Acts 10:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

On the morrow, &c.— As the messengers of Cornelius were upon the road, and just entering the town, St. Peter went up to the top of the house, to spend some time in retirement and devotion; for the Jews had stated hours of prayer in the day, namely, the times of the morning and evening sacrifices. See on Ch. Acts 3:1. The more devout among them added a third, which was about noon, and which they called "the time of the great meat-offering." See Psalms 55:17. Daniel 6:10. Whether St. Peter was induced by this or by some other reason to retire for prayer at this time, it seems at least to have been customary, in the first ages of the Christian church, to offer up their daily prayers at the third, the sixth, and the ninth hours. We have before observed, that in the Eastern countries, the roofs of the houses were commonly flat; and the flat roofs, or some of the upper parts of the houses, were the usual places for devout retirement, where the Jews were accustomed to pray with their faces towards the temple of Jerusalem. See 1 Kings 8:29-30; 1 Kings 8:66. Psalms 138:2. Jonah 2:4 and the note on Mark 2:4.