Cornelius

Who Cornelius is

Cornelius is a man in Cesarea, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, described as devout, fearing God with all his house, giving much alms to the people and praying to God always. About the ninth hour he sees an angel of God come in and call him by name, and when he looks on him he is afraid and asks what it is. The angel says his prayers and alms have come up for a memorial before God and tells him to send to Joppa for Simon whose surname is Peter, lodging with a tanner by the sea side, who will tell him what he ought to do. He calls two household servants and a devout soldier, tells them everything, and sends them. They describe him to Peter as a just man, one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews. While Peter is still puzzling over his own vision the men arrive, and Peter goes with them. Cornelius is waiting and has called together his kinsmen and near friends. He meets Peter, falls at his feet and worships him, and Peter lifts him up saying he is himself also a man. Asked why he sent, Cornelius retells his vision and says they are all present before God to hear what Peter has been commanded. While Peter is speaking the Holy Ghost falls on the hearers, and Peter commands that they be baptized.

Cited passages: Acts 10:1, Acts 10:2, Acts 10:3, Acts 10:4, Acts 10:5, Acts 10:6, Acts 10:7, Acts 10:8, Acts 10:17, Acts 10:21, Acts 10:22, Acts 10:24, Acts 10:25, Acts 10:26, Acts 10:29, Acts 10:30, Acts 10:31, Acts 10:32, Acts 10:33, Acts 10:44, Acts 10:48

Historical setting

The text places Cornelius by city and by unit, a centurion of the band called the Italian band at Cesarea, and adds nothing about where he came from or how long he had been there. His practice is described in general terms, much alms to the people and prayer alway, and the messengers add that he is of good report among all the nation of the Jews. Whether he was circumcised or counted a proselyte is never stated; the objection raised afterward at Jerusalem speaks of men uncircumcised without naming him. His household is given only as kinsmen and near friends, with no wife, children or servants named apart from the two he sends. The hours and the interval come from the text itself, the ninth hour for the vision and his own statement that it was four days ago. After the baptism at the end of Acts 10 the book says nothing further about him, and Peter's report at Jerusalem calls him only the man.

Cited passages: Acts 10:1, Acts 10:2, Acts 10:22, Acts 11:3, Acts 10:24, Acts 10:7, Acts 10:3, Acts 10:30, Acts 11:12, Acts 11:13

How the story is told

Cornelius is shown mostly through repetition. The angel's instruction is given once as it happens, once by his messengers and once in his own mouth, and Peter repeats the whole matter again at Jerusalem. He acts on a message whose content he has not been told, since the angel says only that Peter shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do, and he gathers a room of other people to hear it with him. His one gesture toward Peter is refused, and Peter answers, Stand up; I myself also am a man. His last recorded words hand the floor over, saying they are all present to hear all things that are commanded thee of God, and the narrator then interrupts the speech those words invited.

Cited passages: Acts 10:5, Acts 10:22, Acts 10:30, Acts 11:13, Acts 10:6, Acts 10:24, Acts 10:25, Acts 10:26, Acts 10:33, Acts 10:44

Story moments

1. Prayers and alms noticed (Acts 10:4). The angel tells Cornelius his prayers and alms have come up for a memorial before God.
2. He sends three men (Acts 10:7). Cornelius calls two household servants and a devout soldier and sends them to Joppa.
3. A room gathered to wait (Acts 10:24). He waits at Cesarea having called together his kinsmen and near friends.
4. He falls at Peter's feet (Acts 10:25). Cornelius meets Peter at the door and falls down and worships him.
5. Peter lifts him up (Acts 10:26). Peter raises him and says that he is himself also a man.
6. We are all here present (Acts 10:33). Cornelius says the gathered company is ready to hear whatever Peter has been commanded.
7. The Spirit falls on the hearers (Acts 10:44). The Holy Ghost falls on everyone listening while Peter is still speaking.

Key passages

Acts 10:1

There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Acts 10:3

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.

Acts 10:7

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;

Acts 10:17

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,

Acts 10:21

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?

Acts 10:22

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.

King James Version. 10 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Cornelius sends for a stranger on the strength of a message that tells him nothing about what he will hear, and fills a room before the man arrives. What does the text show about what he expected, and what does it never say?

Books Cornelius appears in

• Acts

Related people

• Jesus Christ
• Peter
• John the Baptist
• Jacob
• Judah