Reference: Cornelius
American
A Roman centurion, stationed at Caesarea in Palestine, supposed to have been of a distinguished family in Rome. He was "the first gentile convert;" and the story of his reception of the gospel shows how God broke down the partition-wall between Jews and Gentiles. When first mentioned, Ac 10:1, he had evidently been led by the Holy Spirit to renounce idolatry, to worship the true God, and to lead, in the midst of profligacy, a devout and beneficent life; he was prepared to receive the Savior, and God did not fail to reveal Him. Cornelius was miraculously directed to send for Peter, who was also miraculously prepared to attend the summons. He went from Joppa to Caesarea, thirty-five miles, preached the gospel to Cornelius and his friends, and saw with wonder the miraculous gifts of the Spirit poured upon them all. Providence thus explained his recent vision in the trance; he nobly discarded his Jewish prejudices, and at once began his great work as apostle to the Gentiles by receiving into the church of Christ those whom Christ had so manifestly accepted, Ac 10:11.
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There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the soldiers of Italy,
and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel come down unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and was let down to the earth,
Easton
a centurion whose history is narrated in Ac 10. He was a "devout man," and like the centurion of Capernaum, believed in the God of Israel. His residence at Caesrea probably brought him into contact with Jews who communicated to him their expectations regarding the Messiah; and thus he was prepared to welcome the message Peter brought him. He became the first fruit of the Gentile world to Christ. He and his family were baptized and admitted into the Christian church (Ac 10:1,44-48). (See Centurion.)
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There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the soldiers of Italy,
While Peter yet spake these words, the holy ghost fell on all them which heard the preaching. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the gentiles also was shed out the gift of the holy ghost. read more. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised, which have received the holy ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him, to tarry a few days.
Fausets
Centurion of the Italian band or cohort at Caesarea (Acts 10); "devout and one that feared God with all his house": he ordered not merely himself but all his family in God's ways. Compare Ge 18:19; Jos 24:15. He had made the most of his spiritual opportunities; for coming to the Holy Land a heathen, when he knew of the true God there he became a true proselyte. Now "whosoever hath to him shall be given" (Mt 13:12; Isa 64:5; Mic 2:7; Joh 7:17). So, "giving much alms to the people," which showed the self sacrificing sincerity of his religion, and "praying to God always," he was vouchsafed a further revelation, namely, the gospel, through Peter's instrumentality.
A vision to Cornelius desiring him to send to Joppa for Peter, and a vision to Peter on the morrow, just as Cornelius' messengers, two household servants and "a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually" (for he followed David's rule, Ps 101:6), were drawing nigh the city, instructing him to regard as clean those whom "God had cleansed," though heretofore ceremonially "unclean," and desiring him to go with Cornelius' messengers "doubting nothing," prepared the way. Whatever uncertainty there might be of the miraculous nature of either vision by itself, there can be none of the two mutually supporting each other. While Peter preached Jesus to them the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard. This left no doubt as to the propriety of baptizing these Gentile proselytes of the gate with Christian baptism.
Thus Peter showed in act what Jesus meant by His promise, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever (ceremonies) thou shalt bind (declare obligatory), etc., loose (declare not so), etc., shall be bound ... loosed." The question which perplexed the early church was not whether Gentiles might, become Christians (for that was plainly declared Mr 16:15; Lu 24:47), but whether they could be admitted without circumcision. Cornelius' case decided this (Ac 11:17; 10:28,34-35).
Cornelius already "knew" by hearsay of Jesus' preaching (Ac 10:36-37); but now the faith was authoritatively declared to and accepted by him. An undesigned coincidence (a mark of truth) is to be observed in comparing "four days ago," Ac 10:30, with Ac 10:9,23-24, front which it incidentally comes out that four days in all intervened between Cornelius' vision and Peter's arrival, two days in going to Joppa and two in returning, just as Cornelius states. Cornelius, representing Roman nationality and force, was peculiarly fitted to be the first Gentile convert, the firstfruits of the harvest that followed.
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For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him."
For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him."
But if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day, whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the water, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land, ye dwelt. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
But if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day, whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the water, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land, ye dwelt. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Mine eyes shall look for such as be faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me. Whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my servant.
Mine eyes shall look for such as be faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me. Whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my servant.
