Cornelius - A God-fearing Man

Cornelius has always been of special interest to me. Not just because he was Italian but because he was a sincere man trying his best to be acceptable to God. He is described in Acts 10:1, 2, “...a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” God gives His estimation of Cornelius in the words of the angel who appears to him, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Two of Cornelius’ servants and one of his devoted soldiers add their testimony in verse 22, “He is a righteous and Godfearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people.”

There’s something very important about Cornelius, though. He was lost. His desire to worship God was sincere and showed in his devotion and goodness. Hebrews 11:6 says that God is “...a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Jesus says, “Seek and you shall find.” Cornelius was a seeker and God helped him find. He sent an angel to tell Cornelius to send for Peter. Peter tells his Jewish Christian brethren later that the angel told Cornelius, “Send to Joppa, and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; and he shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.”

When Peter got to Caesarea, Cornelius told him all that had happened and added, “Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” Peter told them the glorious story of Jesus. They accepted it. Peter, accepting God’s will to allow uncircumcised Gentiles into the church, responded, “‘Surely no one can refuse the water for these who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?’ And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Cornelius was a man with a clear conscience. A good man doing what he knew to do to please the God of heaven. People who knew him praised him. But God said, “You need to hear words by
which you can be saved.” Think about Saul. He said his conscience was clear in all that he had been doing while persecuting Christians. The Ethiopian whom Philip taught was doing all he knew to do. Apollos was preaching Jesus but was not complete in his teaching. The disciples in Acts 19 had not been baptized according to God’s will. Along with Cornelius, these all had to respond to God’s will in obedience to the gospel of Christ to be saved.

The wonderful thing about Cornelius and all these others is that when they knew the will of God, they gladly accepted and obeyed it. What about today? Does God expect anything less?

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony