10:1-8 a Roman army officer: Literally a centurion, the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the Roman army, in command of a century, a subdivision of roughly 100 men. Luke often describes centurions in favorable terms (10:22; 21:32; 22:25-26; 23:17, 23; 27:6, 11, 43; 28:16; Luke 7:1-10; 23:47). It was important for Luke to show that Christianity was not hostile to Roman officials or institutions and could, like Judaism, be permitted in the Roman Empire (see Acts Book Introduction, “Purposes of Acts: Politics”). • a captain of the Italian Regiment: A regiment included six centuries; a Roman legion was usually divided into ten regiments. The New Testament mentions the Italian Regiment and the Imperial Regiment (Acts 27:1).

10:2 a devout, God-fearing man: Gentiles who are described as God-fearing were attracted to the high ethical standards of Judaism but were not prepared to accept the rite of circumcision or the full implications of the Jewish law by becoming full converts to Judaism (cp. 13:43). Christianity was an attractive option to Gentiles who worshiped God (18:7; see 13:48; 16:30; 17:4, 12, 17). These people would be wide open to the message of the gospel that announced that “there is peace with God through Jesus Christ” (10:36).