10:31 . : perhaps “was heard” or “has been heard” is best (see Rendall and Hackett). . may refer to his present prayer, as it is in the singular, but the burden of all his past prayers had doubtless been the same, cf. Act 10:33 for God’s guidance into truth. , cf. LXX, Psa 19:3 , Eze 18:22 ; Eze 18:24 ; Rev 16:19 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
is = was.
are had in, &c. = were remembered.
in the sight of. The same as “before”, verses: Act 10:10, Act 10:4, Act 10:30, Act 10:33.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
31.] The two are separated here, which were placed together in Act 10:4, and each has its proper verb: . .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
thy: Isa 38:5, Dan 9:23, Dan 10:12, Luk 1:13
are: Act 10:4, Lev 2:2, Lev 2:9, Lev 5:12, Phi 4:18, Heb 6:10, Rev 5:8, Rev 8:3, Rev 8:4
Reciprocal: Lev 24:7 – a memorial 1Ki 9:3 – I have heard 2Ki 19:20 – I have heard 2Ch 7:12 – I have heard 2Ch 20:14 – Then upon Neh 2:20 – memorial Psa 65:2 – thou Isa 58:8 – and thy Isa 62:6 – make mention of the Lord Dan 9:20 – whiles Mat 6:2 – when Mat 25:35 – I was an Mar 9:24 – with Luk 3:11 – He that hath two Luk 11:41 – rather Luk 16:9 – Make Joh 9:37 – Thou Act 3:2 – to ask Act 9:36 – almsdeeds Act 10:2 – which 1Th 1:3 – in the 1Ti 2:8 – lifting
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Act 10:31. Thy prayer is heard. In the actual words of the angel prayer is mentioned before alms; whereas in the direct narrative (Act 10:2), alms are mentioned before the prayers. Moreover, two separate verbs are used in this place. It is to be observed further that prayer here is in the singular. It seems fair to infer that he was praying here for Divine illumination. This prayer was perhaps the crisis and consummation of many previous prayers.
Had in remembrance in the sight of God. See note above on Act 10:4.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 30
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
10:31 {4} And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
(4) Cornelius’ faith demonstrated itself by prayer and charity.