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Observe here, 1. The person described to whom St. Peter is sent to preach the gospel: by his name, Cornelius: by his occupation, a soldier; by his religion, a proselyte or converted Gentile, of which there were two sorts; some were proselytes of the covenant, that is, such Gentiles as submitted themselves to circumcision, and the whole Mosaical Paedagogy: These were counted as Jews, and freely conversed with as such.
Others were called proselytes of the gate; These were not circumcised, nor did they conform to the Mosaic rites, but were obliged only to observe the seven precepts of Noah; namely, to worship the true God, and not idols; to abstain from blood, from fornication, from robbery, to administer justice impartially, and to do as they would be done unto. Such a proselyte as this the Jews would not converse with, but counted unclean, being a Gentile, and such an one was this Cornelius; but though a Gentile, though a soldier, though a commission-officer, yet a pious, charitable, good man.
In all nations, in all places, of all employments, God has a number of holy and gracious persons to honour him in the world, according to their present measures of light received from him.
Observe, 2. The evidence which Cornelius gave of his religious fearing God; He feared God with all his house, he gave much alms, and prayed to God always. Cornelius was therefore really, because relatively, religious: he obligeth his family to fear God as well as himself, and together with himself, like Abraham, He commands his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, Gen_18:19.
And thus the blessing of Abraham came upon this Gentile, Cornelius. He feared God with all his house; and his charity was as eminent as his piety: He gave much alms to the people: that is, to the people of the Jews, to whom alms was not unclean, though given by an heathen person.
It is further added, That He prayed to God always; He prayed to the true Gods not to idols; and he prayed to God always: that is, at every fitting season, and convenient opportunity for the duty.
We are said in scripture to do a thing continually, when we do it seasonably. Thus to pray always, to pray evermore, to pray without ceasing, is,
first, to keep the heart continually, as much as may be, in a praying frame and disposition;
and secondly, To embrace the proper seasons and opportunities for prayher.
The beauty of religion lies much in the harmonious performance of the duties of it; when one duty doth not interfere with another, but we prudently find time for all.
Thus did Cornelius here; He feared God with all his house, gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.