ACT 10:17-23

Peter Called to Caesarea

17While Peter was perplexed within himself as to what the vision he had seen might be, behold, the men sent by Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate. [10:18] And having called out, they were asking whether Simon, who is called Peter, is being received as a guest there. [10:19] And while Peter was turning the vision over in his mind, the Spirit said to him: "Behold, men are seeking you. [10:20] But having risen, go down and proceed with them, making no distinction in your mind, since I myself have sent them." [10:21] Having gone down then, Peter said to the men: "Behold, I am the one you seek. What is the cause for which you are here?" [10:22] And they said: "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and fearing God, being well testified to by the whole nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and to hear words from you." [10:23] Therefore, having called them inside, he received them as guests. And on the next day, having risen up, he went forth with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, hospitality was a deeply ingrained cultural value, particularly in the Mediterranean world. Peter’s lodging at Simon’s house reflects this practice, where hosting a guest was a sacred duty. Cornelius, a Roman centurion, sends men to Peter, a gesture that would have been understood as a formal request for dialogue, crossing ethnic and religious boundaries. Peter’s perplexity stems from the vision he has just received, which challenges Jewish purity laws and the strict separation between Jews and Gentiles. The Spirit’s command to go “without doubting” underscores the need for Peter to transcend cultural and religious distinctions. Cornelius, as a God-fearer, occupies a liminal space—sympathetic to Judaism but not a full convert. This encounter sets the stage for a radical redefinition of community boundaries, as Peter is called to enter the home of a Gentile, an act that would have been deeply controversial in Jewish circles.

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How other translations render this

ACT 10:17

KJV: Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
BSB: While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simonʼs house and approached the gate.
Koinōnos: While Peter was perplexed within himself as to what the vision he had seen might be, behold, the men sent by Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate.

ACT 10:18

KJV: And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
BSB: They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
Koinōnos: And having called out, they were asking whether Simon, who is called Peter, is being received as a guest there.

ACT 10:19

KJV: While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
BSB: As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Koinōnos: And while Peter was turning the vision over in his mind, the Spirit said to him: "Behold, men are seeking you.

ACT 10:20

KJV: Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
BSB: So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
Koinōnos: But having risen, go down and proceed with them, making no distinction in your mind, since I myself have sent them.

ACT 10:21

KJV: Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
BSB: So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
Koinōnos: Having gone down then, Peter said to the men: "Behold, I am the one you seek. What is the cause for which you are here?

ACT 10:22

KJV: 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.
BSB: “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.”
Koinōnos: And they said: "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and fearing God, being well testified to by the whole nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and to hear words from you.

ACT 10:23

KJV: Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
BSB: So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Koinōnos: Therefore, having called them inside, he received them as guests. And on the next day, having risen up, he went forth with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 10:17

was perplexed:The word translated 'was perplexed' suggests a state of being utterly at a loss, completely bewildered, and without a clear path forward, rather than just mild confusion.

ACT 10:18

is being called:The term translated 'is being called' often implies a formal or public summons, or even an invocation, rather than a casual invitation.
is lodged.:The word translated 'is lodged' carries the sense of being received and entertained as a guest, highlighting hospitality rather than just finding a place to stay.

ACT 10:20

doubting,:The word translated 'doubting' here implies an internal struggle or wavering, a state of being divided in one's mind, rather than simply questioning something.