Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. New Living Translation Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! English Standard Version And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Berean Standard Bible Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. Berean Literal Bible And having looked intently on him, and having become afraid, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. King James Bible And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. New King James Version And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. New American Standard Bible And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God. NASB 1995 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. NASB 1977 And fixing his gaze upon him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Legacy Standard Bible And looking intently on him and becoming afraid, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Amplified Bible Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings]. Christian Standard Bible Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord? ” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. Holman Christian Standard Bible Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God. American Standard Version And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. Contemporary English Version Cornelius was surprised and stared at the angel. Then he asked, "What is this all about?" The angel answered, "God has heard your prayers and knows about your gifts to the poor. English Revised Version And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. GOD'S WORD® Translation He stared at the angel and was terrified. Cornelius asked the angel, "What do you want, sir?" The angel answered him, "God is aware of your prayers and your gifts to the poor, and he has remembered you. Good News Translation He stared at the angel in fear and said, "What is it, sir?" The angel answered, "God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you. International Standard Version He stared at the angel in terror and asked, "What is it, Lord?" The angel answered him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have arisen as a reminder to God. Majority Standard Bible Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, ?What is it, Lord?? The angel answered, ?Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. NET Bible Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius replied, "What is it, Lord?" The angel said to him, "Your prayers and your acts of charity have gone up as a memorial before God. New Heart English Bible He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. Webster's Bible Translation And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God. Weymouth New Testament Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, "What do you want, Sir?" "Your prayers and charities," he replied, "have gone up and have been recorded before God. World English Bible He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he having looked earnestly on him, and becoming afraid, said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your kind acts came up for a memorial before God, Berean Literal Bible And having looked intently on him, and having become afraid, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Young's Literal Translation and he having looked earnestly on him, and becoming afraid, said, 'What is it, Lord?' And he said to him, 'Thy prayers and thy kind acts came up for a memorial before God, Smith's Literal Translation And having looked at him intently, and being afraid, he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms went up for remembrance before God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a memorial in the sight of God. Catholic Public Domain Version And he, gazing at him, was seized by fear, and he said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him: “Your prayers and your almsgiving have ascended as a memorial in the sight of God. New American Bible He looked intently at him and, seized with fear, said, “What is it, sir?” He said to him, “Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God. New Revised Standard Version He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he looked at the angel and was afraid, and he said, What is it, my LORD? And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And he gazed at him and was afraid and said, “What, my lord?” And The Angel said to him, “Your prayer and your charity have gone up for a remembrance before God. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd having looked steadily on him, he was afraid, and said: "What is it, Lord? He said to him: Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up for a memorial before God. Godbey New Testament And he looking upon him, and being afraid, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayer and thine alms have come up for a memorial before God. Haweis New Testament Then looking stedfastly on him, and being terrified, he said, What means this, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. Mace New Testament and when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? and he said to him, thy prayers and thine alms have been observ'd and approv'd by God. Weymouth New Testament Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, "What do you want, Sir?" "Your prayers and charities," he replied, "have gone up and have been recorded before God. Worrell New Testament And he, looking intently on him, and becoming much afraid, said, "What is it, lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms went up for a memorial before God. Worsley New Testament and he looking earnestly at him, and being afraid, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up as a memorial before God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Cornelius Sends for Peter…3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.… Cross References Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel. Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering. Hebrews 13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. Daniel 10:12 “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 1 John 3:22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. Malachi 3:16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name. Philippians 4:18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. Treasury of Scripture And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God. he was. Daniel 10:11 Luke 1:12,29 Luke 24:5 What. Acts 9:5,6 Acts 22:10 1 Samuel 3:10 thy. Acts 10:31 2 Chronicles 6:33 2 Chronicles 32:24 thine. Isaiah 45:19 Philippians 4:18 Hebrews 6:10 Jump to Previous Afraid Alarmed Alms Angel Ascended Charities Cornelius Eyes Fastening Fear Fixing Frightened Gaze Gifts Kept Lord Memorial Mind Needy Offering Offerings Prayers Recorded Sir Stared Steadily Terror WantJump to Next Afraid Alarmed Alms Angel Ascended Charities Cornelius Eyes Fastening Fear Fixing Frightened Gaze Gifts Kept Lord Memorial Mind Needy Offering Offerings Prayers Recorded Sir Stared Steadily Terror WantActs 10 1. Cornelius, a devout man, being commanded by an angel, sends for Peter,11. who by a vision is taught not to despise the Gentiles; 17. and is commanded by the Spirit to go with the messenger to Caesarea. 