A Roman officer (Centurion) whose family was baptized by the apostle Peter.
About Cornelius
Roman centurion and the first gentile Christian mentioned in the book of Acts.
The story of Cornelius’s conversion through the preaching of the apostle Peter is recorded in Acts 10:1–11:18. Before his conversion, Cornelius was well known to the Jews as a person who feared God, prayed continually, and gave alms.
Key References
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.
All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
All Scripture References (10)
Acts (10)
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.