Acts 10 records the story of Cornelius who was from Caesarea and a centurion of the band called the Italian band. He was a devout man who feared God with all his house and gave much alms to the people. He also prayed to God always. His prayers and his alms were accepted as a memorial offering by God. Once when he was fasting and praying (for nearly 5 hours; from the fourth hour to the ninth hour) God sent one of his holy angels to go warn Cornelius to send for Peter, who lived in Joppa, who would come and tell Cornelius what he ought to do. Cornelius acts immediately and sends two of his servants and one of his devout soldier to go and get Peter. While these men were on their way to get Peter, Peter himself gets a vision of accepting all who have been cleansed by God, irrespective of whether they were Jew or Gentile (whom the Jews considered unclean). Peter goes to the house of Cornelius and preaches that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, the accepter of all who work righteousness, the one who was ordained of God, who was killed and resurrected by the power of God, and whoever believes in Jesus will have remission of their sins and deliverance from the oppression of the devil. And as Peter was still speaking this good news of Salvation, the Holy Spirit of God came on all who heard the words of grace.
Cornelius goes down in history not just as a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, a just man, one that feared God (with all his house), giver of alms, one who prayed to God always, one who had a good report among even the Jews though he was a Gentile in Caesarea, but as the first Gentile in whose household God’s Salvation is experienced.
What can we learn from Cornelius?
Cornelius was a good man who did good things and his offerings of alms and prayers were accepted by God, but it was not sufficient for him to be saved. God miraculously informs him that he will be told of what he ought to do, which was to listen to the provision of Salvation that is obtained by believing in Jesus Christ (for the remission of sins); reaffirming that Salvation is by grace (through faith/belief in Jesus) and not by works (prayer/alms). Upon hearing what he ought to do, the Holy Spirit was poured on him and all with him, which is indicative of his trust and belief in Jesus Christ, for the Holy Spirit was poured out to seal all who believed, until the redemption of the purchased possession, as an earnest of their inheritance (Ephesian 1:13-14). We can also learn from Cornelius, that he acted immediately on what he was asked to do (by the holy angel of God) and that he called all his relatives (kinsmen) and friends to listen to what God was to command him to do, through Peter. We must be likewise, calling our relatives and friends to hear the message of Salvation and act on God’s commandments with tarrying. God works wont cut it; Salvation is only by believing in Jesus Christ – and there is no other way!
Acts 10:1-48 (KJV)
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 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.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
