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Text -- Acts 10:28 (NET)

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Context
10:28 He said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile, yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean.
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Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Combined Bible , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Act 10:28 - -- How that it is an unlawful thing ( hōs athemiton estin ). The conjunction hōs is sometimes equivalent to hoti (that). The old form of athemit...

How that it is an unlawful thing ( hōs athemiton estin ).

The conjunction hōs is sometimes equivalent to hoti (that). The old form of athemitos was athemistos from themisto (themizō , themis , law custom) and a privative. In the N.T. only here and 1Pe 4:3 (Peter both times). But there is no O.T. regulation forbidding such social contact with Gentiles, though the rabbis had added it and had made it binding by custom. There is nothing more binding on the average person than social custom. On coming from the market an orthodox Jew was expected to immerse to avoid defilement (Edersheim, Jewish Social Life , pp. 26-28; Taylor’ s Sayings of the Jewish Fathers , pp. 15, 26, 137, second edition). See also Act 11:3; Gal 2:12. It is that middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:14) which Jesus broke down.

Robertson: Act 10:28 - -- One of another nation ( allophulōi ). Dative case of an old adjective, but only here in the N.T. (allos , another, phulon , race). Both Juvenal ( S...

One of another nation ( allophulōi ).

Dative case of an old adjective, but only here in the N.T. (allos , another, phulon , race). Both Juvenal ( Sat. XIV. 104, 105) and Tacitus ( History , Gal 2:5) speak of the Jewish exclusiveness and separation from Gentiles.

Robertson: Act 10:28 - -- And yet unto ( kamoi ). Dative of the emphatic pronoun (note position of prominence) with kai (crasis ) meaning here "and yet"or adversative "but"...

And yet unto ( kamoi ).

Dative of the emphatic pronoun (note position of prominence) with kai (crasis ) meaning here "and yet"or adversative "but"as often with kai which is by no means always merely the connective "and"(Robertson, Grammar , pp. 1182f.). Now Peter takes back both the adjectives used in his protest to the Lord (Act 10:14) "common and unclean."It is a long journey that Peter has made. He here refers to "no one"(mēdena ), not to "things,"but that is great progress.

Vincent: Act 10:28 - -- An unlawful thing ( ἀθέμιτον ) The word is peculiar to Peter, being used only here and 1Pe 4:3. See note there. It emphasizes the vio...

An unlawful thing ( ἀθέμιτον )

The word is peculiar to Peter, being used only here and 1Pe 4:3. See note there. It emphasizes the violation of established order, being from the same root as τίθημι , to lay down or establish. The Jews professed to ground this prohibition on the law of Moses; but there is no direct command in the Mosaic law forbidding Jews to associate with those of other nations. But Peter's statement is general, referring to the general practice of the Jews to separate themselves in common life from uncircumcised persons. Juvenal says that the Jews were taught by Moses " not to show the way except to one who practises the same rites, and to guide the circumcised alone to the well which they seek" (Sat., xiv., 104, 105). Tacitus also says of the Jews that " among themselves they are inflexibly faithful, and ready with charitable aid, but hate all others as enemies. They keep separate from all strangers in eating, sleeping, and matrimonial connections" (" Histories," v., 5).

Vincent: Act 10:28 - -- Of another nation ( ἀλλοφύλῳ ) Only here in New Testament. Used of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 13:3-5 (Sept.).

Of another nation ( ἀλλοφύλῳ )

Only here in New Testament. Used of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 13:3-5 (Sept.).

Vincent: Act 10:28 - -- Me Emphatic, by contrast with ye. " Ye know," etc., " but God hath showed me. "

Me

Emphatic, by contrast with ye. " Ye know," etc., " but God hath showed me. "

Wesley: Act 10:28 - -- He speaks sparingly to them of his former doubt, and his late vision.

He speaks sparingly to them of his former doubt, and his late vision.

JFB: Act 10:25-29 - -- A mark of the highest respect.

A mark of the highest respect.

JFB: Act 10:25-29 - -- In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans i...

In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mortal [GROTIUS]. "Those who claim to have succeeded Peter, have not imitated this part of his conduct" [ALFORD] (therein only verifying 2Th 2:4, and compare Rev 19:10; Rev 22:9).

JFB: Act 10:28 - -- There was no express prohibition to this effect, and to a Certain extent intercourse was certainly kept up. (See the Gospel history, towards the end)....

