The reception of Cornelius sparked a debate among the leaders of the new community of followers of Jesus, culminating in the decision to allow Gentiles to become Christians without conforming to Jewish requirements for circumcision, as recounted in Acts 15.
Who was Cornelius the Centurion and why does his life still matter to us today? Discover what you can learn about this Roman officer from Scripture, including his important role in the Gospel coming to the Gentiles.
In this town, we live by the Cornelius Way. To us, that means consistently striving to go beyond the high bar, upholding the qualities we hope to inspire in our residents, and serving our neighbors with loyalty, integrity, and courage.
10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision.
Acts 10 NIV - Cornelius Calls for Peter - At Caesarea - Bible Gateway
Cornelius appears in the Book of Acts as a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, an important coastal city in ancient Judea built by Herod the Great and named in honor of Caesar Augustus.
Despite being a Roman, Cornelius was a worshiper of God, a Jewish proselyte known and respected by the Jewish community (Acts 10:22). Cornelius was a devout man who regularly prayed and gave to charity (verse 2).
Cornelius shows up in Acts 10, but his impact reaches far beyond one chapter. He was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, a man of authority, influence, and surprising devotion to Israel’s God.