Acts 10:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What then does Cornelius do? He did not say, “Did the soldiers not tell you?” But see how meekly and humbly he speaks.

“At the ninth hour,” he says, “I was praying.” What does this mean? It seems to me that he had appointed hours for pious exercises, and on certain days as well. Therefore he said, “four days ago.”

See how great prayer is. When he gave himself to pious activity, then the angel appeared to him.

This was the first day. When the messengers departed, there was another day. When they were returning, there was another. On the fourth, Peter arrived.

Thus this was the second day on which Cornelius was giving himself to prayer.

“A man stood before me in bright clothing.” He does not call him an angel. So far is he from pride.

"At the ninth hour," he says, "I was praying." What does this mean? It seems to me that, in his very orderly life, time was apportioned, and on fixed days as well. Therefore he said, "from the fourth day." See how powerful prayer is. When he was making progress in the work of piety, the angel appeared to him. That is one day. When those sent by Cornelius departed, that is another. When they were on the road, that is one more. The fourth is counted from the third hour, when he was praying. "And behold, a man stood before me." He does not say "an angel," but "a man." So far is he from pride. See the thought that follows from this. See how worthy he was of all this.

In the Greek text and in some Latin codices it is written thus: "From the fourth day until this present hour I was praying from the sixth hour until the ninth, and behold, a man," and so on. It is most fitting that he should be heard, who prayed zealously for three hours, continuing from the sixth to the ninth hour. At that time the Lord Himself, whom he was beseeching, stretched out His hands on the cross and prayed for the salvation of the whole world, Mt 27:45-46.

While awaiting Peter, Cornelius gathered in his house his relatives and close friends, who were of course like him in piety and faith. He wished them also to hear the word of salvation.

When Peter approached his house on the day after leaving Joppa, Cornelius met him outside the house. With reverence he bowed down at his feet, as before a heavenly messenger.

But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up. I myself am also a man.”

Entering the house of Cornelius, Peter first explained to him and the others present why he had allowed himself to come to them.

As they also knew, according to the law of his people, as it was then understood and interpreted, he should not have entered into communion with Gentiles.

In answer to Peter's question, Cornelius simply recounts the vision that had come to him as the motive for inviting Peter. On behalf of all those gathered, he expresses readiness to hear the apostle's preaching. "The fourth day": that is, the present day was the fourth after the day on which the angel appeared to Cornelius, as is clear from the preceding narrative. "I was fasting and praying": these details complete what was said above, vv. 3, 22, about Cornelius's piety. "A man in bright clothing": see the note on Mk 16:5.

Cornelius explains the whole matter for which he had invited the Apostle Peter, and he does so with every circumstance. By informing him of everything, he gives him full opportunity to judge the matter in its whole scope, as it had then become clear.

As an eyewitness, Cornelius recounts the apparition granted to him and indicates certain details omitted by the writer of Acts.

For example, he says that when he was fasting and praying in his house, a man in bright clothing appeared to him. The man spoke of God’s hearing his prayers and remembering his alms.

There, however, in the abbreviated account, prayers and alms are joined into one presentation (cf. 10:4).