Bible Strands
Acts 10:3
One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — At about the ninth hour, an angel of God appears to Cornelius and calls him by name. The vision occurs during a time of regular prayer, as Cornelius and his household devote themselves to God.
The words — The text records εἶδεν (eiden), meaning "he saw," and φανερῶς (phanerōs), meaning "clearly," to describe the unambiguous nature of the vision. The angel's direct address, “Cornelius!”, initiates the divine response to his prayers.
The thread — This vision connects to the established Jewish practice of praying at the ninth hour, as noted in Acts 3:1, and mirrors the pattern of divine interruption during prayer found in Daniel 9:20. The angel's message in Acts 10:4 confirms that Cornelius's prayers and gifts have ascended as a memorial before God.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God notices and responds to specific individuals during their appointed times of prayer. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine communication occurs directly to those who consistently seek God.
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
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Cross-references
- Daniel 9:20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—
- Acts 3:1 One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
- Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
- Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
- Acts 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.
- Acts 10:17 While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
- Acts 10:19 As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
- Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
- Exodus 33:17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
- Job 4:15 Then a spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body bristled.