25. Cornelius shows the occasion of his sending for him. 34. As he preaches Christ to Cornelius and his company, 44. the Holy Spirit falls on them, and they are baptized. Cornelius stared at him in fear This phrase captures the immediate reaction of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, upon encountering a divine messenger. The Greek word for "stared" (ἀτενίζω, atenizó) implies a fixed gaze, often associated with awe or intense focus. Cornelius's fear is a common biblical response to angelic appearances, reflecting the holiness and authority of God's messengers. Historically, as a centurion, Cornelius was a man of authority and discipline, yet even he is humbled in the presence of the divine, illustrating the universal reverence due to God. What is it, Lord? he asked Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God Persons / Places / Events 1. CorneliusA centurion in the Roman army, stationed in Caesarea. He is described as a devout man who feared God, gave generously to those in need, and prayed regularly. 2. Angel of God A divine messenger sent to Cornelius to deliver a message from God. The angel's appearance signifies the importance of the message and God's direct intervention. 3. Caesarea A significant city in the Roman Empire, serving as a hub of political and military activity. It was also a place where diverse cultures and religions intersected. 4. Prayers and Gifts to the Poor Cornelius's spiritual practices, which are highlighted as being pleasing to God. These acts are described as a "memorial offering," indicating their significance in God's sight. 5. Memorial Offering A term that connects Cornelius's actions to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where offerings were made to honor and remember God. Teaching Points The Power of Prayer and AlmsgivingCornelius's life demonstrates that sincere prayer and acts of charity are powerful and noticed by God. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a life of prayer and generosity. God's Recognition of Faithfulness God sees and values the faithfulness of His people, even when others may not. Cornelius's example shows that God honors those who earnestly seek Him. Inclusivity of the Gospel Cornelius, a Gentile, is chosen by God to receive a divine message, highlighting the inclusivity of the Gospel. This challenges believers to embrace all people with the love of Christ. Divine Intervention in Everyday Life The appearance of the angel to Cornelius illustrates that God can intervene in our daily lives in unexpected ways. Believers should remain open to God's guidance.(4) Are come up for a memorial before God.--The word so used was emphatically sacrificial and liturgical, as, e.g., in Leviticus 2:2; Leviticus 2:9; Leviticus 2:16; Leviticus 5:12; Leviticus 6:15; Ecclesiasticus 45:16; and elsewhere. The words implied, therefore, that the "prayers and alms" were accepted as a true sacrifice, more acceptable than the blood of bulls and goats. If we ask, in the technical language of a later theology, how they could be accepted when they were offered prior to a clear faith in Christ, and therefore before justification, the answer is that the good works were wrought by the power of God's grace already working in him. He was believing in the Light that lighteth every man, though as yet he did not identify that Light with its manifestation in Jesus as the Christ (John 1:9). He had the faith which from the beginning of the world has justified--the belief that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). . . . Verse 4. - He, fastening his eyes upon for when he looked on, A.V. (ἀτενίσας, as Acts 3:4, etc.); and being affrighted for he was afraid and, A.V.; gone for come, A.V. For a memorial; i.e. thy prayers and thine alms are set is the sight of God, and are the cause of his now remembering thee and sending this message to thee. Cornelius's good works were the fruit of his faith in God as revealed in the Old Testament. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek [Cornelius] staredἀτενίσας (atenisas) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 816: To direct my gaze, look steadily. From a compound of a and teino; to gaze intently. at him αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. in fear ἔμφοβος (emphobos) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 1719: Full of fear, terrified. From en and phobos; in fear, i.e. Alarmed. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. asked, εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “What Τί (Ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. is it, ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. Lord?” Κύριε (Kyrie) Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master. [The angel] answered, Εἶπεν (Eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “Your σου (sou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. prayers προσευχαί (proseuchai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 4335: From proseuchomai; prayer; by implication, an oratory. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. gifts to the poor ἐλεημοσύναι (eleēmosynai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 1654: Abstr: alms-giving, charity; concr: alms, charity. From eleos; compassionateness, i.e. beneficence, or a benefaction. have ascended ἀνέβησαν (anebēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 305: To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up. as εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. a memorial [ offering ] μνημόσυνον (mnēmosynon) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3422: Reminder, memorial; a remembrance offering. From mnemoneuo; a reminder, i.e. Record. before ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen) Preposition Strong's 1715: From en and pros; in front of (literally or figuratively) or time). God. Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. Links Acts 10:4 NIVActs 10:4 NLT Acts 10:4 ESV Acts 10:4 NASB Acts 10:4 KJV Acts 10:4 BibleApps.com Acts 10:4 Biblia Paralela Acts 10:4 Chinese Bible Acts 10:4 French Bible Acts 10:4 Catholic Bible NT Apostles: Acts 10:4 He fastening his eyes on him (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |