What does Acts 10:6 mean?
An angel is talking to a Roman centurion named Cornelius. Centurions were leaders of cohorts of soldiers; although "centurion" infers 100, the number of soldiers in a cohort is not standard. Cornelius, despite being Roman, worships the Jewish God faithfully. God has chosen him and his household to be the first group of Gentiles to be saved (Acts 10:1–5).To that end, the angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter who is residing in Joppa, about thirty-five miles south of Cornelius' station in Caesarea Maritima. Peter is staying with a tanner named Simon who lives on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea (Acts 9:43). The process of tanning hides is disgusting to most and very smelly, so tanners typically lived outside of town. Peter apparently has no problem living with a Jewish tanner, but must be convinced through a vision from God to go to the home of a Gentile (Acts 10:9–23).
It's interesting how much Saul's experience parallels that of Cornelius. In both cases, God prepared the men and told them what to do (Acts 9:1–8). Then He prepared His evangelists, Ananias (Acts 9:10–16) and Peter (Acts 10:9–23). Both Ananias and Peter were reluctant, so God reassured them of His plan. Their obedience resulted in two major steps in the spread of the gospel. Cornelius' conversion convinced Peter and the other core disciples that Gentiles could follow Christ. Saul's conversion prepared him to be the primary evangelist to the Gentiles.
Acts 10:1–8 introduces the first group of Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit. Cornelius is a Roman military leader stationed in Caesarea Maritima, the coastal city that serves as the headquarters for Herod Agrippa I. Cornelius is a devout follower of the Jewish God, although probably not a full proselyte. While praying one day, an angel appears and tells him God has heard his prayers and appreciates his charity. He is to send for Peter in Joppa and hear what the apostle has to say. What follows is the opening of the gospel to all Gentiles.
Peter has been a dominant voice in the spread of Jesus' message to Jews and proselytes. Now he brings the gospel to Gentiles. An angel tells Cornelius, a centurion, to ask Peter to come to him. Peter is praying when he receives a vision of food—including non-kosher food—and God's voice telling him to eat. When the centurion's messengers arrive, Peter realizes the dream meant that Gentiles are no longer unclean. He follows the messengers and tells Cornelius' household about salvation through Jesus. Before Peter can lay his hands on them or baptize them, the Holy Spirit falls on them.