Cornelius— A Man of Faith

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 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. 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. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 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; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 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: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 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, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 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? 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. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 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. 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? 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, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 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. 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. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 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. 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: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 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. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. - Acts 10:1-48

    Pride and racism are intolerable evils and must never be accepted by the church of God. All who are in Christ are one in him, be they rich or poor, black or white, male or female, learned or unlearned. All true believers are brothers and sisters in Christ (Col. 3:11;Eph. 2:11-18; 4: 1-6). In Christ there are no distinctions of race, sex, or social class, and none should exist among us. This unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ was perhaps the most difficult obstacle for the early Jewish converts to overcome, and it remains a very difficult obstacle for many today. The Jews looked upon Gentiles as being unclean and had no dealings with them, except by necessity.

    For four thousand years the revelation of God was restricted to the nation of Israel. The Jews alone had the light of divine truth. Then, because of their unbelief, after Christ came, God rejected the physical nation of Israel and sent his servants to preach the gospel in all nations that he might gather his elect from the four comers of the earth (Matt. 21:3-43; 23:37-38; 28:19). The apostle Peter was sent to preach the gospel to Cornelius, who was a Gentile, that he might be established in the faith of Christ. The lesson Peter had to learn, the lesson we all must learn, is found in verse 34: 'Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.' The grace of God is not dependent upon, or limited by, earthly, human distinctions (John 1:11-12; Rom. 9:15). God has no regard for those things that separate and distinguish fallen men from one another.

    Cornelius was a man of faith, a Gentile in whom the grace of God was evident. He had been converted from paganism to the faith of God's elect. He worshipped God according to the law of Moses. But he was ignorant of the fact that Christ had come and fulfilled the law as the sinner's substitute. He believed God (10:1-2). He saw Christ pictured in the types and shadows of the law. He trusted Christ as he was set forth in the prophets. But he had not yet learned that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God. Therefore, God sent Peter with the good news of the gospel, telling Cornelius that the Saviour for whom he was looking had come and accomplished redemption. Like Simeon, Cornelius waited for the coming of Christ in faith, not knowing that Christ had come (Luke 2:25-32). Cornelius was a man in whom all the characteristics of saving faith were evident.

    1. He was a man who feared God (10:1-2)

    When the Holy Spirit tells us that Cornelius 'feared God', he is telling us that he was a saved man, a child of God, a regenerate soul. Those who have the fear of God established in their hearts are saved. The Word of God holds out a multitude of promises to those who fear him. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him (Ps. 147:11). Those who fear God are accepted by him (Acts 10:34-35). 'The Lord pitieth them that fear him' (Ps. 103:13). 'The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him' (Ps. 33:18). God's hand is open to and ready to feed them that fear him. 'The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him' (Ps. 25:14). God remembers those who fear him and comes to them (Mal. 3:16;4:2). Salvation belongs to those who fear the Lord (Ps. 85:9). Indeed, all the goodness and blessedness God has laid up for his elect in heaven belongs to all who fear him as Cornelius did (Ps. 31: 19). The fear of faith is not a slavish, legal fear, but a loving, gracious reverence for the Lord God.

    2. He was a charitable and generous man (10:2)

    Faith that causes a person to fear God also creates in him a loving, generous spirit towards his fellow man. Cornelius 'gave much alms to the people', because he feared God. Faith produces and works by love (Gal. 5:6), and love shows itself by acts of kindness (1 Cor. 13:1-8).

    3. He was a man of earnest prayer (10:2)

    His religion was not a nominal form of worship. Cornelius was earnest. He sought the Lord with all his heart (Jer. 29: 12-14). He did so by making diligent use of the outward means of worship. At the hour of prayer he was in prayer. At the appointed feasts he was found in the outer court of the temple. He 'prayed to God alway' (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17). That means he lived by faith in dependence upon the Lord God. He sought the will of God in all things. Cornelius was a child of light. He walked in the light God had given him (1John 1:7), and God gave him more light.

    4. Once the will of God was made known to him Cornelius was immediately obedient to it (10:3-23)

    In Old Testament times the angel of the Lord ministered to people in much the same way as God the Holy Spirit does today. He appeared to Cornelius when he was engaged in prayer and assured him of his acceptance with God (10:3-4). Like Enoch, Cornelius pleased God by faith in Christ (Heb. 11:6). As John Gill said, 'The prayers which he had put up in faith, and the charitable actions he had performed from a principle of love, ascended to God with acceptance.' Then the angel showed Cornelius where he could find a messenger from God for his soul. And Cornelius sought him out (10:5-8). In the meantime, God graciously prepared Peter's heart to minister effectively to his beloved people at Caesarea (10:9-23). Cornelius needed a word from God. So he sought it by earnest prayer. Peter needed the help of God to preach the gospel. So he sought it by earnest prayer. And both men got what they needed from the Lord.

    5. Cornelius received God's messenger with reverence and sub mission (10:24-33)

    He was anxious to hear what God would say by the voice of his servant. Knowing that God spoke to men by Peter, he gathered his family and friends to hear the Word of God. And he held God's servant in high esteem. He erred in giving too much reverence to Peter (10:25), but his attitude was right (1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7,17). When reproved, Cornelius submitted (10:26). He even overlooked the sinful faults of God's messenger (10:27-28). He was determined to let nothing keep him from hearing what God had to say! When he listened to Peter preaching, Cornelius expected to hear from God (10:33), and he did!

    6. He believed the Word of God (10:34-43)

    He believed what God taught him by his servant Peter: firstly, that no man has any claim upon the grace of God (10:34-35); secondly, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God (10:36-40); and, thirdly, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the exalted sovereign of the universe (10:42-43).

    7. His faith is seen in his obedience to the ordinance of Christ (10:44-48)

    The Spirit of God fell upon these Gentile believers, showing Peter and the brethren from Joppa that all believers, Jews and Gentiles, are one in Christ (10:44-47; 1 Cor. 10:16-17). And all who believed were baptized, symbolically confessing their death, burial and resurrection with Christ (Rom. 6:4-6).