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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_10:1-8
1Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 4And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea." 7When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Act_10:1 "there was a man at Caesarea" The conversion of Cornelius was a major event. However, it must be remembered that he was not the first social barrier the gospel had overcome.
1. The first was the Samaritans
2. then there was the Ethiopian Eunuch who also was possibly a God-fearer
3. then Cornelius, who was not only a Gentile, but a Roman army officer who was part of the military occupation of the Promised Land
The emphasis of this account is not so much on Cornelius' conversion because he was already a God-fearer, like the Ethiopian Eunuch, but the large number of relatives and friends, mentioned in Act_10:1; Act_10:24; Act_10:27; Act_10:44; Act_10:48, who were also saved. Peter refers to this account at the Jerusalem Council in Act_15:7-9 and sets the stage for the Gentile mission of the Church.
▣ "Cornelius" Footnote 1 in F. F. Bruce's Commentary on the Book of the Acts, p. 214, has "Cornelius was an especially common name in Rome ever since Publius Cornelius Sulla in 82 b.c. liberated 10,000 slaves who were enrolled in the gens Cornelia, to which he belonged." A gens was a clan or group of families who shared a common name and a belief in a common ancestor or hero (as here).
▣ "a centurion" Centurions are mentioned several times in the NT and always in a favorable light (cf. Mat_8:5; Luk_7:2; Luk_23:47; Act_10:1; Act_22:5; Act_27:3; etc). Technically they were leaders of a hundred men; however, they were noncommissioned officers, something like our sergeant majors.
▣ "called the Italian cohort" Usually a Roman cohort is made up of 600 men. This particular one was made up of a thousand Roman volunteers who were stationed in Syria. We know from historical evidence that they were called an auxiliary cohort. Possibly they were archers. Roman troops had to be stationed in Palestine because of the rebelliousness of the Jews.
Act_10:2 "a devout man" There is a threefold description of this man's devotion:
1. he revered God (see note at Act_10:22) with all his households
2. he was always liberal in his many deeds of charity to the people
3. he had the habit of praying to God (cf. Act_10:22; Act_13:16; Act_13:26).
This man was religiously, emotionally, and socially linked to the synagogue, although he was not a full convert. To be a full convert one had to
1. be circumcised if a male
2. baptize himself in the presence of witnesses
3. if possible, offer a sacrifice in the Temple.
These requirements prevented many interested Gentiles from becoming full proselytes.
▣ "with all his household" This is the first mention of a family as a religious unit which we find often in the Book of Acts (cf. Act_10:2; Act_11:14; Act_16:15; Act_16:31; Act_18:8). It shows the cultural context that the faith of the father was always the faith of the household and even of the extended family which would include servants.
▣ "many alms" This refers to almsgiving. To Jewish people this would show that Cornelius was an active part of the local synagogue and apparently a God-fearer. See Special Topic: Alms Giving at Act_3:2.
▣ "prayed to God continually" There are three present participles here, denoting continuing action which shows Cornelius' piety.
1. fearing, Present middle (deponent)
2. doing alms, present active
3. praying, present middle (deponent)
This man's devotion was daily and personal. He was doing the two things which rabbinical Judaism honored most—almsgiving and prayer.
Act_10:3 "About the ninth hour" This refers to the time of the evening offering (i.e., 3 p.m., cf. Exo_29:39; Exo_29:41; Num_28:3-31; 1Ki_18:29-36; Psa_55:17; Psa_141:2; Dan_6:10; Josephus Antiq. 11.4.1; Wars 1.1.1). This was a traditional time for prayer.
NASB, NRSV,
TEV "clearly saw"
NKJV "saw clearly"
NJB, NIV"distinctly saw"
In the Gospels the adverb phanerôs means to openly or publicly make an appearance (cf. Mar_1:45; Joh_7:10). This vision came in daylight hours and was very specific and distinct.
▣ "in a vision an angel of God" In some ways this conversion is like Saul's. This person was a devoutly religious man. God sends a supernatural agent to direct him to faith. Who could say "No"? These conversions are a sign of God's choice, not human free will. These people are responding to overwhelming evidence and experience of the reality of the gospel.
Act_10:4 The angel's message contains two sacrificial terms: "ascended"and "memorial before God." Apparently God accepted this man's worship (i.e., prayers and almsgiving) even before he heard the gospel.
▣ "fixing his gaze on him" See note at Act_1:10.
▣ "'What is it, Lord'" It is very difficult to know how to translate this term Lord. It can mean (1) "mister" or "sir" or (2) "Lord" in a theological sense of master/owner/sovereign. Another good NT passage which shows the ambiguity is Joh_4:1; Joh_4:11; Joh_4:15; Joh_4:19; Joh_4:49.
In Acts there is even an added possibility. Cornelius addresses the angel as Lord (cf. Rev_7:14) and Peter addresses "the voice" (cf. Act_10:13; Act_10:15) as Lord (cf. Act_10:14). Therefore, the term could refer to any supernatural, personal manifestation, with reference specifically to Jesus. In Act_8:26; Act_8:29 an angel of the Lord is identified with the Spirit. This same fluidity and transference occurs between "the voice" and the Spirit in Act_10:13-15; Act_10:19-20.
Act_10:5 "Now dispatch some men to Joppa" This is an aorist middle (deponent) imperative. Notice the angel did not share the gospel, but sent for Peter. God uses human instruments (cf. Exo_3:7-10). This man, though a devout, sincere religionist (like Saul), needed to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Act_10:7 "he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier" This makes a party of three; however, in Act_10:19 only two of them are mentioned. Possibly the soldier was a guard and the two household servants spoke.
Act_10:8 Cornelius involved his family and friends in his faith. This man lived out what he believed. A whole community would come to faith in Christ through him.
These three men must have walked through the night and wondered and discussed the angel's message and their master and friend's faith.