Acts 10:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See what faith, what piety. He understood that Peter was not speaking human teaching when he said, “God has revealed this to me.”

Therefore he says, “Now we are all present before God, to hear all that has been commanded you by God.”

“And he fell down at his feet and worshiped.” See how his word is always free from flattery and filled with humility.

The eunuch also showed himself worthy by this. He invited Philip to come up and sit in the chariot, though he did not know who he was, except after the prophecy had been explained.

But this man even fell at his feet. Have you seen how far he was from pride?

What then does Cornelius say? “Now we are all present before God,” he says, “to hear all that has been commanded you by God.”

He did not say, “before a man,” but “before God,” showing that one must listen in this way to the servants of God.

Have you seen his lofty soul? Have you seen how worthy he was of all this?

“Now therefore we are all present before God.” He did not say, “before a man,” but “before God.” Therefore one must listen attentively to the servants of God.

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.

“We are all present before God,” and so forth. This is a reverent expression of faith in God, who sees and knows all things. It also expresses readiness to hear Peter’s gospel with faith, since it was commanded by God.

Cornelius does not doubt that Peter also received a special command from God concerning this matter, just as he himself had received one.

Continuing his account, Cornelius seems to hasten to the matter itself. Therefore he introduces no further details. Having spoken briefly about sending for Peter, he approves his coming as something that will bring good fruit.

He also sees in it good pledges of the best relations toward the Gentiles.

The end of Cornelius’s speech is remarkable: “Now we are all present before God.” With these words Cornelius expressed faith in a special divine providence concerning himself and those around him.

In his conviction, everything he had described had taken place for this very purpose.

At the same time, by these words he expressed that the present moment was most sacred. In it, undoubtedly, God also was present.