Acts 10:3

“He saw in a vision evidently, etc.] He was not in a dream, or in a trance, but he was thoroughly awake, and his eyes open, and was himself; it was not in the night, but in clear day: about the ninth hour of the day; or three o’clock in the afternoon, which was the hour of prayer, (<440301>Acts 3:1) in which exercise he was now engaged, (<441030>Acts 10:30) at this time he saw an angel of God coming to him; into the room where he was at prayer: and saying unto him, Cornelius; he called him by his name, to let him know that he knew him, as angels are very knowing spirits; and to express his affection and friendship to him, and that he was a messenger, not of bad, but of good news to him; as…”

“saw . . . evidently--"distinctly." the ninth hour of the day--three o'clock, the hour of the evening sacrifice. But he had been "fasting until that hour" (Act 10:30), perhaps from the sixth hour (Act 10:9).”

“He saw in a vision - See the notes on Acts 9:10. Evidently - Openly; manifestly. About the ninth hour - About 3 o’clock p. m. This was the usual hour of evening worship among the Jews. An angel of God - See the notes on Matthew 1:20. Compare Hebrews 1:14. This angel was sent to signify to Cornelius that his alms were accepted by God as an evidence of his piety, and to direct him to send for Peter to instruct him in the way of salvation. The importance of the occasion - the introduction of the gospel to a Gentile, and hence, to the entire Gentile world - was probably the chief reason why an angel was commissioned to visit the Roman centurion. Compare Acts 16:9-10. return to 'Top of Page'”

“He saw in a vision - Not in a trance, like Peter: plainly, so as to leave one not accustomed to things of this kind no room to suspect any imposition. Acts 10:4”

“10:3 In Acts, visions are usually related to prayer (9:3-6, 10-16; 10:2-6, 9-12; 11:5-9; 12:9-17; 18:9-10; 22:17-21; 23:11). These visions are not chance coincidences, but expressions of God’s saving work, providing divine direction and encouragement.”

“saw: Job 4:15, Job 4:16; Dan 9:20, Dan 9:21 about: Act 10:30, Act 3:1; Mat 27:46; Luk 23:44-46 an: Act 5:19, Act 11:13, Act 12:7-11, Act 27:23; Luk 1:11, Luk 2:10, Luk 2:11, Luk 2:13; Heb 1:4, Heb 1:14 Cornelius: Act 9:4; Exo 33:17; Isa 45:4 Acts 10:4”