Who was the Cornelius mentioned in the Bible? What can we
learn about him from the Scriptures?
Cornelius, Roman Centurion
This man, Cornelius, was no small figure in the land of
Judea. His being a Roman Centurion meant that he had under his
command, at the bare minimum, at least one hundred men because the word
centurion comes from the Latin root “centum” which means one hundred but there
is wide disputation about this fact because most centurions under the Roman
tribal system, called the Servian reforms, commanded somewhere between 200 to
1000 men so it’s obvious that Cornelius was a man of great importance and was
already widely known to the Jews who were living in Judea (Acts 10:22).
A God-Fearing Man
Someone who is not converted to Christianity can actually still be
considered as a God-fearing man because that is what Cornelius was called by
the Jews. Although that is not enough to be saved, it does show that Cornelius
was seeking to know God and was living a life of obedience that was pleasing to
God. Known as “a devout man who feared God with all his household [he] gave
alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God” (Acts
10:2). This man was naturally not a Jew but God was about
to show the church that He is going to extend His salvation to the Gentiles in
a big way and so it was “About the ninth hour of the day he saw
clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he
stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your
prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts
10:3-5). This shows that if anyone earnestly desires to seek after God
and is living a life pleasing to Him, God can be found and Cornelius found Him
about 3pm (the ninth hour) or actually God found Cornelius, for while
he was praying he saw a vision…an angel sent from God came to Him and like all
of us would, he “stared at him in terror” but showing his willingness to obey,
he said “What is it, Lord?” God had apparently heard his prayers and seen
his alms-giving and as a memorial, they had wafted up to God and were well
pleasing to Him. That’s how Cornelius had gotten God’s attention.
There can be no doubt that Cornelius was a God-fearing man but he was about to
know God like never before.
The Angel Speaks to Cornelius
God wanted to save Cornelius and so the angel that God sent tells
him to “send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his
servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and
having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa” (Acts
10:5-8). The very next day when these men were on their way to go and get Peter
(Acts 10:9), Peter was up on his roof praying about noon time when
Peter fell into a trance and saw the heavens open up and the unclean foods
appeared to Him and the Lord told him to“Rise, Peter; kill and eat,”
Peter said “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common
or unclean” (Acts 10:14). The voice came to Peter and said“What
God has made clean, do not call common” (Acts 10:15).
Peter Ponders the Vision
While Peter was perplexed about this and couldn’t figure out what
this all meant, “the men who were sent by …
@ THE
BACK…
…Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the
gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging
there” (Acts 10:17b-18). It was “while Peter was pondering the
vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them” (Acts
10:19-20). That’s when “Peter went down to the men and
said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”
And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man,
who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel
to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”
So he invited them in to be his guests” (Acts 10:21-23a).
Peter meets Cornelius
On the very next day, Peter and some of the brothers went into
Caesarea to go to Cornelius’ house. When “Cornelius met him
and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up,
saying, “Stand up; I too am a man” (Acts 10:25-26).
Peter explained that before it was unlawful for Jews to go into a Gentile’s
house but God has showed him that no one should be regarded as unclean anymore
(Acts10:28). Cornelius told Peter about the vision and Peter understood
that God has now opened the door for all nations and peoples to be saved (Acts
10:34-35). After Peter tells them what the gospel is all about, the Holy Spirit
came upon those who were listening and after receiving the Holy Spirit, they
were all baptized (Acts 10:44-48).
Peter Criticized
When Peter returned, the Jews jumped on him about this and
criticized him for associating with the Gentiles (Acts 11:1-3) but Peter
explained what he saw in the trance and that God has now declared that Gentiles
are not to be regarded as unclean and that God makes no distinction now between
the Jew and the Gentile (Acts 11:12). It was “when they heard these
things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying,“Then to
the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18).
Conclusion
Today we know that God is no respecter of persons and that
salvation is not through race but by grace. Today, if you hear the Holy
Spirit speaking to you through His written Word, come to Him like Cornelius
did. God accepts those who repent and confess their sins and then put
their trust in Christ. God is not willing that anyone at all ever perish
(2 Pet 3:9) which means that He wants all to be saved who humble themselves and
acknowledge their sins and then turn from them and put trust in the Lord Jesus
Christ…and then they will be saved (Acts 16:30-31)
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