They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
Parallel Translations
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They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
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And they sayde vnto him: Cornelius the captayne a iust man and won that feareth God and of good reporte amonge all the people of the Iewes was warned by an holy angell to sende for the into his housse and to heare wordes of the.
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And they sayd, Cornelius the captaine, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Iewes, was warned from heauen by an holy Angel, to send for thee into his house, and to heare thy wordes.
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Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (30)
Passages linked to Acts 10:22 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Acts 11:14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’
- Acts 10:2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
- Acts 22:12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
- 3 John 1:12 Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
- Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
- Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
- Matthew 1:19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
- Mark 6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
- Mark 8:38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father’s glory, with the holy angels.”
- Luke 2:25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
- Luke 7:4-5 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”
- Luke 23:50 Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
- John 5:24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
- John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
- John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
- John 13:20 Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”
- John 17:8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
- John 17:20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,
- Acts 6:3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
- Acts 10:6 He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
- Acts 10:33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
- Acts 24:15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
- Romans 1:17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
- Romans 10:17-18 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
- 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- Hebrews 10:38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
- Hebrews 11:2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.
- Hebrews 12:23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- 2 Peter 3:2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (13 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 22. Cornelius, a just man. Cornelius’ servants commend their…
22. Cornelius, a just man. Cornelius’ servants commend their master not ambitiously, or to the end they may flatter him, but that Peter may the less abhor his company. And for this cause they say that he was approved of the Jews, that Peter may know that he was not estranged from true and sincere godliness. For even those which were superstitious, though they served idols, did boast that they were worshippers of God. But Cornelius could not have the Jews, who retained the worship of the true God alone, to be witnesses of his godliness, unless he had professed that he worshipped the God of Abraham with them. Furthermore, as this was a rare example, so it ought to have moved Peter not a little. Although they lean most of all to this argument, that they may persuade him that which they go about, that all this matter is governed by the commandment of God, as if they should say, That he is not so much called by a mortal man as by God, who had so commanded by his angel.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just…
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.
Ver. 22. That feareth God] Not with a base fear, as those mongrels, 2Ki 17:32, that feared the Lord for his lions sent among them (like as some Indians in this day fear the devil because he beats them), but with an amicable, filial, reverential fear, which got him a good report among all the nation of the Jews; such as St Paul thus bespeaketh, "Men of Israel, and ye that fear God," Act 13:16. {a}
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{a} Duo sunt timores, servilis et amicalis. Beda.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain That they might speed in their message, they labour…
That they might speed in their message, they labour to prevent all prejudice Peter might have against Cornelius, who was a Gentile by title; telling him:
1. That he was a just man, as is said of Joseph, Mat 1:19.
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2. That he worshipped the true God the same with the Jews, and not the false gods of the Gentiles.
3. That he was reputed a pious and good man, and so it would be no disparagement to the apostles to go unto him.
Was warned from God: this argument St. Peter could not deny. When God’s command is evident, his people are determined and resolved.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And they said, Cornelius, the centurion,.... A certain person,…
And they said, Cornelius, the centurion,.... A certain person, by name Cornelius, a Roman or Italian, as his name shows, and by office a "centurion", that was over an hundred soldiers: a just man; before God, and in his sight, through the imputation of Christ's righteousness to him; and who was a new man, created in righteousness and true holiness; and lived soberly, righteously, and godly, and did justice between man and man; and so was just in the sight of men, which was very rare in a Gentile, and in a soldier:
and one that feareth God; the true God, the God of Israel, and worshipped him, both internally and externally; for both sorts of worship are included in the fear of God:
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and of good report among all the nation of the Jews; that knew any thing of him, especially at Caesarea, where many Jews, and even many of their most celebrated doctors lived: and this is the rather observed, to induce Peter, a Jew, to go along with them to him, since his character was so very good, and he was in so much credit and esteem with the people; for he must be something extraordinary to have their good word, who had such an abhorrence of uncircumcised Gentiles in general: this man, they add,
was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house; they intimate hereby, that he did not send for him of himself, he was not led to it by any fancy of his own, or any curiosity in him; nor should he have presumed to have used such freedom with Peter, but that he had some instructions from God himself, who had sent an holy angel to him, and had ordered him to send men to Joppa, and fetch Peter from thence to his house, for the end next mentioned:
and to hear words of thee: the doctrines of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it: that being taught by the one, he and his might submit to the other.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 22. Cornelius the centurion, &c.] They gave him…
Verse 22. Cornelius the centurion, &c.] They gave him the simple relation which they had received from their master. For the character of Cornelius, see the comment, See Clarke on Ac 10:2.
