Acts 10:1- 1Now in Caesarea there was a certain man named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called Italian, 2devout and God-fearing with all his household, who gave alms to the people and prayed continually to God.
The story of Acts continues with Peter’s expanding ministry. Chapter 10 represents a major shift in the early church, represented by a change in Peter’s perception of the mission Jesus had given the apostles in 1:8. The story and its repercussions continue until 11:18, showing how significant it was in the early church. Most of the story took place in Caesarea, which was a major port city along the Mediterranean coast. Cornelius is the main character of the story. Luke gives several significant details about Cornelius in verses 1 and 2. As a Roman centurion, he was of significant rank and responsible for 100 soldiers. The soldiers were from the homeland in Italy, far from home on deployment. Caesarea was the provincial capital of the Roman governor.
Luke describes Cornelius as devout and God-fearing. Both descriptions show him to be a Gentile believer in God. Somehow, Cornelius and his entire household had come to believe in the same God as the Jews. He had never formally become a Jew by circumcision but prayed regularly. He also gave generously to those in need. Prayer and alms giving were indicators of his devotion, sincerity, religious piety, and godliness (eusebēs). He was a man of significant influence both in his job as a centurion and his place as head of his household, which included his family and servants. God was already working in Cornelius’ life through prevenient grace, preparing him to hear the good news of Jesus. Cornelius is rare in many ways.
There are people around us to have some form of belief in God and may even have signs of religious piety. Yet, they are just missing the vital connection to the truth that comes through the full revelation of Jesus Christ. They are looking but do not know what to look for. The seed of the good news has been planted in their lives, but they need someone to come along and water it so it can grow and produce new life. God was doing a powerful new thing by moving the church in a new direction. Often, the church needs shaken from its complacency and narrow vision to see people like Cornelius, who do not always fit our paradigm. A Roman soldier ripe for the harvest who was a seeker of God was about to change Peter’s life and ministry.
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