Acts 10 - The Dramatic Conversion of Cornelius the Gentile Centurion. The Power of the Holy Spirit and Centrality of Baptism in Conversion!

Click Here to Read or Listen to or Read Acts 10

Cornelius Calls for Peter

This story has an immense amount of significance for the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. We learn of a man named Cornelius, who was a centurion in the Roman Army. A centurion oversaw 100 Roman soldiers, so he was a man of authority and power.  Cornelius was also what the passage calls a "God fearer". 

Cornelius was in the category of what the Jews called God-fearers (one who feared God). These were Gentiles who loved the God of Israel; they were sympathetic to and supportive of the Jewish faith. Yet they stopped short of becoming full Jews in lifestyle and in circumcision. - Guzik

Cornelius suddenly saw an angel in a vision. He knew it was a divine being because he said, "What is it Lord?" The angel told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had been seen by the Lord. Then he told him to go get Simon Peter, who was at the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea. So, Cornelius in obedience sent two of his me and a personal servant to Simon's home. This was an act of obedience because to send his men to a Jewish home was highly unusual. 

Peter’s Vision

Meanwhile, the following day Peter had a vision of his own. He went up on his roof to eat and fell into a trance.  He saw a vision of a large sheet being dropped from heaven with all kinds of unclean animals. Then a voice told him, "kill and eat". Peter dismayed by the thought said, "I have never eaten anything unclean!" 

Then the voice said, "Don't call anything unclean that God has made clean!" After a third time, the Holy Spirit told him to expect a visit from three men, who would ask him to go with them. He was to go with them without hesitation. I am sure the Lord had gotten his attention at this point, especially as the men came to his home. 

Though the passage started saying it was "an angel", we know see the "Holy Spirit" delivering a message too. Either the previous voice was the Holy Spirit, or now God the Holy Spirit was speaking to him. Since angel and Holy Spirit are very different words in the Greek, I would favor the latter interpretation. Peter invited the men into his home!

Peter at Cornelius’s House

Peter set out the next day with the three men and some other believers from Joppa. It must have been quite an experience when Cornelius met the man he had been told about in his vision. He was so overcome by the magnitude of it that he fell down and worshipped Peter. Peter quickly told him to get up, because he was only human. 

Peter then asked him in front of a large group of people why Cornelius had called him since it was well known Jews did not associate with Gentiles. Cornelius recounted the story of the angelic visitation and message and ended by saying, "Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Peter realized this was no small matter. It confirmed to him that the message of the gospel was for all people, Greek and Gentile alike. Peter recounted all of the essentials of the gospel message. 

1. God the Father anointed Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus healed people and delivered them of demons as a sign of the kingdom coming through him. 

2. Jesus was killed and hung on the cross by his fellow Jews, but raised from the dead on the third day just aw he predicted. 

3. Peter was an eyewitness of the risen Lord and ate and drank with him. 

4. He and the apostles were commanded to preach the forgiveness of sins through believing in His name. 

As Peter was finishing his sermon, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were gathered. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles, as evidenced by them speaking in tongues. This same gift had been given to the apostles on Pentecost. Note Peter first tells them to be baptized. They were baptized with water in Jesus' name. And Peter stayed with them for a few days.

Notice again the importance of baptism, especially as it is connected with the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus' name. Note as well that there was no confession per se by these men but the Holy Spirit came directly upon them as they heard the message. I.e. They didn't get up in front of everyone and give their testimony, they were baptized immediately. 

"This was unique. It was not common in the Book of Acts or in subsequent Christian experience for those who were not previously converted (born again) to instantly be born again and receive such evident spiritual gifts. Yet it was good and even necessary on this occasion, to show that they received the exact same Spirit, the exact same blessing as the apostles and first followers of Jesus did on the morning of Pentecost.: (Acts 2)

We can learn much from this story.

We should also see that Cornelius was an undoubtedly good man; yet he needed Jesus. Even good people, who are respectful towards God, still need to come to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and put all their trust in who Jesus is and what He did for them. - Guzik

Also, we see the power of the Holy Spirit to bring people to faith when we preach the full story of the gospel to others. Again it was not complicated but an eyewitness account of Peter as to what God had done among them through Jesus' life, death and resurrection!