Acts 10:4

“And when he looked on him, he was afraid, etc.] What with the brightness of his clothing, (<441030>Acts 10:30) and the lustre of his countenance, and the majestic form in which he appeared, he perceived there was something uncommon and divine in this vision, and therefore was filled with awe and reverence, yea, with something of a panic fear; as it was usual, even with good persons, as the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament, Zacharias, the Virgin Mary, and others; from a sense of the greatness of the divine majesty, which they supposed to be near, or this to be an emblem of it, and from a notion that, at the sight of God, they should die. And said, what is it, Lord what is the…”

“What is it, Lord?--language which, tremulously though it was uttered, betokened childlike reverence and humility. Thy prayers and thine alms--The way in which both are specified is emphatic. The one denotes the spiritual outgoing of his soul to God, the other its practical outgoing to men. are come up for a memorial before God--that is, as a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God, as an odor of a sweet smell (Rev 8:4).”

“And when he looked on him - Greek: Having fixed his eyes attentively on him. He was afraid - At the suddenness and unexpected character of the vision. What is it, Lord? - This is the expression of surprise and alarm. The word “Lord” should have been translated “sir,” since there is no evidence that this is an address to God, and still less that he regarded the personage present as the Lord. Compare the notes on Acts 9:5. It is such language as a man would naturally use who was suddenly surprised; who should witness a strange form appearing unexpectedly before him; and who should exclaim, Sir, what is the matter?” Are come up for a memorial - Are remembered before God. Compare Isaiah 45:19.…”

“Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God - Dare any man say, These were only splendid sins? Or that they were an abomination before God? And yet it is certain, in the Christian sense Cornelius was then an unbeliever. He had not then faith in Christ. So certain it is, that every one who seeks faith in Christ, should seek it in prayer, and doing good to all men: though in strictness what is not exactly according to the Divine rule must stand in need of Divine favour and indulgence. Acts 10:8”

“he was: Dan 10:11; Luk 1:12, Luk 1:29, Luk 24:5 What: Act 9:5, Act 9:6, Act 22:10; Sa1 3:10 thy: Act 10:31; Ch2 6:33, Ch2 32:24; Psa 141:2; Isa 43:26; Mal 3:16; Luk 1:13; Phi 4:6 thine: Isa 45:19; Phi 4:18; Heb 6:10, Heb 13:16 Acts 10:5”