Acts 10:28,29 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And he said, Ye know how it is an unlawful thing, &c. A thing not allowed by the Jews; for a man that is a Jew A native Jew, as I am; to keep company with, or come unto one of another nation A stranger, and an uncircumcised Gentile. This was not made unlawful by the law of God, but by the precepts of their wise men, which they looked upon to be no less obliging. They did not indeed forbid them to converse with Gentiles, in the way of traffic or worldly business, but to eat with them. With such scorn did the Jews look upon the Gentiles, who in their turn held them in equal contempt, as appears by many passages in the Latin poets. But now, saith Peter, God hath showed me By a remarkable vision; that I should not call any man common or unclean Peter thought it necessary to inform them how he came to change his mind in this matter, lest, being thought to have used lightness, his word should have the less authority. Therefore Having received direction from God; came I unto you without gainsaying Or delay; as soon as I was sent for Ready to preach the same gospel to you that I preached to the Jews. I ask, therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me Although Peter in a great measure knew this already, he puts Cornelius on telling the story, both that his friends, and all that were present, might be informed, and Cornelius himself be more impressed by the narration; the repetition of which, even as we read it, gives a new dignity and spirit to Peter's succeeding discourse.