Acts Chapter 10

Cornelius, Peter, and the Conversion of Gentiles

A. God Speaks to Cornelius about Peter

1. Cornelius, a Gentile Who Served God

Acts 10:1-2 – “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”

Cornelius lived in Caesarea, a major Roman port city on the Mediterranean coast that also served as the headquarters of the Roman governor of Judea. Archaeologists have uncovered a stone in Caesarea inscribed with the name of Pontius Pilate, reminding us of its strong Roman identity and military presence.

Cornelius was a centurion in the Italian Regiment, one of the most loyal cohorts of the Roman army. Each centurion commanded about one hundred soldiers, and Cornelius was part of a unit composed of Roman volunteers considered utterly faithful to Caesar. From a Jewish perspective, Cornelius represented the occupying enemy. A patriotic Jew would naturally view him with suspicion, if not outright hostility, because he was a loyal servant of Israel’s oppressors.

Yet the Word of God describes Cornelius as “a devout man and one who feared God.” This designation placed him among those Gentiles known as “God-fearers.” These were Gentiles who admired and worshiped the God of Israel, often attending synagogue, giving to the poor, and practicing prayer, though they stopped short of full conversion to Judaism, particularly circumcision. While the Jewish people respected God-fearers for their devotion, they could not fully fellowship with them because they remained uncircumcised Gentiles.

Cornelius’ devotion was evident: he led his household in reverence for the Lord, he gave alms generously, and he prayed to God continually. This reveals that Cornelius was not merely a religious sympathizer but a man whose heart was inclined toward the true God. Though he had been exposed to the pantheon of Roman gods—Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and others—he rejected their emptiness and embraced the truth he found in Israel’s God. His prayers and alms expressed a genuine relationship with God, even though he did not yet know Christ.

2. God Sends an Angel to Tell Cornelius to Get Peter

Acts 10:3-6 – “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius!’ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, ‘What is it, lord?’ So he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.’”

At the ninth hour, or about 3:00 in the afternoon, a customary Jewish time of prayer, Cornelius saw a vision. He later testified to Peter that he had been praying when the vision occurred (Acts 10:30). The vision was not a dream nor a physical appearance of an angel but a vivid spiritual revelation in which an angel appeared before him. So real was this vision that Cornelius described the angel as a man in bright clothing who stood beside him.

The angel addressed him by name, “Cornelius!”—a powerful reminder that God knows His people individually. Cornelius responded with reverent fear, showing that his devotion was not casual but marked by genuine respect for the holiness of God. The angel affirmed that Cornelius’ prayers and almsgiving had “come up for a memorial before God,” meaning they were accepted as sincere acts of worship.

The angel instructed Cornelius to send for Simon Peter, who was staying in Joppa at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea. Though the angel appeared, God did not commission the angel to preach the gospel. Instead, the angel directed Cornelius to Peter, showing that the proclamation of salvation is entrusted to men, not angels. As one commentator observed, angels may serve as messengers to direct men to God’s chosen servants, but the task of preaching the gospel is reserved for men alone.

3. Cornelius Obeys God’s Command and Sends for Peter

Acts 10:7-8 – “And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.”

Cornelius responded with immediate obedience. He summoned two of his household servants and a devout soldier under his command. The presence of such a soldier demonstrates that Cornelius’ faith had influenced not only his family but also his men. His devotion to the Lord was contagious, shaping the lives of those around him. After explaining the vision, he sent them to Joppa to bring Peter.

This moment highlights Cornelius’ faith. He did not hesitate, question, or delay. God spoke, and he acted. His obedience prepared the way for one of the most significant turning points in salvation history: the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles.

B. Peter’s Vision of the Great Sheet

1. Peter on Simon the Tanner’s Housetop

Acts 10:9-10 – “The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.”

As Cornelius’ servants journeyed to Joppa, God was also preparing Peter. The Lord orchestrated events on both ends: speaking to Cornelius in Caesarea and giving Peter a vision in Joppa. This reveals how God often confirms His will by working in more than one person’s life simultaneously, as truth is established by “the mouth of two or three witnesses” (see Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1).

Peter went up on the housetop to pray at the sixth hour, about noon. In that culture, flat rooftops functioned like patios, commonly used for private devotion or conversation. While praying, Peter became hungry, a reminder of how bodily distractions often intrude on spiritual focus. Yet God used this hunger to set the stage for a profound revelation. As preparations for the meal were being made, Peter fell into a trance, entering a state where God could communicate to him through vision.

This moment reminds us that God uses ordinary circumstances—such as hunger or daily rhythms—to accomplish extraordinary purposes. While the world below bustled with trade and commerce, the God of heaven was quietly preparing to unite Jew and Gentile in Christ.

2. Peter’s Vision

Acts 10:11-16 – “And saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”

Peter saw heaven opened and a great sheet, bound at the four corners, descending to the earth. Within it were all manner of animals—both those considered clean under Levitical law and those deemed unclean (see Leviticus 11). God commanded Peter, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” This went directly against his lifelong commitment as a Jew who had never eaten anything unclean.

Peter’s immediate response, “Not so, Lord,” was contradictory. To call Jesus “Lord” while refusing His command is inconsistent. This was not the first time Peter had resisted divine instruction (compare Matthew 16:22 and John 13:8). In contrast, Cornelius had responded to God with the words, “What is it, Lord?” (Acts 10:4). Ironically, at that moment the Gentile soldier was more responsive to God’s will than the Jewish apostle.

God’s reply was firm: “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” The Old Testament distinction between holy and common, clean and unclean, had been fulfilled in Christ. The ceremonial laws pointing to separation were no longer binding under the new covenant (see Colossians 2:14, 16-17). Though Peter initially thought this vision pertained only to food, God would soon reveal that it symbolized something greater—the breaking down of the barrier between Jew and Gentile through Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).

The vision occurred three times for emphasis, ensuring Peter grasped the seriousness of the message. Just as Peter had denied the Lord three times and was later restored three times by Christ (John 21:15-17), so here the repetition reinforced God’s intent.

This vision challenged Peter’s prejudices and traditions, teaching him that God was opening the door of salvation to all nations. It was not about abandoning holiness, but about recognizing that cleansing and holiness now came through Christ alone, not dietary regulations or ritual observances.

3. God Makes Peter Aware of the Arrival of the Messengers from Cornelius

Acts 10:17-20 – “Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’”

When the vision ended, Peter did not immediately grasp its meaning. He was left wondering and meditating, seeking clarity from the Lord. This is an important reminder that God often reveals truth progressively, bringing fuller understanding as we wait upon Him and obey step by step. The vision had prepared Peter’s heart, but the arrival of Cornelius’ messengers would provide the context to unlock its meaning.

While Peter was pondering, the Spirit of God spoke directly to him. Earlier, the text described “a voice” speaking, but now it is made explicit: it was the Holy Spirit Himself addressing Peter. This shows that the Spirit is a personal being who communicates, guides, and directs the believer. The Spirit said, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

Significantly, Peter was not yet told that these men were Gentiles. God, knowing Peter’s hesitations and his instinctive resistance to mingling with Gentiles, first emphasized obedience: “Go with them, doubting nothing.” Only later would Peter understand the full scope of what God was doing. At this moment, Peter simply had to trust that the Spirit had sent them and walk in faith.

4. Peter Goes with the Messengers Back to Caesarea to See Cornelius

Acts 10:21-23 – “Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, ‘Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?’ And they said, ‘Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.’ Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.”

Peter descended from the housetop and met the men sent by Cornelius. He must have been astonished when he saw that they were Gentiles—two household servants and a Roman soldier (see Acts 10:7). For a devout Jew, this encounter itself was startling, yet Peter remembered the Spirit’s command and responded in obedience.

The messengers explained their purpose: Cornelius, a Roman centurion known as a just man who feared God and was respected among the Jews, had been instructed by a holy angel to summon Peter so that he might hear words from him. This testimony confirmed that Peter’s vision and the Spirit’s command were divinely orchestrated. God was arranging a meeting that would shatter centuries of prejudice and open the door of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Remarkably, Peter invited the men in and lodged them. The Greek term means more than simply giving them a place to stay—it implies hospitality, treating them as welcome guests. For a Jewish man of that day, this was a radical act. Jewish custom strictly forbade entertaining Gentiles in one’s home or sharing a meal with them, for fear of ritual defilement. Yet Peter, freshly instructed by God’s vision, welcomed them in. This was the beginning of a transformation in his heart.

Peter’s hospitality demonstrated that he was beginning to grasp the deeper meaning of the vision: what God has cleansed must not be called common. He was learning that the gospel was not bound by cultural barriers. By this act, Peter broke through entrenched tradition and aligned himself with God’s redemptive purpose for all nations.

The next day, Peter set out with the messengers toward Caesarea. Significantly, “some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” These Jewish believers would serve as witnesses to what God was about to do. Peter likely anticipated controversy among his fellow Jews and wisely brought along others who could confirm the events that would unfold.

This moment also draws a striking parallel with the prophet Jonah. Centuries earlier, Jonah had been called from Joppa to deliver God’s message to Gentiles, but he fled in disobedience. Now Peter, also called from Joppa, obeyed. Unlike Jonah, Peter re-examined his traditions in the light of God’s word and shared God’s heart for the lost. Where Jonah resisted, Peter responded.

C. The Meeting Between Cornelius and Peter

1. Peter Comes to Cornelius’ House

Acts 10:24-26 – “And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself am also a man.’”

Cornelius was waiting expectantly for Peter. His faith is remarkable, for he had sent men to retrieve a stranger he had never met, trusting that God would fulfill His word. He had no assurance that Peter would come, nor that Peter, a devout Jew, would even enter a Gentile’s home. Yet Cornelius waited in faith, confident that God, who had commanded him through the angel, would complete His plan. His confidence exemplifies Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Cornelius also displayed spiritual leadership in gathering his household and close friends. He did not want to receive the message of God alone; he wanted others to share in the blessing. His faith was not private or self-serving but evangelistic, anticipating that God’s truth should be declared to all who would listen.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him with profound reverence, falling at his feet and worshiping him. While this was understandable—Cornelius recognized Peter as a man of God—it was misplaced. Worship is due only to the Lord. Cornelius’ action shows his humility and hunger for truth, but also his need for correction.

Peter immediately lifted him up and said, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” This correction was gentle yet firm. Peter refused to accept undue reverence, making it clear that he was not divine but only a servant of God. This distinction is consistent throughout Scripture: whenever men or angels are wrongly worshiped, they refuse it (Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8-9). By contrast, Jesus accepted worship freely and rightly (Matthew 8:2; Matthew 9:18; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 15:25; Matthew 28:9), proving His deity. If Peter, a chosen apostle, and angels, powerful servants of God, refused worship, then Christ’s acceptance of it demonstrates that He is indeed God the Son.

The contrast between Peter’s humility and the excesses of later traditions is striking. In St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, a statue of Peter has been venerated for centuries, with pilgrims kissing its toe in reverence. Such practices are foreign to Peter’s own spirit, for he himself rebuked Cornelius for a similar act. Peter would never condone worship or undue homage directed toward himself. True reverence belongs to Christ alone.

This encounter also highlights mutual honor. Cornelius honored Peter by bowing before him, though mistakenly. Peter honored Cornelius by traveling from Joppa to Caesarea, crossing social and religious barriers to obey God. In their meeting, they lived out the command later written by Paul in Romans 12:10 – “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

As one commentator insightfully noted, “Peter refused both to be treated by Cornelius as if he were a god, and to treat Cornelius as if he were a dog.” Cornelius was not to worship Peter, and Peter was not to despise Cornelius. Instead, in Christ, they would meet on equal ground, both sinners in need of the Savior.

