ACTS 10 – of Cornelius – a devout Roman Centurion
Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian [~600 man] cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.
Who do we see here?
A Roman soldier in a navy town built by Caesar.
A devout humble worshipper of God.
A family man, leader of his household as well.
A generous man who gave to the Jews subjected to Roman rule, taxes and its army.
This is the Italian Centurion Κορνήλιος [Cornelius].
We have already read about the Angel he will encounter in ACTS 10:3
Learn more about angels by clicking on our previous post below.
Answer to a Roman prayer:
And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?”
Cornelius, a Roman centurion, calls the Angel, lord; that is respectfully addressing him as “sir” and waiting for the response of a superior.
And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
ACTS 10:4b – the answer of an angel to the Roman Centurion Cornelius
Meanwhile, back in Joppa
Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with a man named Simon who was a leatherworker. – CLICK HERE for Greek, English, Italian & Russian for Acts 9:43
We have already travelled to Joppa from Jerusalem with Simon Peter in Luke's account prior to this angelic encounter in Caesarea.
the name of a woman Peter raised from the dead
An Angel’s Command to a Roman Soldier in Caesarea
piadoso y temeroso de Dios con toda su casa, y que hacía muchas limosnas al pueblo, y oraba a Dios siempre.
Hechos 10:2 :: Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR60)
Luke’s Greek text describes Cornelius as εὐσεβής [eusebēs]. We would not want to miss the significance of worshipers of God of any ethnicity. [Above]
The word in Spanish resembles an English word which will put off some free-thinking evangelicals, but don’t miss it:
AN ANGEL of GOD came to an Italian in Roman Syria.
(NOT a Hebrew like the Apostles).
Cornelius is NOT even a Greek like Luke, born a Greek and a Gentile in Antioch, Syria.
The word Luke uses to describe him is Pious.
Cornelius EXEMPLIFIES the ACT of being pious or dutiful to all – especially God.
The Angel’s Messengers to Peter
εὐαγγέλιον – [pronounced] yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on – Gospel
- good tidings
- same as εὐαγγελίζω (G2097) –
- to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
- Do you recall from our look at Angels that they are messengers from God generally with a message for a man of God?
ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΩΝ [ACTS] 10:4-8
“Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”
ACTS 10:5-6 [NASB20] of an Angel of God instructing Cornelius with his gospel message
Obedient immediate response to the gospel
7 The angel who spoke to Cornelius left.
Then Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier. The soldier was a religious man, one of his close helpers.
8 Cornelius explained everything to these three men and sent them to Joppa.
NEXT: A most unlikely lunch meeting in Joppa
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