Thou helpest him that doth right with cheerfulness, and them that think upon thy ways. But lo, thou art angry: for we offend, and have been ever in sin, and there is not one whole.
Thou helpest him that doth right with cheerfulness, and them that think upon thy ways. But lo, thou art angry: for we offend, and have been ever in sin, and there is not one whole.
sayeth the house of Jacob. Is the spirit of the LORD so clean away? Or is he so minded? Truth it is, my words are friendly unto them that live right:
sayeth the house of Jacob. Is the spirit of the LORD so clean away? Or is he so minded? Truth it is, my words are friendly unto them that live right:
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and he shall have abundance. But whosoever hath not: from him shall be taken away even that same that he hath.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and he shall have abundance. But whosoever hath not: from him shall be taken away even that same that he hath.
And he said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the glad tidings to all creatures:
And he said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the glad tidings to all creatures:
And that repentance, and remission of sins, should be preached in his name among all nations. And must begin at Jerusalem.
And that repentance, and remission of sins, should be preached in his name among all nations. And must begin at Jerusalem.
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God: or whether I speak of myself.
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God: or whether I speak of myself.
On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went upon the top of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.
On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went upon the top of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
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 third day entered they into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends.
And the third day entered they into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends.
And he said unto them, "Ye do know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to company or come unto an alien: But God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean:
And he said unto them, "Ye do know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to company or come unto an alien: But God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean:
And Cornelius said, "This day now four days I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
And Cornelius said, "This day now four days I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive, that God is not partial:
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive, that God is not partial: but in all people, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
but in all people, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Ye know the preaching that God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, which is Lord over all things;
Ye know the preaching that God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, which is Lord over all things; which preaching was published throughout all Jewry, and began in Galilee, after the baptism preached by John;
which preaching was published throughout all Jewry, and began in Galilee, after the baptism preached by John;
Forasmuch then as God gave them like gifts, as he did unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ: what was I that I should have withstood God?"
Forasmuch then as God gave them like gifts, as he did unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ: what was I that I should have withstood God?"
Hastings
A 'proselyte of the gate' or 'devout man' (Ac 10:1, see art. Acts of the Apostles,
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There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the soldiers of Italy,
Morish
Corne'lius
A devout centurion of Caesarea, to whom God spoke in a vision, and to whom He sent Peter, who preached the gospel to him and to those he had invited. It led to their salvation; they received the Holy Spirit, and were baptised. Ac 10:1-31. Peter was thus opening the door of the kingdom to the Gentiles.
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There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the soldiers of Italy, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed God always. read more. The same man saw in a vision evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming into him, and saying unto him, "Cornelius." When he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it Lord?" He said unto him, "Thy prayers and thy alms are come up into remembrance before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon named also Peter. He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell thee, what thou oughtest to do." 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, and told them all the matter, and sent them to Joppa. On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went upon the top of the house to pray, about the sixth hour. Then waxed he a hungered, and would have eaten. But while they made ready for him, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel come down unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and was let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth and vermin and worms, and fouls of the air. And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter. Kill and eat." But Peter said, "God forbid Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." And the voice spake unto him again the second time, "What God hath cleansed that make thou not common." This was done thrice; And the vessel was received up again into heaven. While Peter mused in himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold: the men which were sent from Cornelius, had made inquirance for Simon's house, and stood before the door. And called out one and asked whether Simon, which was also called Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on this vision, the spirit said unto him, "Behold, men seek thee: arise therefore, get thee down, and go with them, and doubt not. For I have sent them." 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 unto him, "Cornelius the captain, a just man and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the people of the Jews, was warned by a 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 third day entered they into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends. And as it chanced Peter to come in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand Up: for even I myself am a man." And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, "Ye do know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to company or come unto an alien: But God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean: therefore came I unto you without saying nay, as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore: for what intent have ye sent for me?" And Cornelius said, "This day now four days I fasted, 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 deeds are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Smith
Corne'lius
(of a horn), a Roman centurion of the Italian cohort stationed in Caesarea,
etc., a man full of good works and alms-deeds. With his household he was baptized by St. Peter, and thus Cornelius became the firstfruits of the Gentile world to Christ.
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There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the soldiers of Italy,