Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself what the vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius, inquiring for Simon's house, stood at the gate.
ως δε εν εαυτω διηπορει ο πετρος τι αν ειη το οραμα ο ειδεν και ιδου οι ανδρες οι απεσταλμενοι απο του κορνηλιου διερωτησαντες την οικιαν σιμωνος επεστησαν επι τον πυλωνα
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
When Peter was amazed within himself and perplexed, those men arrive and resolve the perplexity at the right time. So also God allows Joseph first to be troubled, and then sends the archangel, Mt 1:20. A soul that has first been in perplexity easily receives its resolution. Thus his perplexity did not last long, and it did not begin earlier, but around mealtime. As before a poor man's house, they asked below at his gate and did not question the neighbors.
"And behold, the men sent by Cornelius." These men arrive at the right time to resolve the perplexity. For Christ also allowed Joseph first to be afraid, and then sent the angel. The soul easily receives the resolution of a perplexity it has first experienced. Moreover, he did not have to remain long in perplexity. It did not arise earlier, but at the very time when they were asking whether he was lodging there.
When the Apostle Peter's vision and ecstatic state had ended, he was perplexed and reflected within himself on the meaning of the divine lesson.
Then those sent by Cornelius came to the house of Simon the tanner, where Peter was staying, Acts 9:43; Acts 10:6. They asked for Simon, called Peter.
The Holy Spirit said to him: behold, three men are seeking you. Arise, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.
After this new prompting of the Spirit of God, only one thing remained for the Apostle Peter in order to clarify the meaning of the vision.
He had to learn who those seeking him were, with whom he was to go without any hesitation.
The Spirit of God foresaw doubt in the Apostle, but forestalled it. He commanded him not to doubt the rightness and God-pleasing character of the steps he was being called to take.
Therefore, when Peter then learned from questioning Cornelius's messengers that he was being called into the house of unclean Gentiles, he undoubtedly understood at once who those cleansed by God were.
He must no longer regard them as unclean, and he must go to them without any hesitation.
To quiet Peter's conscience, he was told that those seeking him had been sent by the Spirit of God.
From Cornelius's messengers he learns that Cornelius is indeed calling him by the command of an angel.
Thus no room for any doubt remained. The next day Peter set out for Caesarea with Cornelius's messengers and some Christians from Joppa.
The ecstasy ended. Peter was alone with his own thoughts. Everything was quiet. Not the slightest whisper came from the burning sky. At his feet the shining sea spread out silently.
While the Apostle was pondering what the whole vision could mean, three Gentiles appeared in the courtyard. To his astonishment, they were asking precisely for him.
At once the thought flashed through his mind that the vision just given was connected with the appearance of these Gentiles.
This was confirmed by them when they invited him, in the name of the centurion Cornelius, to visit his house and give instruction to him and his household.
Peter was perplexed within himself, and so on. Peter's ecstatic state and the vision had ended. He came into his ordinary state of spirit and sank into reflection and perplexity over what he had seen. As is evident, he did not understand the meaning of the vision and tried to interpret it. But at that time his perplexity was resolved by the arrival at Simon the tanner's house of those sent by Cornelius, and by a new revelation of the Spirit to Peter.
The arrival in Joppa of those sent by Cornelius was evidently prompt, for they covered the distance from Caesarea to Joppa, about thirty miles, in less than a day.
Yet what is remarkable is this. Although they did not set out immediately when they were sent, they arrived precisely when they needed to appear before Peter.
He was in troubled and great perplexity about the meaning of the vision that had come to him.
The messengers, asking about Peter, cried loudly at the gate of the house. According to Eastern custom, the gate led to all the inner rooms, which opened freely onto the courtyard, and so it was always locked.
But the Apostle Peter was so immersed in thought about the meaning of the appearance that he heard none of this. Evidently he remained on the flat roof of the house.
"See," writes blessed Theophylact, "how the Spirit brings the times together and causes this to happen neither earlier nor later.
These men arrive at the right moment to resolve the perplexity.
For Christ also allowed Joseph first to be afraid, and then sent the angel.
The soul easily receives a resolution after a perplexity previously experienced.
Moreover, he did not have to remain long in perplexity. It arose not earlier, but at the very time when they were asking whether he was present there."
One cannot fail to notice here how vividly real life is depicted in all its small details. These details outline the simplicity of manners and the particular customs of those distant places and ancient times.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 31 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS