A CENTURION NAMED CORNELIUS
Key verse: 4,5
NIV
Cornelius Calls for Peter
10 At Caesarea(A) 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;(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon(C) he had a vision.(D) He distinctly saw an angel(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering(F) before God.(G) 5 Now send men to Joppa(H) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner,(I) whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.(J)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Peter and Cornelius
10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of (A)what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man (B)who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 (C)About the ninth hour of the day[a] (D)he saw clearly in a vision (E)an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms (F)have ascended (G)as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging (H)with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 10:3 That is, 3 p.m.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. A devout and God-fearing man (1-2)
Cornelius was a Roman soldier, a member of the elite Italian Regiment. He was a part of the army of occupation, but he was not a cruel oppressor. He was a man with a learning mind and a spiritual thirst. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing. He gave to those in need, and prayed to God. We might think that such a man would have no need for Jesus. But his good deeds did not solve his sin problem, nor did his faithful life quench his thirst.
2. Send for Peter (3-8)
God heard Cornelius' prayers and sent an angel to visit him. The angel told him that God was pleased with his prayers and gifts and wanted to bless him. He was to send for the man who could introduce him to Jesus, Simon Peter. Cornelius shared his vision with two trusted servants and a devout soldier, and sent them to Joppa to find Peter.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for showing me that all people need Jesus. Help me to share Jesus with anyone, anytime, and not to be fooled by appearances.
One Word: Everybody needs Jesus
