New Testament · character
Cornelius
The gospel to the Gentiles — the first man for whom the door swung wide open.
Cornelius was a centurion of the Roman army, the first among the Gentiles to hear the gospel through Peter and receive the Holy Spirit.
Timeline at a glance
- The VisionAn angel says to send for Peter (Acts 10)
- The MeetingPeter in a Gentile's house (Acts 10)
- The SpiritThe Spirit poured out on Gentiles (Acts 10)
A Devout Gentile
Cornelius was a Roman centurion who feared God, gave to the poor, and prayed. One day an angel appeared in a vision and told him, "Send for Peter" (Acts 10).
Peter's Vision
At the same hour Peter saw a vision: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." At a time when Jews did not enter a Gentile's house, God tore down that boundary.
The Spirit Comes
While Peter preached the gospel in Cornelius's house, the Holy Spirit came on the Gentiles. This became the decisive turning point at which the gospel went "beyond the Jews to all nations."
Related verses
- Acts 10:34"God does not show favoritism."
- Acts 10:45"They were astonished that the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles."
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Cornelius event matter?
Because it is the event at which the gospel was officially opened beyond the fence of the Jews to the Gentiles. Given that most Christians today are Gentiles, the moment that door opened was decisive.
What office was a centurion?
A centurion was an officer in the Roman army who commanded about a hundred soldiers. Even in such a post, Cornelius was a devout Gentile who feared God and devoted himself to giving and to prayer (Acts 10).
How did the Cornelius event change Peter?
Through the vision and the coming of the Spirit, Peter realized that "God does not show favoritism" and came to accept that Gentiles, too, could receive the gospel without distinction (Acts 10–11).