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Cornelius in the Bible was a centurion, a commander in the Italian Regiment of the Roman military. He lived in Caesarea. His story in Acts 10 is important because it was in Cornelius's household th...

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December 18 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Who was Cornelius in the Bible?

Cornelius was a Roman centurion in Caesarea, a devout Gentile who feared God and gave generously to the poor. His story in the Bible's Acts 10 is significant because he was the first Gentile to be converted to Christianity and receive the Holy Spirit, which opened the doors of the church to the non-Jewish world. An angel appeared to him in a vision, telling him to send for the apostle Peter, who was residing in Joppa.

1: Occupation: Cornelius was a centurion, a respected commander of around 100 soldiers, in the "Italian Regiment" (or Cohort) of the Roman army stationed in Caesarea Maritima, the Roman administrative capital of Judea.

2: Character: The Bible describes him as a devout and God-fearing man who was also righteous and well-respected by the Jewish community. He prayed regularly and gave generously to the poor. These characteristics suggest he was a "God-fearer"—a Gentile who worshipped the God of Israel but had not fully converted to Judaism. 

3: Cornelius' Vision: While praying at about three in the afternoon, an angel of God appeared to Cornelius and told him that God had noticed his prayers and gifts. The angel instructed him to send men to Joppa to find Simon Peter, who would say to him what he needed to do.

4: Peter's Vision: The next day, as Cornelius' men approached Joppa, Peter had a vision of a large sheet descending from heaven, filled with all kinds of "unclean" animals forbidden by Jewish law. A voice commanded him to kill and eat, and when Peter refused, the voice said, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean". This vision was repeated three times, preparing Peter to abandon Jewish dietary and purity laws regarding association with Gentiles.

5: The Meeting and Conversion: Peter went with Cornelius' men back to Caesarea. When they met, Peter realised that God's message was that the Gospel was for all people, not just the Jews. As Peter preached the good news of Jesus Christ to Cornelius, his relatives, and close friends assembled at his house, the Holy Spirit fell upon everyone present, and they began speaking in tongues and praising God.

6: Baptism: Witnessing this evident sign of God's acceptance, Peter commanded that Cornelius and his household be baptised, officially making them the first Gentiles to join the Christian congregation.

7: In reality, Cornelius was the firstfruits of the uncircumcised non-Jews to become a Christian, showing that by this time, Gentiles didn't need to become Jewish proselytes like the Ethiopian eunuch before being accepted into the Christian congregation.

8: A pivotal moment: When Cornelius's men arrived, Peter understood that God was telling him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He went with them to Caesarea, where he met Cornelius and explained that God shows no partiality and that all who fear him and do what is right are acceptable.

Conclusion:

Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army, was “a devout man." He was also an exemplary family man "who feared God together with all his household." Cornelius was not a Jewish proselyte; he was an uncircumcised Gentile. Yet, he showed compassion to needy Jews, giving them material help. This sincere man “made supplication to God continually.”​—Acts 10:2.

The story of Cornelius is highly significant in Christian history because it marked a central turning point in the early church's mission. It demonstrated that God shows no partiality and intended for the Gospel to be preached to all nations, breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers between Jews and Gentiles in the new Christian community.

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