Acts 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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Then called he them in.—As it was about noon when Peter went up to the house-top to pray, the arrival of the messengers, allowing an adequate interval for the trance and the vision, may be placed at some time in the afternoon.

Certain brethren from Joppa.—We learn from Acts 11:12, that they were six in number. They were obviously taken that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established” (Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15), that they might report to the Church at Joppa what had been done by the Apostle whom they had learnt to reverence.

Benson Commentary

Acts 10:23-24. Then called he them in, and lodged them — Or, hospitably entertained them that night. He did not bid them go to an inn, and refresh or repose themselves at their own charge, but was himself at the charge of entertaining them at his own quarters. He lodged them, though they were Gentiles, to show how readily he complied with the design of the vision, in eating with Gentiles. And, though they were two of them servants, and the other a common soldier, yet Peter thought it not below him to take them into his house. And on the morrow went away with them — Not delaying to obey the heavenly vision. And certain brethren — Namely, six in number, Acts 11:12; accompanied him — Being probably desired by the apostle to go with him, that they might be witnesses of what happened, as this was an affair in which some difficulties might arise, and some censure be incurred from the Jewish converts, and such as were not apprized of his divine direction. How pleasing a mixture have we here, of prudence and humility! Sufficient to “teach us, on all proper occasions, to express at once a becoming deference to our brethren, and prudent caution in our own best intended actions; that even our good may not be evil spoken of, when it lies in our power to prevent it.” See Doddridge, and Romans 14:16. And on the morrow after they entered into Cesarea — Though it is probable they travelled on foot, yet as Joppa was only about fifteen leagues distant from Cesarea, they might easily arrive there the day after that on which they set out. And Cornelius waited for them — Not engaging himself in any secular business during that solemn time, but being altogether intent on this thing. And he called together his kinsmen — His relations; and near friends — Those with whom he was most intimate, and had the greatest love to. This, he thought, he could not better express, than by giving them an opportunity to hear the word of life, and to gain instruction for their souls. And, probably, those here spoken of were accounted near friends by Cornelius; because they were such as had forsaken all pagan idolatry, and were, with him, worshippers of the true and living God.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:19-33 When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And lodged them - They remained with him through the night. Four days were occupied before Peter met Cornelius at Caesarea. On the first the angel appeared to Cornelius. On the second the messengers arrived at Joppa, Acts 10:9. On the third, Peter returned with them, Acts 10:23; and on the fourth they arrived at Caesarea, Acts 10:24, Acts 10:30.

And certain brethren - Some Christians. They were six in number, Acts 11:12. It was usual for the early Christians to accompany the apostles in their journeys. See Romans 15:24; Acts 15:3; 3 John 1:6; 1 Corinthians 16:6, 1 Corinthians 16:11. As this was an important event in the history of the church - the bearing of the gospel to a Gentile - it was more natural and proper that Peter should be attended with others.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. called them in and lodged them—thus partially anticipating this fellowship with Gentiles.

Peter went … with them, and certain brethren—six in number (Ac 11:12).

from Joppa—as witnesses of a transaction which Peter was prepared to believe pregnant with great consequences.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

And on the morrow Peter went away with them; he delays not to obey the heavenly vision; but as Abraham took his journey the very next morning after that he had received the command, Genesis 22:3, so did Peter here, and bis dat qui cito dat, he doubles his obedience that obeys speedily and cheerfully.

And certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him; these brethren were six in number, as Acts 11:12; who might undertake this journey,

1. Out of respect to Peter, to accompany him.

2. Being moved at the extraordinary visions that were spoken of. But especially:

3. Disposed by the providence of God to accompany St. Peter, that they might testify the grace of God that was come unto the Gentiles, when it might be afterwards questioned.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then called he them in,.... Into Simon's house; not "into his own house", as the Ethiopic version adds; as yet they stood without, before the gate of the house; he took them in, no doubt, with the leave of Simon, his host, and set provisions before them, and lodged them that night:

and in the morning Peter went away with them; the next morning he set out with them towards Caesarea:

and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him; there were six of them, as appears from Acts 11:12 these went with him, not only to bear him company, and out of respect to him; but to be witnesses of what might be seen, heard, said, or done, and for Peter, should there be any occasion for it, as there afterwards was.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 10:23. εἰσκ.: only used here in N.T., so μετακ. in Acts 10:32; both verbs are also frequent in medical writers, as Hobart urges, but both are found in classical Greek, and the latter three times in LXX, although the former not at all.—ἐξένισε, recepit hospitio, Vulgate, cf. Hebrews 13:2, and Westcott, l.c.; verb used six times in Acts in this sense, but nowhere else in N.T.; cf. Sir 29:25. In this Christian hospitality to Gentile strangers Peter had taken another step towards understanding what the will of the Lord was.—τινες τῶν ἀδελφῶν = Acts 11:12.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. Then called he them in, and lodged them] This was the first step towards laying aside the scruples to which the Jews were so much attached.

And on the morrow Peter went away with them] The best texts read “And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them.”

and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him] In Acts 11:12 we are told they were six in number, and in Acts 10:45 of this chapter they are called “they of the circumcision which believed.” So these men were Jews, and Peter took them for his companions that he might, if need were, afterwards appeal to them for testimony of what was done, and to explain why he had acted as he did. No doubt they were informed by him of the message which the servants of Cornelius had brought, and the good repute of this devout man would weigh with them and make them ready to go.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 10:23. Εἰσκαλεσάμενος, having called them in) Peter had not moved a step (gone forth) from his house.—ἐξένισε, entertained them as guests) not distrusting them as strangers: not disdaining them as Gentiles. At first the Gentiles came to the Jews: afterwards these latter to the former.—τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον, but on the morrow) In the case of a matter, however good, there is not always required urgent haste.—τινὲς, some) six; ch. Acts 11:12. They were not divinely ordered to go; and yet it was with a pious feeling they did so. Many things are often left to the free discretion of the godly; in which, however, they are governed (guided) by the secret hand of GOD. Afterwards it became evident, how advantageous it was, that so many witnesses were present: ch. Acts 11:12.[62]—ΣΥΝῆΛΘΟΝ, went with) A holy company, consisting of ten men of various ranks.

[62] They enabled him to meet the charge of those of the circumcision, ch. Acts 11:2—E. and T.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - So he called for then called he, A.V.; he arose and went forth for Paler went away, A.V. and T.R.; certain of the brethren for certain brethren, A.V. And lodged them is rather a feeble rendering of ἐξένισεν. The same word is rendered entertained in Hebrews 13:2, which is nearer the sense; "to entertain as a guest." The word carries with it that he showed them hospitality, and thus broke down the wall of partition between him and them. "He gave them friendly treatment, and made them at home with him" (Chrysostom). (For ξενίζομαι, see ver. 32.) He arose and went forth. This was on the morrow of their arrival. It was two days' journey from Caesarea to Joppa, and two days' journey back again, the distance being thirty miles. They would probably stop the night at Apollonia, which was half-way, on the coast road. Certain of the brethren. The ready missionary spirit of the first disciples is here apparent (comp. Acts 20:4). Acts 10:23