Acts 10:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Frightened, Cornelius asks what the angel wants and is told that his prayers and his gifts to the poor have risen as a memorial before God.
What Does Acts 10:4 Mean?
Cornelius fixes his eyes on the angel and feels the fear that falls on those who meet heaven's messengers. The answer he receives borrows the language of the altar: in the offerings of Israel, a memorial portion was burned so that its smoke ascended before the Lord (Leviticus 2:2; Psalm 141:2). His prayers and alms have been rising like that.
Nothing offered to God in sincerity is lost. The quiet generosity, the prayers no one else heard — God has received them all, and he remembers. Yet notice what the memorial calls down: not a commendation only, but a messenger, and soon the message of Jesus. God honors the seeker by giving him more than he knew to ask — his Son.
Acts 10:4 in the Original Language
mnemosynon (μνημόσυνον), 'memorial' -- a remembrance; the word used for the offering portion that ascends before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 10:4
What does Acts 10:4 mean?
Frightened, Cornelius asks what the angel wants and is told that his prayers and his gifts to the poor have risen as a memorial before God.