10:9–16 Now the scene shifts to Joppa and to the events immediately prior to the arrival of Cornelius’ men. About noon, Peter went to the housetop to pray (see notes)—a convenient place away from the activity of the house and often used in this way (cf. 2 Kings 23:12; Neh. 8:16; Jer. 19:13; 32:29; Zeph. 1:5). These roofs were flat and accessible by an exterior stairway. Normally Peter would have eaten before this. Jews did not start the day with a meal, but ate later in the morning (see b. Shabbath 10a). By noon, therefore, Peter had become hungry (the Greek is probably intensive—“very hungry”) and wanted something to eat (v. 10). He was praying as the meal was being prepared, and as he prayed he fell into a trance (Gk. ekstasis, v. 10; cf. 11:5; 22:7). The different vocabulary points to …