Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 11]
expression. They did not object to Peter's preaching to the
Gentiles, but to his going into the house of Cornelius and eating
with them, violating his supposed obligations as a Jew (Hackett).
It was the same complaint in principle that the Pharisees had
made against Jesus when he ate with publicans and sinners (Lu
15:12). The Jews had not merely the Mosaic regulations about
clean and unclean food, but also the fact that at a Gentile table
some of the meat may have been an idol sacrifice. And Peter
himself had similar scruples when the vision came to him at Joppa
and when he entered the house of Cornelius in Caesarea 10:28).
Peter had been led beyond the circumcision party.
11:4 {Began} (\arxamenos\). Not pleonastic here, but graphically
showing how Peter began at the beginning and gave the full story
of God's dealings with him in Joppa and Caesarea. {Expounded}
(\exetitheto\). Imperfect middle of \ektith•mi\, to set forth,
old verb, but in the N.T. only in Acts (7:21; 11:4; 18:26;
28:23), a deliberate and detailed narrative "in order"
(\kathex•s\). Old word for in succession. In the N.T. only in Lu
1:2; 8:1; Ac 3:24; 11:14; 18:23. Luke evidently considered this
defence of Peter important and he preserves the marks of
authenticity. It came originally from Peter himself (verses
5,6,15,16). "The case of Cornelius was a test case of primary
importance" (Page), "the first great difficulty of the early
Church." Part of the story Luke gives three times (10:3-6,30-32;
11:13f.). See the discussion chapter 10 for details given here.
11:5 {Let down} (\kathiemen•n\). Here agreeing with the "sheet"
(\othon•n\, feminine), not with "vessel" (\skeuos\, neuter) as in
10:11. {Even unto me} (\achri emou\). Vivid detail added here
by Peter.
11:6 {When I had fastened my eyes} (\atenisas\). This personal
touch Peter adds from his own experience. See on Lu 4:20; Ac
3:4,12 for this striking verb \ateniz•\, to stretch the eyes
towards, first aorist active participle here. {I considered}
(\katanoe•\). Imperfect active of \kataneo•\ to put the mind down
on, to ponder, I was pondering. {And saw} (\kai eidon\). Second
aorist active indicative, saw in a flash.
11:7 {A voice saying} (\ph•n•s legous•s\). Genitive case after
\•kousa\ (cf. 9:7 and accusative 9:4 which see for
discussion). Participle \legous•s\ (present active of \leg•\)
agreeing with \ph•n•s\, a kind of indirect discourse use of the
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