Acts 10:30

Four days ago. This is a clear example of the method of counting time periods by inclusive reckoning. Cornelius received his vision and dispatched his servants on the first day; they arrived at Joppa on the second day; they, with Peter and his friends, left Joppa on the third day; and all arrived at Caesarea on the fourth day. Since they met Cornelius at about the same hour as he had had his vision, the total period could have been scarcely more than 72 hours, yet because parts of four days were involved Cornelius spoke of it as “four days.”

I was fasting. Textual evidence favors the omission of these words.

Until this hour. The Greek of this passage is ambiguous, but is probably best translated, “Four days ago about this hour.” This indicates that Peter’s arrival at Caesarea must have been in the middle of the afternoon, about the ninth hour, the same time of day at which Cornelius had received his vision.

At the ninth hour I prayed. Textual evidence favors the reading, “I was praying the ninth,” that is, the ninth-hour prayer, offered at the time of the afternoon sacrifice. Thus this whole passage probably is best read, “Four days ago about this hour I was praying the ninth [-hour prayer] in my house.”

In bright clothing. This phrase, in the Greek, is the same as that translated in James as “goodly apparel” and “gay clothing.” The adjective, translated “bright” is employed by John to describe the raiment of the angels, and of the bride of the Lamb.