Articles
Cornelius - Different but the Same Acts 10
Cornelius: The Same But Different
Cornelius is an interesting case of someone becoming a Christian. As we have observed in our reading of the earlier chapters, men preached the good news concerning the resurrection of Jesus unto other men. Through such preaching, men came to put their faith in Jesus as the Christ and to be baptized in His name for the remission of their sins. These converts did not see visions and angels. They heard the word of God concerning Jesus. When they believed such they were baptized (Acts 8:12). As many as received the word of the apostles preaching were baptized (Acts 2:38, 41).
There were some things that you do not see in these conversions however. 1) There is no appearing of angels instructing one to call for a certain preacher. 2) There is no demonstration of the Spirit coming and giving them the gift of speaking in languages as with Cornelius. 3) Up to this point, all who were converted were Jews or Jewish proselytes while Cornelius is a gentile. God used these things to convince Peter and the rest of the Jews that the gentiles were also to be included in God's gift of salvation thru Jesus. Through these special things Peter concluded that God was no respecter of persons but all men from every nation could be saved (Acts 10:34-35). The Jews with Peter saw by these things that God had ALSO granted unto the gentiles repentance unto life (Acts 11:18). In these things Cornelius is different and unique.
Yet in many ways the case of Cornelius is the same as others. While an angel did appear unto him, the angel didn't preach the gospel to him but rather told him to send for Peter. It was the man Peter who would tell him 'words whereby he could be saved' (Acts 11:14). It was through the preaching of such men as the apostles and Philip that men were brought to faith in Jesus. Faith still comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).
Cornelius was typical in that he was:
- A good man, yet without Jesus was lost and needed to be saved (Acts 11:14).
- A good man that yet needed to repent in order to be made alive unto God (Acts 11:18).
- A man that was ready to hear all that the apostle had been commanded by the Lord. (Acts 10:33).
- A man whose faith compelled him to obey what the Lord revealed.
Having come to know and believe in Jesus, he was commanded to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus (Acts 10:47-48).
People continue to this day to be saved by Jesus when they come to have faith in Him through the apostles teaching (Rom. 10:17, John 17:20), repent unto life (Luke 24: 47; Acts 2:38; 2Peter 3:9), and are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Col. 2:10-13). Hugh DeLong
