What is the meaning of Acts 10:5? Now send men Acts 10:5 opens with the directive, “Now send men….” • The command comes directly from the angelic messenger to Cornelius, underscoring God’s initiative (cf. Acts 8:26; Genesis 12:1). • Immediate obedience is implied; delay would hinder God’s plan (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22). • God often engages His people in active participation—sending, going, serving—rather than allowing passivity (cf. Matthew 28:19). to Joppa The target location is “to Joppa.” • Joppa, a coastal city about thirty miles from Caesarea, has already appeared in Acts 9:36–43, where Peter raised Tabitha. • It once served as Jonah’s escape route, highlighting a contrast: Jonah fled, Peter will come (cf. Jonah 1:3). • God’s choice of Joppa shows His orchestration of geography and timing so that Cornelius and Peter will meet exactly when the gospel is poised to cross cultural boundaries (cf. Acts 1:8). to call for a man named Simon Cornelius is told specifically “to call for a man named Simon.” • The Lord provides explicit instructions, leaving no room for guesswork (cf. Acts 9:11; 1 Kings 13:2). • Calling by name reveals God’s personal knowledge of His servants (cf. Isaiah 45:4; John 10:3). • Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, must reach out to a Jewish apostle; this intentional step prepares both men for the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ (cf. Ephesians 2:14–16). who is called Peter The angel adds, “who is called Peter.” • This clarifies which Simon is meant, as Simon the tanner was already hosting him (Acts 9:43). • The name Peter (“rock”) recalls Jesus’ commission: “You are Peter…on this rock I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). • Peter’s leadership and previous experience with miraculous healings (Acts 3:6; 9:34) qualify him as God’s chosen messenger to open the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 15:7). • Linking Cornelius to Peter marks the next phase in salvation history, fulfilling Jesus’ promise that His witnesses would reach “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). summary Acts 10:5 is a concise but strategic command. God instructs Cornelius to take decisive action, sends him to a precise location, identifies the exact person to fetch, and connects him to the apostle uniquely equipped to usher Gentiles into the family of faith. Every phrase demonstrates God’s sovereign orchestration and purposeful detail, preparing for the pivotal moment when the gospel embraces all nations without distinction. |
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