Acts 10:1-5
What is written? (ESV)
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, Cornelius. And he stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
What does it say?
Cornelius lived in Caesarea. He was a centurion (Roman) of the Italian Cohort who was also a devout man that feared God along with his household. He gave alms to the people and prayed continually. At about 3pm one day he saw a vision. The angel of God told him his prayers and alms had ascended as a memorial before God and to send for Simon Peter.
What is its immediate context?
The church has grown among the Jewish community according to the pattern Jesus foretold (“you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8). This pivotal chapter accounts the conversion of the first Gentiles to the Way.
How Acts 10:1-5 is applied across Bible answers
Is hearing the gospel the only way to know God’s will?
Here is a non-Jewish (Roman), God-fearing man/household that is seeking God. God intervenes with an angelic vision...instructing him to send for a preacher (Peter) so that he might hear the gospel preached.
