Acts 10:1-48

Acts 10:1. Cornelius, a centurion. The person to whom St. Peter is sent to preach the gospel is described by name, Cornelius. By his occupation, a soldier. By his religion, a proselyte or converted gentile. Of these there were two sorts; some were proselytes of the covenant, that is, such gentiles as submitted themselves to circumcision, and the whole Mosaical pedagogy. These were counted as jews, and freely conversed with as such. Others were called proselytes of the gate; these were not circumcised, nor did they conform to the Mosaic rites, but were obliged only to serve the seven precepts of Noah; namely, to worship the true God, and not idols; to abstain from blood, from fornication, from robbery; to administer justice impartially, and do as they would be done unto. Such a proselyte as this, the jews would not converse with, but counted unclean, being of the gentiles; and such a one was this Cornelius. But though a gentile, though a soldier, a commissioned officer, he was a pious, charitable, and good man. In all nations, in all places, of all employments, God has a number of holy and gracious persons, to honour him in the world, according to their present measure of light received from him.

The evidence which Cornelius gave of his religious state and condition. He “feared God with all his house, gave much alms, and prayed to God always.” Cornelius was therefore really, because relatively, religious. He obliges his family to fear God as well as himself. Like Abraham, he commands his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord. Genesis 18:19, 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Timothy 6:4; Titus 3:9. Ministers must feed the flock, and lead them to green pastures. A preacher who follows common sense will follow nature, preach with simplicity, and try to copy all that ought to pass between heaven and the soul. This is the way to be useful, and to reclaim those that are gone astray.