(19) The Spirit said unto him, . . . .--The words seem to imply a state of consciousness intermediate between the "trance" that had passed away and the normal state of every-day life. The "voice" no longer seemed to come from heaven to the outward ear, but was heard as not less divine in the secret recesses of his soul.

Verse 19. - And while for while, A.V. Thought (διενθυμουμένου, R.T.), stronger than the ἐνθυμουμένου of the T.R.; thought over through and through; considered in all its bearings. It only occurs here and two or three times in Cyril and other Church writers. The Spirit (so Acts 11:12). In Acts 13:2 it is τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἄγιον.

10:19-33 When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in religious exercises. Cornelius declared the direction God gave him to send for Peter. We are right in our aims in attending a gospel ministry, when we do it with regard to the Divine appointment requiring us to make use of that ordinance. How seldom ministers are called to speak to such companies, however small, in which it may be said that they are all present in the sight of God, to hear all things that are commanded of God! But these were ready to hear what Peter was commanded of God to say.Which greatly amused him, affected his mind, and employed his thoughts what should be the meaning and design of it:

the Spirit said unto him; the holy Spirit of God, either by an articulate voice, or by making an impulse on his mind;

behold, three men seek thee; the Arabic version leaves out the word "three": the Spirit of God is omniscient, and knows all things; if the deep things of God, then much more man, and the things of man.