Acts 10

Acts 10:2

Have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices? This passage is quoted from Amos 5:25-27. The emphasis is on “me”. Did ye not offer them to false gods also? Acts 7:43 gives the reply.

Acts 10:3

Ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch. Israel turned to the abominable worship of Moloch and other false gods, and hence shall be carried into Captivity. Moloch, a god of the Amorites, worshiped by human sacrifices. Remphan. Some planet worshiped as a god. Beyond Babylon. A punishment brought on all Israel for its sins, predicted by Amos (Amos 5:25-27). Observe still his point of showing their national sinfulness.

Acts 10:4

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness. The tabernacle built at Sinai, a witness of the Covenant (Numbers 18:2), and of the good things to come (Hebrews 8:5). This tabernacle, built by God’s command, according to his pattern (Exodus 25:9,40), they had rejected for “the tabernacle of Moloch” (Acts 7:43).

Acts 10:5

Which also our fathers . . . brought in with Jesus. “With Joshua” (Revised Version). Joshua, the Hebrew form for Jesus. He and the later generations of Jews brought this tabernacle into Canaan when they conquered it.

Acts 10:6

Desired to find a tabernacle. David, who sought to build a permanent temple (2 Samuel 7:2 1 Chronicles 22:7). He was restrained from building the temple, and it was erected by Solomon (2 Chronicles 6:7,8).

Acts 10:8

Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not. See 2 Chronicles 6:18. The argument is that the tabernacle was laid aside for the temple by God’s command; that God does not confine himself in any house made with hands, and hence the temple also might be laid aside. God’s real temple was greater than the building they reverenced so superstitiously. See Isaiah 66:1,2.

Acts 10:11

Ye stiffnecked. Stubborn, like the ox which refuses to bend its neck for the yoke. Stephen now makes his direct application. And uncircumcised. Aliens in heart from God. The uncircumcised were aliens from Israel. Stephen told them that spiritually they were “heathen”. They, like their fathers, resist the Holy Ghost. The will of God.

Acts 10:12

Which of the prophets, etc.? Their fathers habitually persecuted the prophets and slew some of them who predicted Christ (see lives of Isaiah and Jeremiah). Now they, his hearers, were murderers of the Just One.

Acts 10:13

Received the law by the disposition of angels. Through the ministration of angels. See Deuteronomy 29:29. Have not kept [it]. Pretending to be very scrupulous observers of the law, they were wicked law-breakers.

Acts 10:14

They were cut to the heart. Convulsed with rage. Stephen’s speech was now violently interrupted. Their rage is shown by their gnashing teeth.

Acts 10:15

Looked up stedfastly into heaven. The Lord who had promised his presence was with him. His faith was so strengthened that, by faith, he saw the Savior in Heaven, through the opened heavens. The scene was revealed to his soul, instead of his eyes.

Acts 10:17

Cried out with a loud voice. They cried, closed their ears to what they called blasphemy, then, in a tumult, without a vote on his guilt or innocence, rushed upon him to slay him, though yet uncondemned legally.

Acts 10:18

Cast [him] out of the city. See Leviticus 24:14. Though committing murder, they were scrupulous to comply with their custom of execution outside of the city. And stoned [him]. Jesus was crucified, because the Romans put him to death; Stephen was stoned, because Jesus slew him. Stoning was their usual method of execution. The witnesses. The witnesses had to cast the first stones (Deuteronomy 13:10 17:7). Though doing all in a tumult, without the consent of the Roman governor, the forms of the law were observed. At a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. Chrysostom says that this young man, who was to become so celebrated, was now about thirty-five. Hackett thinks we was about thirty. For a fuller account of him, see PNT Acts 9:1.

Acts 10:19

Stoned Stephen. Repeated to show that in the storm of stones he committed himself to Jesus.

Acts 10:20

Kneeled down. Either voluntarily, or brought to his knees by the cruel blows. The point is that in his sufferings, like his Master, he prayed for his enemies. Saul, no doubt, noted this, and it had its effect. He fell asleep. To wake again at his Savior’s voice. The death of Stephen was a murder, instead of an execution, because (1) no vote of the Sanhedrin was taken, and (2) the consent of the Roman governor, requisite to capital punishment, was not obtained. See PNT John 18:32.

