Discovery BoxActs 10:2 
Context10:2 He 1 was a devout, God-fearing man, 2 as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people 3 and prayed to God regularly.
Acts 10:4
Context10:4 Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius 4 replied, 5 “What is it, Lord?” The angel 6 said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity 7 have gone up as a memorial 8 before God.
Acts 10:31
Context10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charity 9 have been remembered before God. 10
1 tn In the Greek text this represents a continuation of the previous sentence. Because of the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences, a new sentence was begun here in the translation.
2 sn The description of Cornelius as a devout, God-fearing man probably means that he belonged to the category called “God-fearers,” Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 43-44, and Sir 11:17; 27:11; 39:27.
3 tn Or “gave many gifts to the poor.” This was known as “giving alms,” or acts of mercy (Sir 7:10; BDAG 315-16 s.v. ἐλεημοσύνη).
4 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Cornelius) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Grk “said,” but in response to the angel’s address, “replied” is better English style.
6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Or “your gifts to the needy.”
8 sn The language used in the expression gone up as a memorial before God parallels what one would say of acceptable sacrifices (Ps 141:2; Sir 35:6; 50:16).
9 tn Or “your gifts to the needy.”
10 sn This statement is a paraphrase rather than an exact quotation of Acts 10:4.