There was no express prohibition to this effect, and to a Certain extent intercourse was certainly kept up. (See the Gospel history, towards the end). But intimate social fellowship was not practiced, as being adverse to the spirit of the law.

Clarke: Act 10:28 - -- Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing, etc. - He addressed the whole company, among whom, it appears, there were persons well acquainted with Jew...

Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing, etc. - He addressed the whole company, among whom, it appears, there were persons well acquainted with Jewish customs; probably some of them were Jewish proselytes

Clarke: Act 10:28 - -- But God hath showed me, etc. - He now began to understand the import of the vision which he saw at Joppa. A Gentile is not to be avoided because he ...

But God hath showed me, etc. - He now began to understand the import of the vision which he saw at Joppa. A Gentile is not to be avoided because he is a Gentile; God is now taking down the partition wall which separated them from the Jews.

Calvin: Act 10:28 - -- 28.Ye know that it is not lawful This seemeth to be no friendly preface, and such as may rather harden 681 than win their hearts, when as they hear t...

28.Ye know that it is not lawful This seemeth to be no friendly preface, and such as may rather harden 681 than win their hearts, when as they hear that they are accounted so unclean, that with their familiarity and conference they pollute the saints; which must needs be a great reproach for them. But it was needful for Peter thus to speak, lest they should suspect that he had an evil conscience, because, contrary to the custom delivered by the fathers, he came. 682 But when as he affirmeth that he was sent of God, all such suspicion is taken away and purged. Moreover, he mitigateth very well by these words the offense which did stick in their minds, by reason of an old grudge which was between the Jews and the Gentiles, so that he could by no means have entered his speech better, For he pronounceth that those are now clean who were before unclean, so that they have mutual fellowship now with the saints. Furthermore, whereas he said that it was wickedness for the Jews to go in unto the Gentiles, we must know that this came not so much from the law, as from the observation of the fathers. God had forbidden, indeed, that they should (not) entangle themselves with marriages or covenants, (Deu 7:3;) they were never forbidden to eat with them, or to use the common businesses of life. But lest that familiarity might entice them into that which was forbidden, they observed the custom delivered by the fathers, so that they did not company together. It is to no end to dispute here whether that tradition did bind men’s consciences; for Peter doth not teach 683 what is lawful according to God, but what was commonly used.

No man He maketh the sum and end of the vision more plain, when he referreth that unto men which was spoken of meats. And whereas he saith, that no man is unclean, it may not be understood of (all) particular persons; for it is certain that all unbelievers are polluted with uncleanness of conscience, so that they pollute those things which are otherwise pure, when as they do but touch them. Paul also saith that their children remain unclean until they be cleansed by faith. Finally, if faith alone do purge and purify the hearts of men, unbelief doth make the same profane. But Peter 684 compareth the Jews and the Gentiles together in this place; and because the wall of separation was pulled down, and the covenant of life 685 is now common to them both alike, he saith that those are not to be counted aliens who are made partakers of God’s adoption.

TSK: Act 10:28 - -- that it : Act 11:2, Act 11:3, Act 22:21, Act 22:22; Joh 4:9, Joh 4:27, Joh 18:28; Gal 2:12-14 but : Act 10:15, Act 10:34, Act 11:9, Act 15:8, Act 15:9...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Act 10:28 - -- It is an unlawful thing - This was not explicitly enjoined by Moses, but it seemed to be implied in his institutions, and was, at any rate, the...

It is an unlawful thing - This was not explicitly enjoined by Moses, but it seemed to be implied in his institutions, and was, at any rate, the common understanding of the Jews. The design was to keep them a separate people. To do this, Moses forbade alliances by contract, or marriage, with the surrounding nations, which were idolatrous. See Lev 18:24-30; Deu 7:3-12; compare Ezr 9:11-12. This command the Jews perverted, and explained it as referring to contact of all kinds, even to the exercise of friendly offices and commercial transactions. Compare Joh 4:9.

Of another nation - Greek: another tribe. It refers here to all who were not Jews.

God hath showed me - Compare Act 15:8-9. He had showed him by the vision, Act 10:11-12.

Any man common or unclean - See the notes on Act 10:14. That no man was to be regarded as excluded from the opportunity of salvation, or was to be despised and abhorred. The gospel was to be preached to all; the barrier between Jews and Gentiles was broken down, and all were to be regarded as capable of being saved.

