NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 33
A cts 1 0 : 4
1989
9:35
Acts 2:41
9:36
1 Tim 2:10
Titus 3:8
9:40
1 Kgs 17:1923
2 Kgs 4:3236
Matt 9:25
John 11:43
9:42
Acts 2:41
9:43
Acts 10:6
10:12
Acts 8:40; 27:1, 3
10:3
Acts 3:1
k angelos (0032)
Acts
12:7
10:4
2 Chr 7:15
Matt 25:40
Rev 8:4
healed instantly. 35 Then the whole popula
tion of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walk
ing around, and they turned to the Lord.
36 There was a believer in Joppa named
Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas*). She
was always doing kind things for others and
helping the poor. 37 About this time she be
came ill and died. Her body was washed for
burial and laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the
believers had heard that Peter was nearby
at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him,
“Please come as soon as possible!”
39 So Peter returned with them; and as soon
as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs
room. The room was filled with widows who
were weeping and showing him the coats
and other clothes Dorcas had made for
them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the
room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to
the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she
opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat
up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her
up. Then he called in the widows and all the
believers, and he presented her to them alive.
42 The news spread through the whole
town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And
Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with
Simon, a tanner of hides.
Cornelius Calls for Peter
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army
officer* named Cornelius, who was a
captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a
devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone
in his household. He gave generously to the
poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One af
ternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision
in which he saw an k angel of God coming
toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What
is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
10
9 :36 The names Tabitha in Aramaic and Dorcas in Greek both mean “gazelle.” 10:1 Greek a centurion; similarly in 10:22.
Visions
Acts 10:916
Gen 37:510;
40:1–41:36
Isa 6:113
Jer 14:14
Ezek 37:114
Dan 8:127; 9:21
Hos 12:10
Obad 1:1
Hab 2:3
Luke 1:820
Acts 9:36, 1016;
10:36, 3032;
11:59; 16:910;
18:911; 22:610,
1721; 23:11;
26:1419
2 Cor 12:110
Rev 1:9–22:7
Visions are closely related to other revelatory experiences such as dreams (Gen 37:510;
40:913). Classic examples include Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of the dry bones (Ezek 37:114)
and Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne (Isa 6).
Visions are prominent in Acts, and they are usually connected with prayer (Acts 9:1112;
16:9, 10; 22:1721; 23:11; see Luke 1:820). Cornelius was praying when an angel visited him
(Acts 10:4, 3032). The following day, Peter received a vision as he prayed (10:912; see 11:59).
In the previous chapter of Acts, the visions of Paul and Ananias are connected with prayer and
highlight God’s involvement in their lives (9:36, 1016). These visions are not chance coinci
dences but the providential outworking of God’s saving purpose in the world.
Visions give divine direction and show Christian workers the way in which they should
carry out the Great Commission (see 1:8; Matt 28:1620; Luke 24:47; see also Mark 16:15;
John 20:2123). Paul had visions on the Damascus road at his conversion (Acts 9:5; 22:710;
26:1419), on the threshold of his missionary advance into Europe (16:9), at Corinth
(18:9, 10), in the Temple (22:1718), and again in Jerusalem before he set out on his trip
to Rome (23:11). Through visions God is active in guiding the affairs of the church and in
extending its mission (see the notes on 10:3, 916; 22:1722; 23:11; see also Gal 1:89 and
note).
9:43 living with Simon, a tanner of
hides: Tanning was an unclean busi
ness in Jewish eyes, which might sug
gest that Peter was not scrupulous in
observing Jewish traditions (cp. Gal
2:1114).
10:18 a Roman army officer: Literally
a centurion, the highest-ranking non-
commissioned officer in the Roman
army, in command of a century, a
subdivision of roughly 100 men. Luke
often describes centurions in favorable
terms (10:22; 21:32; 22:2526; 23:17,
23; 27:6, 11, 43; 28:16; Luke 7:110;
23:47). It was important for Luke to
show that Christianity was not hostile
to Roman officials or institutions and
PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
could, like Judaism, be permitted in
the Roman empire (see Acts Introduc
tion, “Purposes of Acts: Politics”). • a
captain of the Italian Regiment: A regi
ment included six centuries; a Roman
legion was usually divided into ten
regiments. The NT mentions the Italian
Regiment and the Imperial Regiment
(Acts 27:1).
10:2 a devout, God-fearing man: Gen
tiles who are described as God-fearing
were attracted to the high ethical
standards of Judaism but were not
prepared to accept the rite of circum
cision or the full implications of the
Jewish law by becoming full converts
to Judaism (cp. 13:43). Christianity was
GOSPELS & ACTS
an attractive option to Gentiles who
worshiped God (18:7; see 13:48; 16:30;
17:4, 12, 17). These people would
be wide open to the message of the
gospel that announced that “there is
peace with God through Jesus Christ”
(10:36).
10:3 In Acts, visions are usually related
to prayer (9:36, 1016; 10:26, 912;
11:59; 12:917; 18:910; 22:1721;
23:11). These visions are not chance
coincidences, but expressions of God’s
saving work, providing divine direction
and encouragement.
L E T T E R S O F PAU L
OTHER LET TERS
