The Book of Acts
Chapter 10

Cornelius, the God-Fearing Centurion

Chapter 10 is a powerful chapter showing us how God had the Gospel spread to the Gentile people.  It began with the Apostle Peter, who was a devout Jew, bringing the Gospel to the first family through a Gentile Roman centurion officer of the Roman government after God had revealed to him in a vision that the Gentile people were now acceptable to God for salvation.  

Romans 10:1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.  2. a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

Cornelius was a Gentile centurion captain in the Italian Regiment under the control of the Roman government.  As a centurion, Cornelius had responsibility over one hundred soldiers, meaning he was a soldier of great honor and responsibility.  He lived in the sea-coast town of Caesarea, which was the headquarters of the Roman governor of the province of Judea. 

The Bible does not state when or how, but Cornelius had turned his back on the pagan gods of the Gentiles, and was drawn to the God of the Jewish faith.  As such, he became a God-Fearer, meaning he now believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and became a worshiper of Him while practicing the Jewish faith.  He, however, did not become a proselyte, because he did not choose to become circumcized and desired to keep his lifestyle as a Gentile and a Roman centurion.  He was accepted and was able to worship at the Jewish synagogues, but because he had not proselyted himself over to full Judaism, he could not take part on the activities within the synagogue.  Cornelius was a rare person because most Romans looked down on the Jewish people and their ways, and visa-versa, but Cornelius had enough authority to where he was respected by others, and still able to be drawn to the God of the Jewish people who hated the Roman Government. 

In this chapter, we will see the Christian conversion of Cornelius and his household, as they had turned from paganism to being Gentile God-fearers to where they would now become believers in Jesus Christ. 

3. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"  And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it Lord?"  So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

From this text we observe that Cornelius was a humble God-fearing man of prayer who prayed at the hours of prayer as the Mosaic Law commanded.  He also listened to the voice of the Lord when spoken to, as in this case an angel of the Lord came to him with instructions for him to obey.  Cornelius obviously had a relationship with God that was very important to him

Cornelius had been fasting for four days and he, as was his custom, went to prayer at the designated 9th hour of prayer (3:00 in the afternoon).  While in prayer, Cornelius received a supernatural vision of an angel of God coming to him and calling him out by name.  Because he had been fasting for four days, his heart was more open and ready to receive from the Lord.

Whenever I receive a vision from the Lord, I am not casually praying, but I am in deep prayer with the Lord.  All my thoughts and emotions are centered on Him to where I am (in my spirit) in tune with Him if He, because He lives within me, gives me a vision or speaks to me.  Every vision that the Lord has given me has been for a definite purpose and it carries great meaning to where I never forget the vision. 

In fasting, one becomes especially atuned to the Lord because the spirit is more open to the things of God.  That is why fasting and prayer go hand-in-hand.

When Cornelius realized he was experiencing a vision from an angel of God, calling out his name, in awe and in reverence, he ask of the angel;  "what is it Lord?"  For him, this vision was very significant, and God had a definite purpose in sending His angel to him.

Personal thought here:  Since Cornelius was not born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit at this point of time, not having the indwelling Holy Spirit within to guide and speak to him, it took an angel or messenger of God to bring a vision with message and direction from God.  There are 36 times in Scripture (Old and New) where visions are given to people.  The Old Testament believers in God did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit to speak to them; it was only through supernatural anointing placed UPON God's people was anyone able to hear directly from God....and it was generally done by a messenger or an angel.  New Testament believers, however, have the indwelling Holy Spirit to speak to them - to guide, teach, empower, and comfort them at all times.

When Cornelius heard the angel call out his name, and he responded by saying "what is it Lord,"  The message came back lous and clear.  All of his giving to others and his prayers given to the Lord has been heard by God.

Peter and the Tanner

 ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Did Cornelius even know who Simon Peter was?  After all, Cornelius was not a believer in Jesus at this point.  He was a God-Fearer, having his own relationship with God by practicing the Jewish faith.  More than likely, the Gospel had not come to Caesarea as of yet, so, Cornelius, unbeknownst as to what God was doing, simply obeyed out of blind faith in the God of the Jewish faith obeyed.

The distance between Caesarea and Joppa is 38 miles.  While horseback would have been faster and a lot easier, it will be noted that that the travelers stayed overnight along the way.  Averaging around 25 miles per day, it would take about 1 1/2 days to travel on foot from Caesarea to Joppa.  The scripture is ambigoous.  They also could have come with a wagon pulled by horses as well. We don't know for certain. 

Tanners always lived outside the city, mostly upon the seacoast to dispose of the chemical waste of tanning a hide and the wind that carried the smell out to sea.  Tanners always carried a horrendous odor about them because they were saturated with the chemicals of their trade.  As such, people in general did not want to be close to tanners or even members of their family because even their house reeked of the odor.  This was the home where Peter stayed at for several days.

 ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

It would not be hard to find the tanner in Joppa because all tanners lived by the sea, or far away from the city as possible, as mentioned above.  Since Joppa was right on the Mediterrean Sea, the soldier and servants under Cornelius knew where to go.   All they had to do when arriving at the tanner's place of business was to ask for Simon, called Peter. 

Cornelius explained everything to two of his servants and one of his devouted soldiers of what had happened to him and what their assignment was.  Being 3:00 in the afternoon, and they had 38 miles to travel, they left, but stayed someplace overnight along the way.

Peter's Vision

⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

It was now the next day and the servants and soldier of Cornelius is nearing Joppa.  It was at this time when Peter, as a devout fulfilled Jew who loved Jesus went up on the housetop to pray, as it was the noon hour.  He became very hungry, wanting to eat, but the food was in process of being made ready.  While praying, Peter fell into a trance.  The Greek meaning for trance is #G3772 which means Peter was elevated into the abode of God (heaven).  In other words, Peter had a vision of heaven opening up.