Acts 10:22

The Missionary Labors of Philip SUMMARY OF ACTS 8: The Persecution at Jerusalem. Saul’s Zeal in Persecution. Philip’s Conversion of the Samaritans. Simon the Sorcerer Believes. Peter and John Sent Down to Bestow the Miraculous Powers of the. Holy Spirit. Simon’s Wicked Offer and Peter’s Rebuke. Philip Sent to Preach to the Ethiopian Eunuch. He Explains the Scriptures on the Way and Preaches Jesus. The Eunuch’s Request for Baptism. Baptized and Goes on His Way Rejoicing. Saul was consenting unto his death. The first three verses of this chapter ought to be attached to the one preceding. Saul consented, that is, approved and gave his voice to the death of Stephen. He did not actively take part in the stoning, but aided and abetted. The memory of this sad event clung to him painfully even to old age. See Acts 22:20. Luke no doubt here recounts the facts given him by the prophet himself. At that time. “On that day” (Revised Version). Not satisfied with the blood of Stephen, their persecutors turned their rage at once on the whole church. They were all scattered abroad. The meetings of the saints were for the time broken up, and the disciples generally fled from the storm, into the country portions of Judea and the adjoining district of Samaria. The apostles, in some way not explained, shielded from the destruction, remained, and many of the scattered brethren, residents of Jerusalem, soon afterwards returned, while others that were foreign Jews went to other regions, carrying the gospel.

Acts 10:23

Devout men carried Stephen [to his burial]. Not disciples, but pious Jews, deeply impressed by the gospel, but not yet brought to its acceptance. They were “devout” like Cornelius the Gentile before his conversion (Acts 10:2). Made great lamentation over him. They made their protest against the deed by a public funeral with all the usual Jewish demonstrations of mourning.

Acts 10:24

As for Saul, he made havock of the church. This mad violence he often recalled and mentioned while serving Christ. See Acts 22:4 26:10 1 Corinthians 15:9 Galatians 1:13 Philippians 3:6 1 Timothy 1:13. Entering into every house. Where he supposed disciples could be found. Haling. Dragging with violence. As we learn from Paul’s statements elsewhere, the saints were not only committed to prison, but scourged in the synagogues and persecuted unto death.

Acts 10:25

Went every where preaching the word. The rage of the persecutors only extended the reign of Christ. The scattered saints, long prepared at the feet of the apostles, went everywhere as preachers of Christ. The blood of Stephen was the seed of the church.

Acts 10:26

Philip. This was not Philip, the apostle, for all the apostles remained at Jerusalem, but Philip, one of the seven (Acts 6:5). The city of Samaria. The Greek does not render it certain that this was the capital named Samaria, as there is no definite article. It is literally “a city of Samaria”. The district (see map) lies between Judea and Galilee. Samaria and Sychar were, at this time, two of its principal cities. It was probably one or the other of these to which Philip went.

Acts 10:27

The people with one accord gave heed. It was the miracles that, at first, fixed their attention. Observe that Philip, another of the seven, has the gift of miracles, the second recorded instance in the church of the possession of this power by one not an apostle (for the first, see Acts 6:8). Acts 8:9 describes the nature of his miracles, similar to those of Christ. See PNT Matthew 4:24. See also Mr 3:11 Lu 4:41.

Acts 10:30

A certain man, called Simon. Called the sorcerer, or magician, who bewitched the people by his enchantments. Whether this was done by the conjurer’s art or by the power of Satan, it is perhaps impossible for us to know. Giving out that himself was some great one. Claiming to be more than a mere man.

Acts 10:31

This man is the great power of God. Unable to explain the things that he did, the Samaritans ascribed them to divine power manifested through Simon.

Acts 10:33

When they believed Philip. This verse states in the concisest manner the apostolic order of converting men: (1) Philip preached; (2) he preached the kingdom and name of Jesus Christ; (3) faith came by hearing, for the Samaritans believed; (4) when they believed they were baptized. This describes the uniform course in apostolic days. Both men and women. Note that (1) only believers are baptized, (2) that men and women are both included, but children are not named.

Acts 10:34

Then Simon himself believed also. There has been much needless discussion whether Simon was sincere. It would never have been doubted had we not been told that later he fell into sin. It is best to take the Scripture in its manifest sense. He became a believer like the rest. He was baptized like the rest; then, like many others, at a later period, under temptation, he fell into sin. It is impossible to believe that a man of his power and influence in Samaria would have yielded outwardly to the gospel and shown the deference he manifested to Philip unless he was at the time sincere. But he was of the class described by the Savior when the seed of the sower fell among among thorns (Matthew 13:22 Mr 4:18,19).

Acts 10:35

The apostles . . . received the word of God. They had remained at Jerusalem. The word reached them of Philip’s faithful work. Christ had directed that the gospel be carried to “Jerusalem, and unto Judea, and unto Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In this order it had been carried to Samaria and been received. The preacher sent there was not an apostle.

