The Conversion of Cornelius

Salvation

THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS

By:  Randy Kea

 

The conversion of Cornelius and his house is recorded in Acts 10.  Peter relates the account to his Jewish brethren again “by order” (Acts 11:4) in Acts 11:1-18.  Later in Jerusalem, Peter alludes to these events again (Acts 15:7-11).  The case of Cornelius is special and unique.  Nothing like it had ever happened before or since.  Please study carefully the following points:

  1.  Cornelius was a good man, but he was a Gentile and needed to hear the Gospel (Acts 10:1-2, 28; 11:14-18).
  2. Until this case, the apostles had preached ONLY to Jews (Acts 2-9).
  3. It took direct revelation to get Peter to go and preach to these Gentiles.  Even then, he had his “doubts” (Acts 10:9-18, 20, 28).
  4. Peter, and other Jews, would have NEVER gone to preach the Gospel to any Gentile without God directly revealing this (Acts 10:28).
  5. Even after Peter arrived, he still did not know that he was there to preach the Gospel.  (Note:  “I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?” Acts 10:29).
  6. Even though Jesus had stated that the Gospel was for all (Jews and Gentiles), the apostles (Jews) did not fully understand (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:28-29)
  7. Even BEFORE Cornelius had heard the saving Gospel message, God sent miraculous power upon them (Acts 11:13-18; 10:44-48).
  8. Notice the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 10:45) came upon them as Peter “began to speak” (Acts 11:15).
  9. In Acts 2:38, the “gift of the Holy Spirit” had been promised to baptized believers.  However, in Acts 2:38 there is no indication how this power was given.
  10. From Acts 8:14-18, we learn that the “gift of the Spirit” was given “through laying on of the apostles’ hands.”
  11. Until Cornelius, the “gift” of the Spirit was given through the apostles’ hands only (Acts 8:14-18).  Nothing like this has ever happened before (Acts 11:15).
  12. Why did miraculous power come directly (before conversion) apart from apostolic hands?  By reading carefully Acts 10:44-48, Acts 11:18 and Acts 15:7-9, we learn that the purpose of this direct impartation of the power was to prove to Peter, the other apostles, and Jews that the Gentiles were to be recipients of the Gospel and to be accepted into the church as fellow heirs of salvation.  This is the purpose the inspired apostle Peter assigned to these miraculous events (the angel, Peter’s vision, and the direct reception of the power by Cornelius and the other Gentiles).  Thus, any other explanation is wrong.

Also note that Cornelius became a Christian in the same way everyone else did.  He believed (Acts 10:43), repented of sins (Acts 11:18) and was baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 10:48; 2:38).

 

 

 

 

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