Poole: Act 10:28 - -- God himself did erect a partition wall betwixt his people and other nations, Jews and Gentiles; hence by God’ s own command the Jews might not ...

God himself did erect a partition wall betwixt his people and other nations, Jews and Gentiles; hence by God’ s own command the Jews might not have any familiar converse with the Gentiles, especially they might not marry with them. The Jews themselves had made this partition wall much larger, and they held it unlawful to eat with any of the Gentiles, or to go so much as into their houses; hence that objection made upon this occasion against St. Peter, Act 11:3 .

Unclean no man is now unclean by any ceremonial uncleanness, because he is not circumcised, or because he is not sprinkled with the blood of bulls, Heb 9:13 ; yet sin hath defiled the whole mass of mankind, and they are equally by nature morally unclean.

Haydock: Act 10:28 - -- Abominable a thing. The Jews extended their aversion to the Gentiles to an unnatural length; hence the frequent accusations of the latter, that they...

Abominable a thing. The Jews extended their aversion to the Gentiles to an unnatural length; hence the frequent accusations of the latter, that they were a nation the enemies of mankind. Josephus defends his nation against the imputation. He allows that Moses forbids them to admit strangers into their solemnities, and exercises of religion, but not to refuse any thing which common humanity demands of all. (Josephus, lib. ii. contra Apion)

Gill: Act 10:28 - -- And he said unto them,.... The whole company that were met together, who were chiefly, if not altogether Gentiles: ye know that it is an unlawful t...

And he said unto them,.... The whole company that were met together, who were chiefly, if not altogether Gentiles:

ye know that it is an unlawful thing; what is forbidden by the law of Moses, Deu 7:2 and by the traditions of the elders, which carry the matter further than the law did, and made it very criminal:

for a man that is a Jew, to keep company with, or come unto one of another nation; besides entering into covenants and marriages with them, which were forbidden by the law, though they allowed of trade and commerce with the Gentiles, yet not any familiar conversation with them; it was prohibited to eat and drink any sort of liquor with them in their houses h, nor might they walk with them in the streets, or on the road; says Maimonides i,

"it is forbidden a Jew to unite himself to Gentiles, because they are suspected of shedding blood, and he may not join himself with them in the way; if he meets a Gentile in the way, he causes him to turn to the right hand; if they ascend by an ascent, or descend by a descent, the Israelite may not be below, and the Gentile above: but the Israelite must be above, and the Gentile below, lest he should fall upon him and kill him; and he may not go even with (or along side by him) lest he break his skull.''

It is said k of some Rabbins, that they saw a certain man coming;

"says R. Chiyah, let us be gone, perhaps this man is an idolatrous Gentile, or one of the people of the earth, and it is forbidden to join with him in the way.''

They looked upon the houses of Gentiles unclean, and therefore would not enter into them: See Gill on Joh 18:28.

yea they say l, that:

"the court of a stranger (or Gentile) is as the habitation of a beast.''

Such an aversion was there in that people to all civil society with Gentiles: and so Apoltonius says of them m, that

"they not only departed from the Romans, but from all men, living a separate life from others; nor did they communicate at table with others; neither in things sacred, nor in any ceremonies;''

and this was well known to Jews and Gentiles:

but God hath showed me; partly by the vision he had seen, and partly by discourse with the men that came from Cornelius to him; and by comparing the vision and their message to him together, he saw that he was not obliged to abide by the customs and laws of the Jews: but was showed, as he says,

that I should not call any man common or unclean; that is, in a ceremonial sense; for otherwise, all by nature are morally unclean; and none are pure, but such who are washed in the blood of Christ, and are justified by his righteousness, and sanctified by his Spirit: he saw there was now no difference between Jew and Gentile; that the one was not clean because of his circumcision, nor the other unclean on account of his uncircumcision, or to be avoided for that reason; that the Gospel was to be preached to all; and that every believer of whatsoever nation, was acceptable to God, and ought to be regarded by his ministers and people.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Act 10:28 God has shown me…unclean. Peter sees the significance of his vision as not about food, but about open fellowship between Jewish Christians and G...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Act 10:1-48 - --1 Cornelius, a devout man, being commanded by an angel, sends for Peter,11 who by a vision is taught not to despise the Gentiles;17 and is commanded b...

Combined Bible: Act 10:28 - --29. Upon entering the house of this Gentile, side by side with him, and into the presence of others who were likewise uncircumcised, Peter deemed it p...