2. Entering Cornelius’ House, Peter Explains Why He Came

Acts 10:27-29 – “And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?’”

As Peter entered Cornelius’ house, he crossed one of the most significant cultural and religious boundaries of his day. Jewish custom strictly prohibited entering the house of a Gentile, lest one become ceremonially unclean. Yet Peter went in, and in doing so, demonstrated that his heart had been changed by the vision of the great sheet. This small phrase—“he went in”—marks one of the most important breakthroughs in the book of Acts, as the gospel was now visibly crossing the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile.

Peter explained his action to those present. He acknowledged the traditional Jewish law and then declared the greater revelation: “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” The vision of clean and unclean animals was not ultimately about food, but about people. God was showing Peter that the old distinctions between Jew and Gentile had been fulfilled in Christ. The gospel was now to go to all nations, without partiality.

The principle still applies to food as well. Jesus had already taught that external dietary laws do not make one clean before God: “Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” (Mark 7:18-19). Paul also confirmed this truth: “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself” (Romans 14:14). He further explained that dietary laws were shadows pointing to Christ: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

Yet the connection between unclean foods and unclean people was deeply ingrained in Jewish thought. As F. F. Bruce observed, “It was largely because of their lack of scruples in food matters that Gentiles were ritually unsafe people for a pious Jew to meet socially.” Thus, when Peter declared that no man should be considered common or unclean, he was acknowledging a radical reorientation of God’s redemptive plan.

Peter concluded: “Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.” This confirmed that the vision had changed his perspective. Without this revelation from God, Peter would never have accompanied Gentile messengers or entered Cornelius’ house. God had to prepare Peter’s heart before he could step across that threshold.

3. Cornelius Explains Why He Sent for Peter

Acts 10:30-33 – “So Cornelius said, ‘Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.” So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.’”

Cornelius recounted the events that led him to call for Peter. He had been fasting and praying—seeking God with intensity and devotion. His hunger for truth was evident not only in his prayer life but in his willingness to deny himself food as he pursued God. Scripture often ties fasting to a deep longing for divine intervention and clarity. Cornelius was not a casual seeker but one who diligently sought God, and the Lord rewarded his earnest pursuit (Jeremiah 29:13; Hebrews 11:6).

During his prayer, Cornelius was visited by an angelic messenger who assured him: “Your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.” Though Cornelius was not yet regenerated or born again, God graciously recognized the sincerity of his prayers and generosity. This demonstrates that God hears the cries of those who seek Him, even before they fully understand the gospel. In His providence, God was orchestrating the events so that Cornelius would soon hear the message of salvation through Christ.

Cornelius then obeyed immediately, sending for Peter without hesitation. His obedience paralleled Peter’s, showing that God was preparing both men for this encounter. Now, as Peter arrived, Cornelius declared the readiness of himself and all who were gathered: “Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

This statement reveals a remarkable humility and eagerness. Cornelius recognized that Peter was not coming with human wisdom but with divine authority. His household was gathered, not to be entertained, but to receive the Word of God. For any preacher, this is the ideal congregation—attentive, spiritually hungry, and prepared by the Spirit.

The principle here is timeless. When both the messenger and the hearers are prepared by God, the ministry of the Word bears great fruit. As James Montgomery Boice observed, “When you go to church, do you want to receive a good message? If so, the best way is to come with a prepared heart. I know that the preacher must be prepared too. But when God prepares the messenger as well as those who are to hear him, then tremendous things happen.”

4. Peter’s Short Sermon to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ House

Acts 10:34-43 – “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.’”

Peter began with a groundbreaking confession: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” This marked a radical shift from the prevailing Jewish mindset. Many Jews believed that God loved Israel exclusively and despised the Gentiles. Jewish men even prayed daily, thanking God that they were not Gentiles, slaves, or women. Strict rabbinic tradition taught that to enter a Gentile’s house defiled a Jew, and even to help a Gentile woman in childbirth was forbidden, lest another Gentile enter the world. Conversely, Gentiles despised Jews, considering them strange and conspiratorial, even accusing them of worshiping pigs since they refused to eat pork. Against this backdrop of hostility, Peter declared that God’s grace extended impartially to all nations.

Peter explained that God accepts “whoever fears Him and works righteousness.” This did not mean that Cornelius or any Gentile was saved apart from Christ, but that the door of salvation was now open to all. National background was no longer a barrier. God sees beyond color, culture, and status; He looks at the heart. This is consistent with Old Testament revelation: “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17).

Peter then presented the gospel in its essentials. He declared that Jesus Christ is “Lord of all”—a phrase affirming His deity and universal authority over Jew and Gentile alike. He summarized Jesus’ ministry: His baptism by John, His anointing with the Holy Spirit and power, His works of healing and deliverance, and His death by crucifixion, described as being killed “by hanging on a tree,” echoing Deuteronomy 21:23. The heart of the message was the resurrection: “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly.” Peter emphasized that the risen Christ was seen not by all, but by chosen witnesses, including the apostles who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection, affirming the reality of His bodily resurrection.

The sermon reached its climax with Christ’s authority: “He commanded us to preach…that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Jesus is not only Savior but Judge. Every person must reckon with Him, for eternal destiny rests on one’s response to Christ.

Peter concluded with the universal promise: “Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” This sweeping declaration shattered every barrier—ethnic, cultural, social, and moral. Salvation is not earned by works or heritage but received by faith in Christ. The prophets themselves bore witness to this truth, and now Peter proclaimed it to Gentiles for the first time.

Peter’s sermon, though brief, was a complete presentation of the gospel. He preached the incarnation, anointing, ministry, death, resurrection, eyewitness testimony, universal lordship, coming judgment, and the offer of forgiveness through faith in Christ. His message to Cornelius’ household was the same as to the Jews in Jerusalem: all must repent and believe in Jesus for salvation.

5. God-Fearing Gentiles Are Filled with the Holy Spirit and Baptized

Acts 10:44-48 – “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.”

As Peter was still preaching, the Holy Spirit interrupted the sermon and fell upon Cornelius and all who believed. This demonstrates that salvation occurs the moment a sinner places genuine faith in Christ. It is not the raising of a hand, walking an aisle, or repeating a prayer that secures salvation, but the inward surrender of the heart to Jesus. As Spurgeon observed, “Oh that the Spirit of God would in the same manner interrupt us!” The Spirit was doing the greater work, and Peter, sensitive to God’s leading, recognized it.

The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished. They knew God loved the Gentiles, but they were amazed that He poured out the Holy Spirit upon them in the same way He had at Pentecost. The Gentiles spoke in tongues and magnified God, showing that they had received the exact same Spirit as the apostles. This was crucial, for it demonstrated to the Jewish Christians that Gentiles did not have to first become Jews to be saved; they were accepted by God as Gentiles. As one commentator put it, “The Gentiles are brought into an exactly parallel position, not merely with normal Jews who had believed on Jesus, but with the apostles themselves.”

Peter declared, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” Baptism followed immediately, not as a condition of salvation but as an outward sign of their new faith and full inclusion in the body of Christ. These Gentiles were baptized into the same faith as the apostles, without the trappings of Jewish ritual law.

This event fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah foresaw the day when “the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). God’s covenant with Abraham promised that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus also declared, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring” (John 10:16), and “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

Even Cornelius, a devout and generous man, still needed Christ. His prayers and alms could not save him; he needed the forgiveness found only in Jesus. This underscores that no amount of good works or religious devotion can bring salvation apart from faith in Christ. As Paul later wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Thus, Acts 10 concludes with a historic moment: Gentiles openly and unmistakably received the gospel, were indwelt by the Spirit, and were baptized into Christ’s church. This marked the true beginning of the gospel’s expansion to the nations, setting the stage for Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.