Bible Strands
Acts 10:22
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter descends to the courtyard to meet Cornelius’s envoys and asks their purpose. The messengers reply that their sender is a Roman centurion who seeks Peter’s presence to receive a spoken message.
The words — The Greek δίκαιος (dikaios) translates literally as “righteous” or “just,” marking the centurion’s moral standing. ἑκατοντάρχης (hekatontarchēs) specifies his rank as a commander of one hundred soldiers.
The thread — The text notes the centurion’s good reputation among Jews, which parallels the description of Ananias in Acts 22:12. The angel’s command to hear Peter’s message aligns with the salvation promise recorded in Acts 11:14, while the centurion’s devotion reflects the details in Acts 10:2.
Why it lands — The passage states that God-fearing preparation and human reputation can precede the gospel’s arrival. It asks the reader to acknowledge that divine initiative often uses established moral standing to open doors for proclamation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Cross-references
- Acts 11:14 He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’
- Acts 10:2 He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
- Acts 22:12 There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
- 3 John 1:12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
- Hosea 14:9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
- Habakkuk 2:4 Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—
- Matthew 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
- Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
- Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
- Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.