Category:Saint Cornelius the Centurion

Born: unknown Died: unknown Honored in:	Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion Feast:	2 February or 7 February Attributes:	Roman military garb

Acts 10:1-48

His feast day is celebrated on February 2 in the Roman Catholic Church Calendar.

Acts Chapter 10
'Cornelius is received into the church. Peter's vision.'

10:1. There was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of that which is called the Italian band:

10:2. a religious man, and fearing God with all his house, giving many alms to the people and always praying to God.

10:3. This man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the day, an Angel of God coming to him and saying, “Cornelius.

10:4. Cornelius, beholding him, being seized with fear, said, “What is it, Lord?” The Angel said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial in the sight of God.



10:5. “Now send men to Joppa: and send for one, Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

'''10:6. “He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He will tell you what you must do."'''

10:7. When the Angel who spoke to him departed, he called two of his household servants and a soldier who feared the Lord, of those that were under him.

10:8. When he had related all to them, he sent them to Joppa.

10:9. On the next day, while they were going on their journey and getting near to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

'''10:10. Being hungry, he was desired to taste some food. As they were preparing it, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.'''

10:11. He saw Heaven opened and a certain vessel descending, as if it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from Heaven to earth:



10:12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the air.

'''10:13. There came a voice to him, “Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.”'''

'''10:14. But Peter said, “Far be it from me. For I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean.”'''

10:15. The voice spoke to him again the second time, “That which God has cleansed, do not you call common.”

'''10:16. This was done thrice. Afterward, the vessel was taken up into Heaven.'''

10:17. Now, while Peter was doubting within himself what the vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius, inquiring for Simon's house, stood at the gate.

10:18. When they had called, they asked if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, was lodged there.

10:19. As Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold three men seek you.

10:20. “Arise, therefore: go downstairs and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.”

'''10:21. Then Peter, going down to the men, said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. What is the cause for which you have come?”'''

10:22. They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a just man and one that fears God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews, received an answer of a Holy Angel, to send for you to go to his house, and to hear your words.”

'''10:23. Then bringing them in, he lodged them. The following day, he arose and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.'''

'''10:24. The day after, he entered into Caesarea. Cornelius waited for them, having called together his kinsmen and special friends.'''

10:25. It came to pass that when Peter came in, Cornelius came to meet him and falling at his feet adored.

10:26. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Arise: I myself also am a man.”

10:27. Talking with him, he went in and found many that had come together.

10:28. He said to them, “You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew to keep company or to come to one of another nation: but God has shown to me, to call no man common or unclean.

'''10:29. “For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what cause have you sent for me?”'''



10:30. Cornelius said, “Four days ago, at this hour, I was praying in my house, at the ninth hour (three o'clock in the afternoon) and behold a man stood before me in white apparel and said,

10:31. 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your giving of alms are remembered in the sight of God.

'''10:32. Send therefore to Joppa: and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea side.

'''10:33. Immediately, therefore, I sent for you: and you have been good to come right away. Now, therefore, we are all present in your sight to hear all the precepts commanded by the Lord.'''

10:34. Opening his mouth, Peter said, “In truth, I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons.

10:35. “But in every nation, he that fears God and works justice is acceptable to Him.

In every nation, etc. . .That is to say, not only Jews, but Gentiles also, of what nation soever, are acceptable to God, if they fear Him and work justice. But then true faith is always to be presupposed, without which (saith St. Paul, Heb. 11. 6) it is impossible to please God. Beware then of the error of those, who would infer from this passage, that men of all religions may be pleasing to God. For since none but the true religion can be from God, all other religions must be from the father of lies, and therefore highly displeasing to the God of truth.



10:36. “God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all).

10:37. “You know the word which has been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached.

'''10:38. “You know of Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.'''

10:39. “We are witnesses of all things that Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem: whom they killed, hanging Him upon a tree.



10:40. “This Jesus, God raised up on the third day and gave Him to be made manifest,

10:41. “not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him, after His resurrection from the dead.

10:42. “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is He who was appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead.

10:43. “To Jesus, all the prophets give testimony, that by His name all receive remission of sins, who believe in Him.”

10:44. While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all of them that heard the word.

10:45. The faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were astonished that the grace of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also.

10:46. For they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.

10:47. Then Peter answered, “Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have also received the Holy Spirit, just as we did?

'''10:48. He commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they desired that he stay with them some days.'''