Atos 10
Oecumenius
Atos 10:1-6
They do not mention that both the Ethiopian and Cornelius held office, but that by their wealth and the influence surrounding them they were not hindered from living devoutly. This man therefore is not a Jew, nor under the laws, but already had anticipated our way of life. Seeing him, the eye of simple-mindedness, that his deeds are fine but dead and yet he has no faith, sends a representative to judge the deeds, so as to crown with faith one who competes well. And he does this also for the instruction of Peter, and more for the weaker ones. About the ninth hour, when he had been released from care, and was in silence and devotion. For this reason the author makes the man known and revealed, so that no one might say he is lying. Through this also he indicated his rank. "From a band called the Italian." A band is what we now call a unit. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:7
The apostles sought places separated from the cities, as friends of solitude and quiet. But what if another man had also happened to be named Simon? Behold, he gives a sign that he lives by the sea. He did not, however, state the reason, for fear that he weaken him, but dismissed him as being in the desire and eagerness to hear. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:8
See the humility of his spirit. For he did not say, "Call Peter to me"; for he would not summon him in the name of rank. Therefore he recounted everything so as even to persuade: so modest was the man. Yet nothing of greatness could be conceived of a man who kept himself apart at the tannery. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:10
A trance denotes also a wonder-struck astonishment, and the soul's being led outside the senses toward spiritual things. From this it is clear that some kind of spiritual vision came to him, as it were, his body being out of the soul's ordinary state. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:11-12
Or, to speak more clearly, the Church is the sheet. The beasts within it are the nations. Therefore he beheld the Church bound by the four Gospels, in which all the peoples were contained. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:11-12
"And he sees." A supreme symbol of the whole inhabited world, that very screen. And the four principles signify the four elements. The apparent sheet denotes the denser world. The diverse animals are symbols of the condition of men. [EVAGRIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:13-16
That the voice was heard a third time likewise shows the truth of the vision itself. It is clear, however, that he did not wish the utterance to be understood as concerning all foods when he says, "I have never eaten anything common or unclean," for oxen, goats, birds, and winged creatures would have been called common with him, since Peter was born among the Jews. For the Jews eat flesh, and among them the eating of meats is not forbidden. Since therefore he himself spoke from the beginning, or at least until he approached the Savior, it is certainly clear that he did not pronounce universally, saying "common and unclean," but concerning those things which the law called common and unclean. And yet when Peter was making a discourse about those things which were common and unclean in the law, God, who had given a sign to the holy Church of Christ, judged nothing to be common to him; for all things are clean to him "which are received with thanksgiving." (1 Tim. 4:4) But although the speech concerning the calling of the Gentiles was somewhat obscure, so that they should not say that those who were uncircumcised were common or unclean, Peter's speech did not entitle people, but those things which were prohibited in the law, as has been shown. [OF SAINT EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP OF CYPRUS, FROM THE FIRST BOOK OF THE PANARION AGAINST THE HERESIES] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:13-16
Perhaps kneeling he had seen the vision: therefore the voice also said to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat." But it showed that what he had seen was divine by reason of his being raised into a trance of mind, and because the voice descended from there, and because on the third time it declared that it was unclean. Moreover, that they came from heaven, and were withdrawn therefore, is a great argument of purification. This, however, was done for those about whom he was afterward to tell the matter. For he himself had indeed heard, "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles." (Matthew 10:5-6) — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:13-16
The earth is the sheet, and the creatures in it are the beasts, those from the nations. And the "kill and eat," because those too must be admitted. And the third to happen is this, the baptism. But as Peter was in confusion, the men came conveniently, resolving the confusion. For the soul readily receives the solution. Previously it had come into confusion, just as Joseph earlier suffered restraint to be disturbed, and then the angel came. (Matt. 1:20) — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:13-16
Peter exhorts that the brutal and irrational sort of people be sacrificed, so that once they are cleansed what remains may become edible. The account of piety is delivered plainly, not once the divine voice having said that what God has sanctified is not common, but three times: that we may learn by the one voice God cleansing the Father, and by the other God cleansing the Only‑Begotten, and by the other the Holy Spirit. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:17-23
"And having called out they inquired." Since they inquired into a humble house from below, and they asked not the neighbors. Great is the power of the Spirit in what was said, that "for I have sent them." When Peter went down he inquired into the reason why, so that if he needed to leave immediately he might rush, and if not, he might entertain them in the house. And that some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied Peter homeward, for convenience. So that he might be a witness thereafter, when Peter must give an account to the disciples, that he too had been judged by the Spirit not to be partial. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:29
Peter had already heard everything from the soldiers; but he wishes first that they confess, and to make them accountable in faith. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:30
It seems to him that the seasons of his life had become more exacting for him, and on certain days. For this reason he said, "From the fourth day." When then the angel appears to him, this is one day; and the day on which those sent from Cornelius withdrew is one; and the day on which they came is one; and on the fourth he appeared about the third hour, after which he prayed. See then the greatness of the prayer, when he committed himself to holiness; then the angel appears to him. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:30
A man, he says, and not an angel; therefore he was without form. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:35
"Righteousness" instead of every virtue. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:36
He says these things for the sake of those present, in order to draw them also into faith. Yet he grants to the sons of Israel the exception, so that they may not think themselves cast off forever. He is, he says, Lord of all. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:38
Being anointed as Jesus with the Holy Spirit by God must be understood according to the human aspect. For since he emptied himself and in like manner partook for us of blood and flesh, those things that he has by nature, he is said, as God, to receive them by reason of the human element. For he does not receive them for himself, since he is the God Word (for they were his own), but for us, as a first fruits through himself. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:41-42
Therefore, he confirms Christ's resurrection by the fact that they ate with him after the resurrection. For he did not make any sign from the resurrection; for the resurrection itself was a great sign, and there was no such sign of a resurrection as eating and drinking. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:43
Those who, he says, prophesied spoke concerning the forgiveness of sins; in this matter they said that these are forgiven by Jesus. Therefore also Isaiah, bringing forward his very person, says: "I am the one who wipes away your sins, and your lawless deeds." (Isa. 43:25) — Commentary on Acts
Atos 10:44-48
When they had believed that by baptism there is altogether the remission of sins, then the Spirit descended upon them. This, however, happened by God's ordaining for the great defense of Peter. Nor did the Spirit come in a common way, but they also spoke in tongues, which put those who had been companions into astonishment; because of which Peter immediately ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Nor did he say: Why is water needed, when the Holy Spirit has come upon them? For he knew that in the water divine signs are accomplished, namely burial and mortification, resurrection and life. Just as it is easy for us to be baptized and to emerge, so it is easy for God to bury the old man and show the new. This, however, is done on the third day, so that we may recognize that by the power of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit this is affected. Some, however, say that the resurrection of Christ made on the third day is shown, which brings this about in us. [SEVERIAN OF GABALA] — Commentary on Acts