To hear words of thee.] But of what kind they could not as yet tell.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain To hear words of thee - To be instructed…
To hear words of thee - To be instructed by thee.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain they said, Cornelius . . . a just man,…
they said, Cornelius . . . a just man, &c.--fine testimony this from his own servants.
of good report among all the nation of the Jews--specified, no doubt, to conciliate the favorable regard of the Jewish apostle.
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to hear words of thee--(See on Act 11:14).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 22. They said—The use of repetitions in this narrative…
22. They said—The use of repetitions in this narrative is after the style of the most antique simplicity, found in the Old Testament and in the poems of Homer. But it indicates also that Luke (probably now at Jerusalem; see note on Act_13:1) was most fully informed of the facts, and that he esteemed the whole narrative to be of the most impressive importance, being the first great divine assurance that the Gentile, unbound by Jewish shackles, should be admitted by holy baptism into the kingdom of God.
Good report among… the Jews—This is a stroke of eulogy not given in Act_10:2. Speaking to a Jew, the messengers wisely quote the favourable report of all Jews in their master’s behalf. It is a good messenger who enters into the spirit of his orders and of his sender.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 22. of good report among all the nation of…
22. of good report among all the nation of the Jews] For the alms-deeds which he did, and on account of his reverence for the true God. They say not only among the people of Cæsarea was the piety of Cornelius known, but among all the Jews.
was warned from God] There is no Greek for “from God,” but the verb is one constantly used of messages from above. Thus of Joseph’s warnings (Mat_2:12; Mat_2:22), of Simeon’s Divine revelation (Luk_2:26), and of the admonitions sent to Moses (Heb_8:5), and to Noah (Heb_11:7).
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to hear words of thee] i.e. to receive commandments from thee and learn what God would have him to do (cp. Act_11:14). By the Jews the ten commandments are constantly called “the ten words,” “God spake these words, saying,” &c. (Exo_20:1).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (22) Cornelius the centurion.—The description seems to imply that…
(22) Cornelius the centurion.—The description seems to imply that the name of the soldier-convert was not altogether unknown at Joppa. It could not fail to remind Peter of that other centurion whose name is not recorded, who was stationed at Capernaum, and had built the synagogue (Luk_7:5), and with that recollection there would come back to his memory the words which his Master had spoken in connection with the faith which was greater than he had found in Israel, and which proclaimed that “many should come from east and west and north and south, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God” (Mat_8:11).
One that feareth God.—The word was almost a technical one as describing the Gentile converts who stood in the position of “proselytes of the gate.” (Comp. Act_10:2; Act_10:35; Act_13:16.)
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Of good report among all the nation of the Jews.—St. Luke’s policy of conciliation, if one may so speak, is traceable in the stress laid on this fact. As in the case of the reception of the Apostle of the Gentiles by Ananias (Act_9:10), so in that of Cornelius, all occasion of offence was, as far as possible, guarded against by the attestation given by those who were themselves Jews to the character of those concerned.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain A centurion for the centurion, A.V.; righteous for just,…
A centurion for the centurion, A.V.; righteous for just, A.V.; well reported of for of good report among, A.V.; of God (in italics) for from God (in roman), A.V.; a holy for an holy, A.V.; from thee for of thee, A.V. Righteous; as Mat_1:19 (comp. the description of Cornelius in ver. 10). The mention here of his being well reported of by all the nation of the Jews is an additional trait. (comp. Luk_7:2-5) For the expression, "of good report" (marturoumenov), seesqh, Act_6:3, note. Of God. The rendering, "warned from God," however, fairly represents ejcrhmati because crhmatizomai does not mean "to be warned," but "to be divinely warned." Crhmatizesqai paraluyin decesqai, (Theophylaet). See the frequent use of the word in the New Testament (Mat_2:12; Luk_2:26; Heb_8:5 Heb_11:7, etc.) Josephus frequently uses the verb in the active voice in the same sense. To hear words from thee. A Hebrew turn of expression.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain See notes on verse 21
See notes on verse 21
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
The words "They" and "them" here refer to the two servants and the soldier from Cornelius. (See: Acts 10:7)
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A centurion named Cornelius ... listen to a message from you
This can be divided into several sentences and stated in active form as the UDB does. (See: Active or Passive)
worships God
The word for "worship" here has the sense of deep respect and awe.
all the nation of the Jews
This number of people is exaggerated with the word "all" to emphasize how widely this was known among the Jews. (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)
So Peter invited them to come in and stay with him
The journey to Caesarea was too long for them to begin that afternoon.
stay with him
"be his guests"
some of the brothers from Joppa
This refers to believers who lived in Joppa.
translationWords
centurion
Cornelius
righteous
worship
Jew
holy
angel
God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.