He had miraculous powers, but could not confer them. It seemed needful, now that the gospel was accepted by a new people, not Jewish, that spiritual gifts, such as had been given to the apostles on the day of Pentecost and imparted through them to others, should be bestowed upon this alien nation. Observe, (1) when the Jews first had the gospel on the day of Pentecost these gifts were imparted by the descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4); (2) when the Samaritans were converted these were imparted by the presence of the apostles (Acts 8:17); (3) when the first Gentiles were converted, an apostle being present, they were imparted (Acts 10:44-47). There is no record of their impartation, save in or by apostolic presence. See Romans 1:11. Sent to them Peter and John. This is positive proof that Peter was not a pope. The body which sends is superior to the one sent. He and John go at the bidding of which the whole apostolic body. This is the last mention of John in Acts.

Acts 10:36

Prayed for them. That the Holy Spirit might fall on them. They had been born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5), but had not received that baptism of the Spirit, which conferred miraculous powers. This was bestowed by apostolic prayer and the laying on of hands. I suppose, not on all, but on those selected for teachers and preachers among the Samaritans. Plumptree states: The prayer clearly pointed to such a power of the Holy Spirit as had been bestowed on Pentecost.'' And Calvin writes: Luke speaks not of the common grace of the Holy Spirit, but of the singular gifts with which God would have certain endowed at the beginning of the gospel.''

Acts 10:38

They laid [their] hands on them. Whedon says: ``This was part of that miraculous supremacy of the apostles that they could not communicate to any successor.’’ This reception of the Holy Spirit was manifest in speaking with tongue and other powers.

Acts 10:39

When Simon saw . . . he offered them money. Uninstructed in the lofty spirit of the gospel, ambitious to possess this power peculiar to the apostles, he is sordid enough to offer money for it. His sin was not that he aspired to this power, but that he sought to buy it. He had very crude conceptions of the spirit of Christianity. It is not stated, but it is easy to infer, that he was not one of those upon whom the apostles had bestowed the divine gift.

Acts 10:41

Peter said. Peter’s outburst of indignation is characteristic. Thy money perish with thee. Not an anathema, but the statement of a fact, unless he repents. Because thou hast thought. Observe that, in Peter’s rebukes, the thought is, not that he has never been converted, but that he has now committed an awful sin. It is “one sin”, not his “sins”, that stands out in every sentence.

Acts 10:42

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter. In these gifts of the Holy Spirit. He can neither receive them, nor impart them. Perhaps salvation is also included. For thy heart is not right. This offer to purchase the gift of God shows that it was not. Because it is not, he can have no part nor lot, etc.

Acts 10:43

Repent therefore of this. Observe that Peter does not bid him to repent of his sins, but of this one great sin. If perhaps the thought of thine heart. This one sin is so great that Peter seems doubtful whether it will be forgiven, even on repentance and prayer.

Acts 10:44

For I perceive that thou art. His great sin had brought him into the state now described. In the gall of bitterness. The gall of reptiles was considered by ancients the source of their venom. The expression would denote moral corruption. In the bond of iniquity. Bound by iniquity.

Acts 10:45

Pray ye to the Lord for me. Simon’s language indicates that he was terror-stricken and perhaps deeply touched. The sacred record is silent concerning his future career. Whether he repented or relapsed into his old life is conjecture. Tradition insists that he pursued the latter course.

Acts 10:46

When they had testified. Peter and John did not return until they preached in many Samaritan villages.

Acts 10:47

The angel of the Lord spake unto Philip. In some way he was supernaturally directed to go far south of Samaria to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza for his next work. Gaza. An old Philistine city, on the seacoast plain in southwest Palestine. It was taken by Alexander the Great, and had endured many sieges, but is still a town of 15,000 or 16,000 inhabitants.

Acts 10:48

A man of Ethiopia. The term is applied to that portion of Africa which lies south of Egypt. A eunuch of great authority. This mutilated class of men often rose to great power in Oriental countries. This one was the royal treasurer. Under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. Candace had her seat of power on the island of Meroe, a large island of the Nile, about a thousand miles from the mouth of the river. The name Candace seems to have belonged to several queens of this kingdom. It is still inscribed on the ruined palace walls of Meroe. Had come to Jerusalem for to worship. He was probably a proselyte to the Jewish faith. His long journey, his study of Scripture, and his ready hearing all indicate a believer in Jehovah, a devout man, and one seeking for the Christ.