Acts 10:4

Looked. Or, “gazed intently,” “stared.”

He was afraid. The angel is called a “man ... in bright clothing.” For the moment his sudden appearance terrorized Cornelius. The Roman soldiers guarding the tomb of Christ, who were not attuned spiritually as was Cornelius, shook and became like dead men in the presence of the blazing glory of the resurrection angel.

What is it? By this question Cornelius indicated that the vision involved more than he could understand, and his words may be taken to imply his readiness to follow divine direction. Compare the response Saul gave when Christ appeared to him on the road near Damascus.

Lord. Greek kurios, a title of respect, which, when applied to human beings, is to be translated, “sir,” but when referred to God, means “Lord.” Which translation is preferable here depends on the degree to which Cornelius at first recognized the angel as a heavenly messenger. “Lord” is probably the better translation.

Thy prayers and thine alms. Cornelius’ alms were a tangible expression of the sincerity of his inner spiritual life, nourished, as it was, by habitual prayer.

Are come up. Rather, “have arisen.” Prayer may be thought of as similar to incense ascending to the throne of God or to the smoke of the burnt offering, which in Hebrew was called an ‘olah, “that which ascends.” This was a particularly fitting expression to use for prayer offered at the time of the evening sacrifice.

Memorial. Greek mnemosunon, a word used repeatedly in the LXX to refer to the portion of the meal offering the priest burned upon the altar. The smoke of the offering, as it ascended, was representative of Israel’s prayers. This same word appears in Tobit 12:12, where an angel says, “I did bring the memorial of your prayer before the glory of the Lord.” The prayers of Cornelius were acceptable to God. He followed “the true Light, which lighteth every man,” and he partook of the faith that from the beginning of the world has opened the way to justification — the belief that the true God “is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”