Εἶδεν ἐν ὁράματι φανερῶς ὡσεὶ ὥραν ἐνάτην τῆς ἡμέρας ἄγγελον τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθόντα πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἰπόντα αὐτῷ· Κορνήλιε. (Acts 10:3)
He saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
This verse narrates a pivotal moment in Acts: Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, receives a vision that will lead to the inclusion of the nations in the gospel. The grammar is layered and deliberate: a main verb situates the experience, adverbial modifiers frame its clarity and time, and participles depict the angel’s entrance and speech. The careful syntax of Luke highlights both the reliability of the vision and the solemnity of God’s intervention.
The Central Verb: εἶδεν
The verse begins with εἶδεν (aorist active indicative of ὁράω, “he saw”). The aorist situates the vision as a completed, decisive experience. Unlike ongoing or habitual seeing, this marks a singular revelatory event. Cornelius is the subject, and the object of his sight is specified by the prepositional phrase ἐν ὁράματι.
The Mode of Revelation: ἐν ὁράματι φανερῶς
ἐν ὁράματι (“in a vision”) frames the medium of divine disclosure. Luke emphasizes the clarity of the encounter by adding the adverb φανερῶς (“clearly, openly”). This stresses that the vision was not vague or ambiguous but unmistakably real to Cornelius. Grammar underscores the vividness: the prepositional phrase plus adverb assures the reader that this was no dreamlike confusion but a direct and clear revelation.
The Time Marker: ὡσεὶ ὥραν ἐνάτην τῆς ἡμέρας
The temporal phrase specifies the moment: “about the ninth hour of the day” (approximately 3:00 p.m.). The particle ὡσεὶ (“about, approximately”) adds approximation, typical of Luke’s precision as a historian. The accusative of time ὥραν ἐνάτην situates the vision in the daily rhythm of prayer (the ninth hour was one of the Jewish prayer hours). The genitive τῆς ἡμέρας clarifies the reference, marking it as daylight hours. Grammar anchors the event in history, connecting heavenly revelation to earthly time.
The Angelic Figure: ἄγγελον τοῦ Θεοῦ
The direct object of Cornelius’ vision is ἄγγελον τοῦ Θεοῦ (“an angel of God”). The accusative ἄγγελον specifies the figure seen, while the genitive τοῦ Θεοῦ identifies its source and authority. Luke’s wording leaves no ambiguity: this is no ordinary messenger but one bearing divine commission.
Participial Sequence: εἰσελθόντα… καὶ εἰπόντα
The vision unfolds through a pair of aorist participles:
- εἰσελθόντα πρὸς αὐτόν — “entering to him.” The aorist participle of εἰσέρχομαι shows completed entrance into Cornelius’ space. The prepositional phrase πρὸς αὐτόν underscores the personal nature of the encounter.
- εἰπόντα αὐτῷ — “and saying to him.” Another aorist participle, this time from λέγω, introduces direct speech. The dative αὐτῷ makes Cornelius the explicit recipient of divine communication.
The participial sequence creates a vivid unfolding: the angel is seen entering and speaking, giving motion and voice to the vision. The grammar blends action and dialogue into a seamless narrative.
The Direct Address: Κορνήλιε
The speech of the angel begins with Cornelius’ name in the vocative: Κορνήλιε. This simple address personalizes the vision. Grammatically, the vocative case isolates his name, highlighting divine recognition and calling. The entire narrative pivots on this moment of personal address—God calls a Gentile by name.
Syntax Table: Vision Grammar in Acts 10:3
| Greek Phrase | Grammar Role | Interpretive Insight |
|---|---|---|
| εἶδεν | Aorist indicative | Decisive act of seeing; situates the vision |
| ἐν ὁράματι φανερῶς | Prepositional phrase + adverb | Defines medium and clarity of the vision |
| ὡσεὶ ὥραν ἐνάτην τῆς ἡμέρας | Accusative of time expression | Anchors revelation in daily rhythm of prayer |
| ἄγγελον τοῦ Θεοῦ | Accusative object + genitive | Specifies the divine source of the messenger |
| εἰσελθόντα… εἰπόντα | Aorist participial sequence | Depicts the angel’s entry and speech vividly |
| Κορνήλιε | Vocative address | Personalizes the vision, marking divine calling |
Grammar as Revelation of Mission
Acts 10:3 is far more than narrative detail. Its grammar compresses revelation into a tight but theologically charged structure. The aorist verbs signal decisive divine action, the adverb φανερῶς guarantees clarity, the time expression connects vision with prayer, and the participles dramatize the angel’s motion and speech. Even the vocative case embodies divine recognition of Cornelius as a chosen vessel for a new chapter in salvation history.
This verse’s grammar reveals that God’s mission is expanding. By calling a Gentile at the ninth hour of prayer, Luke shows that the barriers between Jew and Gentile are breaking down. Grammar here functions as theology in miniature: clarity, precision, and motion all serve to highlight that God’s saving work now embraces the nations.
