The centurion was the backbone of the roman army and the most important tactical officer keener 2. Its recorded in chapter 10, and repeated in chapters 11 and 15. It was truly a very significant event that had important lessons for the early church. This is a major step in acts, requiring the full length of acts 10 to bring it to fruition and two repetitions of the story 11. Carter and ralph earle, the acts of the apostles grand rapids. Peters dream happened about ad40ad41 or 7 to 8 years after the start of the book of acts. Cornelius was part of the italian regiment acts 10. The book of acts tells corneliuss story in a looping, roundabout way and it includes, whats more, a more famous passage chapter 10.
In that lesson and even my later studies of the passage, i must admit, i focused more on peter than on cornelius. Cornelius in the bible was a centurion, a commander in the italian regiment of the roman military. These issues will erupt into the first major church controversy by acts 15 and may stand in the background of pauls confrontation with peter in galatians 2. In fact, one of the first sermons i ever delivered came from this passage. A centurion was a roman army officer, theoretically in charge of a hundred men. May 05, 2003 one of my favorite conversion stories in the book of acts is that of cornelius, the roman centurion. At caesarea there was a man named cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the. Acts 10 commentary william barclays daily study bible. Acts 10 is the tenth chapter of the acts of the apostles in the new testament of the christian bible. Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. Why is the conversion of cornelius recorded in the book of acts. Several centurions are mentioned in the new testament m 8.
There are two events in the book of acts repeated i. Now cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. The message in chapter ten is the historical record of how a gospel preacher, peter, got together with cornelius and others who were with him. Thus, cornelius was a child of god before his baptism. This gentile soldiers marvelous moral character, and. In the story of cornelius, a roman centurion stationed in caesarea, peter is the first of the apostles who were all jews to stay in the house of a gentile and eat with him and his household. His story in acts 10 is important because it was in cornelius s household that god publicly opened the doors of the church to the gentile world. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. Appropriately this book has been called the book between. The innovation was disapproved by the jewish christians at jerusalem acts 11.
The other event repeated three times is the conversion of cornelius. The book of acts records ten case examples of conversion. Yet there was still a hesitancy on the part of the apostolic mission to cross over the next social barrier and bring the gospel to gentiles, even a godfearing gentile like cornelius. This is the story of cornelius the roman centurion and the apostle peter, found in acts 10. The story of cornelius the centurion the american spectator. In terms of the number of verses in the text of the bible, this is the longest recorded case of conversion in the book of acts it goes from acts 10. The man cornelius is described in the tenth chapter as a godfearer. Holy spirit falls acts 10 bible study questions handout acts 10. Even before he heard the gospel message from peters mouth, cornelius. Cornelius calls for peter at caesarea there was a man named cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the italian regiment. Contemporary english version he said, cornelius, god has heard your prayers, and he knows about your gifts to the poor. This must indicate that for luke, this also is very important. God prepares these two men, a gentile and a jew, to meet each other. Cornelius the centurion acts 10 barnabas, son of encouragement acts 11 an unbelievable prison break acts 12 a missionary church acts through many tribulations acts 14 the first great church council acts 15 the macedonian call acts 16 the unknown god acts 17 crispus and sosthenes acts 18 a wonder of the world acts 19.
There is a passage in acts 10 that illustrates this point. It is a measure of how important luke thinks the cornelius story is that he repeats various elements of it three and even four time, between acts 10 and acts 15. First, cornelius reception of the holy spirit represented a very unique situation. Acts 10 niv cornelius calls for peter at caesarea bible gateway. Acts, dispensationally considered volume 1 kindle edition. They spoke and asked if simon who was also called peter was lodging there.
Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. These are the only two events repeated three times in the book of acts. This means he was the captain of around 80100 soldiers in the roman army. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. This gentile soldiers marvelous moral character, and his noble influence, even. Cornelius, whose story is told in acts 10, is a most interesting case of conversion.
One of the amazing things about the bible is how much truth can be stored in such small places. Acts 10 niv cornelius calls for peter bible gateway. Cornelius in the book of acts profile learn religions. Siesta started after lunch and ended about 1500 hours 3 pm after the heat of the day. The name is roman and belonged to distinguished families in the imperial city, such as the scipios and sulla. Cornelius encyclopedia volume catholic encyclopedia. He appears and disappears in the same bible chapter, acts 10. Acts 10 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Cornelius received the holy spirit prior to being baptized acts 10. The early verses of acts 10 provide a little background for cornelius and his family. Peter, cornelius, and cultural boundaries religious studies. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were.
The salvation of cornelius and his household marks a key turning point in the early churchs commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth as jesus had instructed acts 1. Peter, cornelius, and cultural boundaries thomas a. Story of peter and cornelius from the book of acts chapter 10 per a. This event is so important that it is related two more times first by cornelius himself in acts 10.
The matter was finally settled at the council of jerusalem acts 15. All that we know of cornelius is contained in the book of acts chapters 10 and 11. Peter and cornelius the apostle and the first gentile convert. The book containing this chapter is anonymous but early christian tradition uniformly affirmed that luke composed this book as well as the gospel of luke. Acts 10 new international version niv cornelius calls for peter.
Acts, dispensationally considered volume 2 kindle edition. Cornelius in the bible was a godfearing gentile centurion of the roman army whose christian conversion is recorded in the book of acts, chapter 10. One is the conversion of paul, or saul of tarsus recorded in chapter 9, and repeated. His story in acts 10 is important because it was in corneliuss household that god publicly opened the doors of the church to the gentile world. Wayment in the second half of the new testament, the letters of paul and the book of acts are particularly and carefully focused on the issue of the churchs early missionary efforts among greekspeaking gentile communities in asia minor, macedonia, rome, and greece. The baptism of cornelius is an important event in the history of the early christian church. The book of acts conversion of cornelius part 1 klang. Aug 31, 2015 it is a measure of how important luke thinks the cornelius story is that he repeats various elements of it three and even four time, between acts 10 and acts 15.
896 1158 1480 739 238 1446 1145 1363 915 1492 875 1138 241 1075 1057 281 1469 1481 1046 1318 290 1397 281 978 1003 566 1159 59 1148 64 1324