MHCC: Act 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 ...

Matthew Henry: Act 10:19-33 - -- We have here the meeting between Peter the apostle, and Cornelius the centurion. Though Paul was designed to be the apostle of the Gentiles, and to ...

Barclay: Act 10:17-33 - --In this passage the most surprising things are happening. Once again let us remember that the Jews believed that other nations were quite outside the...

Constable: Act 9:32--Rom 1:1 - --III. THE WITNESS TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH 9:32--28:31 Luke next recorded the church's expansion beyond...

Constable: Act 9:32--12:25 - --A. The extension of the church to Syrian Antioch 9:32-12:24 As Jerusalem had been the Palestinian center...

Constable: Act 10:1--11:19 - --2. The conversion of Cornelius 10:1-11:18 The episode concerning Cornelius is obviously very imp...

Constable: Act 10:23-33 - --Peter's visit to Cornelius 10:23b-33 10:23b-24 Peter wisely took six other Jewish Christians with him (11:12). A total of seven believers witnessed wh...

College: Act 10:1-48 - --ACTS 10 F. THE CONVERSION OF THE FIRST GENTILES (10:1-11:18) 1. The Ministry of Peter at Caesarea (10:1-48) The Vision Seen by Cornelius (10:1-8) ...

McGarvey: Act 10:28-29 - --28, 29. Upon entering the house of this Gentile, side by side with him, and into the presence of others who were likewise uncircumcised, Peter deemed ...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES By Way of Introduction But for the Acts we should know nothing of the early apostolic period save what is told in the Epi...

JFB: Acts (Book Introduction) THIS book is to the Gospels what the fruit is to the tree that bears it. In the Gospels we see the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying: in...

JFB: Acts (Outline) INTRODUCTION--LAST DAYS OF OUR LORD UPON EARTH--HIS ASCENSION. (Act 1:1-11) RETURN OF THE ELEVEN TO JERUSALEM--PROCEEDINGS IN THE UPPER ROOM TILL PEN...

TSK: Acts (Book Introduction) The Acts of the Apostles is a most valuable portion of Divine revelation; and, independently of its universal reception in the Christian church, as an...

TSK: Acts 10 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Act 10:1, Cornelius, a devout man, being commanded by an angel, sends for Peter, Act 10:11. who by a vision is taught not to despise the ...

Poole: Acts 10 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 10

MHCC: Acts (Book Introduction) This book unites the Gospels to the Epistles. It contains many particulars concerning the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Christian church from th...

MHCC: Acts 10 (Chapter Introduction) (Act 10:1-8) Cornelius directed to send for Peter. (Act 10:9-18) Peter's vision. (Act 10:19-33) He goes to Cornelius. (Act 10:34-43) His discourse ...

Matthew Henry: Acts (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Acts of the Apostles We have with an abundant satisfaction seen the foundation of our holy religion...

Matthew Henry: Acts 10 (Chapter Introduction) It is a turn very new and remarkable which the story of this chapter gives to the Acts of the apostles; hitherto, both at Jerusalem and every where...

Barclay: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES A Precious Book In one sense Acts is the most important book in the New Testament. It is the simple truth t...

Barclay: Acts 10 (Chapter Introduction) A Devout Soldier (Act_10:1-8) Peter Learns A Lesson (Act_10:9-16) The Meeting Of Peter And Cornelius (Act_10:17-33) The Heart Of The Gospel (Act_...

Constable: Acts (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title "Acts of the Apostles" is very ancient. The Anti-Marcioni...

Constable: Acts (Outline) Outline I. The witness in Jerusalem 1:1-6:7 A. The founding of the church 1:1-2:46 ...

Constable: Acts Acts Bibliography Albright, William Foxwell. The Archaeology of Palestine. 1949. Revised ed. Pelican Archaeolog...

Haydock: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. INTRODUCTION. St. Luke, who had published his gospel, wrote also a second volume, which, from the first ages, hath bee...

Gill: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ACTS This book, in some copies, is called, "The Acts of the holy Apostles". It contains an history of the ministry and miracles of ...

College: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION As early as the second century the title "The Acts of the Apostles" was given to this document. Before that time the work probably circu...

College: Acts (Outline) OUTLINE I. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM - 1:1-8:1a A. INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK - 1:1-3 B. THE COMMISSIONING OF THE APOSTLES - 1:4-8 C. THE ASCENSI...

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