Acts 10:23,24 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then called he them in, and lodged them Or, hospitably entertained them that night. He did not bid them go to an inn, and refresh or repose themselves at their own charge, but was himself at the charge of entertaining them at his own quarters. He lodged them, though they were Gentiles, to show how readily he complied with the design of the vision, in eating with Gentiles. And, though they were two of them servants, and the other a common soldier, yet Peter thought it not below him to take them into his house. And on the morrow went away with them Not delaying to obey the heavenly vision. And certain brethren Namely, six in number, Acts 11:12; accompanied him Being probably desired by the apostle to go with him, that they might be witnesses of what happened, as this was an affair in which some difficulties might arise, and some censure be incurred from the Jewish converts, and such as were not apprized of his divine direction. How pleasing a mixture have we here, of prudence and humility! Sufficient to “teach us, on all proper occasions, to express at once a becoming deference to our brethren, and prudent caution in our own best intended actions; that even our good may not be evil spoken of, when it lies in our power to prevent it.” See Doddridge, and Romans 14:16. And on the morrow after they entered into Cesarea Though it is probable they travelled on foot, yet as Joppa was only about fifteen leagues distant from Cesarea, they might easily arrive there the day after that on which they set out. And Cornelius waited for them Not engaging himself in any secular business during that solemn time, but being altogether intent on this thing. And he called together his kinsmen His relations; and near friends Those with whom he was most intimate, and had the greatest love to. This, he thought, he could not better express, than by giving them an opportunity to hear the word of life, and to gain instruction for their souls. And, probably, those here spoken of were accounted near friends by Cornelius; because they were such as had forsaken all pagan idolatry, and were, with him, worshippers of the true and living God.