Ver. 1. A centurion of the band] He might well have been a commander in the thundering legion, qui plus precando quam praeliando potuerunt, κεραυνοβολος. Preces sunt bombardae et instrumenta bellica Christianorum, said Luther, who also spared not to tell the Elector of Saxony, his protector and patron, that he by his prayers would secure his Highness’s soul, body, and estate engaged in the gospel’s cause. Sive id credat Celsitudo vestra, sive non credat. Imo Iudico, saith he, C. V plus a me praesidii et tutelae habiturum esse quam mihi praestare, &c. Yea, I am of the mind that your Highness hath more safety from me than I have from you.
Ver. 2. A devout man, &c.] ευσεβης. Not of the king’s religion, whatever it be, as those Melchites it, Nicephorus. And as Tertullian tells us in his Apology, that the people were bound to worship those gods only that the Senate decreed should be worshipped. Cornelius was a right worshipper. With all his house] A man is really what he is relatively. David would show his sincerity by being good at home, Psalms 101:2.
Ver. 3. About the ninth hour] Which was the time of the evening sacrifice, when the joint prayers of the Church were ascending as incense.
Ver. 4. Thy prayers and thine alms] Dr Powel relateth this saying of Leotinus, Prince of Wales, that when he was moved by some to make war upon our Henry III, Ego, inquit, formido eius eleemosynas magis certe multo quam eius copias. And the queen-mother of Scotland was heard to say, that she more feared the fastings and prayers of John Knox and his disciples than an army of twenty thousand men. For a memorial before God] How did the angel know this? Angels have a threefold knowledge: 1. Natural; 2. Revealed, as Daniel 9:20-23, and here; 3. Experimental, Ephesians 3:10.
Ver. 5. Call for one Simon] Though an angel certifies Cornelius’s prayers were accepted, yet he reads not to him the doctrine of redemption, but refers him to Peter. The office of preaching the gospel is taken from the angels (who first preached it to the shepherds) and given to the ministers.
Ver. 6. With one Simon a tanner] God knoweth all his by name, and condition of life.
Ver. 7. A devout soldier] Cornelius had either found him, or made him so. Nero complained that he could never find a faithful servant; and no wonder, for those that were good, cared not to come about him; and those that were bad, he cared not to make better, as being himself desperately wicked. Qualis herus, talis servus. The master’s faults go as little unattended as their persons. Of them that waited on him] The Syriac hath it, of them whom he esteemed highly. Good servants are rare and precious.
Ver. 8. And when he had declared] He knew well the worth of a faithful messenger, Proverbs 25:13. Howbeit the more to affect their hearts, and the better to effect his design, he sets God before them, and shows them the whole matter. God’s commands carry a divine authority, and soon prevail with the religious. Dicto citius dicta peragunt. They say with him in the poet (Lucan), “ Iussa sequi, tam velle mihi, quam posse, necesse est. ”
Ver. 9. Upon the housetop to pray] He got upon the leads, as well to avoid distraction as to excite devotion by a full view of heaven above.
Ver. 10. He fell into a trance] His soul was sundered, as it were, for a season, from his body, while he talked with God. So our Saviour was transfigured as he was praying. John was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, when he received his revelation; Paul was rapped up into the third heaven. Giles of Bruxelles (a Dutch martyr), in his prayers was so ardent, kneeling by himself in some secret place, while he was a prisoner, that he seemed to forget himself. Being called many times to eat, he neither heard nor saw those that stood by him, till he was lifted up by the arms, and then gently he would speak unto them, as one awakened out of a sweet sleep.
Ver. 11. And saw heaven opened] sc. The visible heaven, the air; for, as for the third heaven, it openeth not without a miracle, as some think.
Ver. 12. Were all manner of fourfooted] Gr. παντα. All, that is, some of all sorts; so, omne animal, every living creature, is said to be in Noah’s ark; and in the like sense, Christ is said to die for all.
Ver. 13. Kill and eat] Peter was hereby taught not to kill and slay in battle, as many of his warlike pretended successors have done, but to kill that corruption that he found in the Gentiles, by the sword of the Spirit, &c. Julius II can turn him either way, to Peter’s keys or Paul’s sword. Cum Petri nihil efficiant ad praelia claves auxilio Pauli forsitan ensis erit.
Ver. 14. Common or unclean] By commonness there is contracted an uncleanness. It is hard to deal in the world, and not be defiled with the corruption that is in the world through lust.