Yes, God opens up the firmament (Hebrew #7549 which means a visible arch in the sky  - Gen 1:6-7).  There are several scriptures pointing out the the firmament above has windows and doors that go straight to heaven (2 Kings 7:19; Is 45:8; Psm 144:5-11; Acts 5:19; Psm 84:10 to name a few).

In his vision, Peter saw a large sheet (Greek #3607 meaning a linen cloth or sail) tied in each of the four corners came out of heaven.  In the cloth were all kinds of four-footed animals, wild beasts, creeping things and birds of the air - Kosher and non-Kosher alike.  God mixed the unclean with the clean animals for a reason.  Then Peter heard a voice from heaven say:  "Rise, Peter; kill and eat!"

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

Rise, kill and eat?  Impetuous Peter cried out:  "Absolutely not!  I have NEVER eaten anything common or unclean."  This went against Peter’s commitment as a Jew, which was to never eat anything except kosher food.  Surprisingly, after all that had happened, Peter still chose religion over the voice of God, so God had to speak to him again.

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 

And again Peter refused!

¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

This is a perfect example of how Christians can get religious.  When God speaks, do we obey, or do we go back to our church doctrine or upbringing and say no to the Lord?

¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. ¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

While Peter thought about the vision, and what he should do, Cornelius' servents and soldier showed up at the gate making inquiry whether Peter was lodging there.  Then God, through the Holy Spirit within him said "Look, this is important - three men are looking for you.  Get up now, go down to them and do not doubt what I have told you - for I have sent them to you."

• Peter was faced with a very important decision that could have altered the course of Christianity. 
• He chose to at least go down and inquire of them what they wanted. 

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”  ²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them.

Lodged - Greek #3579 meaning hosting a guest.

At that moment, God was beginning to change Peter's heart in that he chose to at least talk to the men and pursue the matter deeper.  He invited them into the house and gave them lodging.  The men ate, but the Scripture is not clear whether they stayed all night into the morrow or they lodged along the way the 35 miles to Caesarea.  Either way, Peter, according to Acts 10:23, wisely had other Jewish believers join him on their journey to Caesarea.

God often uses more than one witness to establish His truths (Deut. 19:15).  In this situation, God used both Cornelius and the Apostle Peter to convey His truth that it was now time for the Gentiles to receive salvation, and invite them into the Kingdom of God.  In each person, God used a different strategy, but the message was the same.  It was now time for the Gentiles to receive Jesus.  

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 

Sometime the following day they entered into Caesarea where Cornelius has gather some of his relatives and close friends to meet Peter.

• It was a brave thing for Peter to enter into Cornelius' house, because according to the Mosaic Law, no Jew could enter into the house of a Gentile.  To eat and lodge with them would not only violate the Law of Moses, but the brethren back in Jerusalem would be terribly offended in Peter being with the Gentiles in this way.  It is now obvious that Peter now had made the decision to obey God or the Mosaic Law, along with the brethren back in Jerusalem.  Having made his decision, Peter now would have to face his Jewish family, friends, and even those in the church when he came back to Jerusalem.

²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

The commandments of God tell us to have no other gods before God Almighty.  Bowing down to anyone in worship is considered a sin.  For Cornelius, as a Gentile, this was a regular practice of honor and respect to someone special.  Peter, however, did have to tell Cornelius what the Scriptures tell us what to do and not to do.

²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation.  But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

Peter reminded Cornelius that it was unlawful for him to come into his home, except God had showed him that no longer was any man common or unclean.  They were all equal in the eyes of God.

By the time that Cornelius' servants showed up at Simon the Tanner's business, God had already dealt with him to where was now willingly and became obedient to God.

• What he didn't say was how he contended with God until God finally got a hold of him.  Only then did Peter become obedient.

³⁰ So 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, your prayer has been heard, and your ^[j]alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Cornelius then told Peter all that had happened to him with his vision and the instructions to follow to find Peter.  This time he called the angel of God a man in bright clothing.

• All Cornelius knew was where Peter was, that he would be coming to him, and God would speak through him what Cornelius needed to hear.
• Excited, he gathered family and friends to hear what God had given Peter to give out to them.

Peter's First Gentile Message

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 

Peter now had his message.  While it was the same message, he had to present it in a different way than he had been doing with a Jewish audience.  These were Gentiles who knew little of nothing of the Jewish scriptures, so Peter needed to adapt his message to a Gentile audience.

³⁶ The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by 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 ^[m]they killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

• Peter gave a salvation message  on how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.
• He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil
• On how Peter and the apostles were all witnesses to Jesus
• But the Jews killed Jesus by crucifying Him.
• God, however, rose Jesus from the dead and walked the earth for many to see.  He now is up in heaven, but Peter was there to testify that Jesus is ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
• That whoever believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of sins.

Salvation and the Holy Spirit Falls Upon the Gentiles

While the Scriptures do not acknowledge the Gentiles came to believe Jesus, it is referred that they did at the end of this chapter when it became time for their public water baptism.

While Peter was still talking, the Gentiles were so excited to where the Holy Spirit fell upon them and they spoke in tongues while they magnified God.  

This astonished Peter and the Jews who traveled with him.  Even the Gentiles now have the gift of the Holy Spirit.

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

As such, these Gentile believers went together to a place of water to be baptized in Jesus, meaning they were publicly acknowledging their belief in Jesus.  A new life had begun for all of them.

Peter then stayed with Cornelius for the next few days.

Click here for Acts - Chapter 11

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com