Conversion of Cornelius

In a vision God taught Peter the way to peace with God through Jesus is open to all people, regardless of their ethnic and religious heritage, and then He demonstrated that truth by saving Cornelius, a Roman military officer.

Cornelius, a captain in the Italian Guard, was stationed in Caesarea. A good man who helped the needy and prayed regularly, he led his family and house workers to worship the living God. At about three o’clock one afternoon an angel of God appeared to him.

The seasoned soldier stared stupefied and finally asked, “Sir, why have you come?”

The angel said, “Send men to Joppa to get Simon Peter. He is staying at the tanner’s house down by the sea.”

Cornelius called two servants and a faithful attending soldier. He told them about the angel’s visit and sent them off to Joppa.

The next day at noon as the three travelers were approaching town, Peter went up on the roof terrace to pray. Hungry and wanting to eat, Peter fell into a trance in which he saw something that looked like a large sheet held by ropes at its four corners descending to the ground. Every kind of animal, reptile and bird you could think of was on it. He heard a voice: “Go ahead, Peter—kill, eat.”

Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I've never had food that was not kosher.”

Again, he heard the voice: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.”

After it happened a third time, the sheet was pulled back up into the sky.

As Peter considered the meaning of the vision, the Spirit whispered to him, “Three men are at the door looking for you. Don’t hesitate to go with them because I sent them.” Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the man you’re looking for.” He invited them in and made them feel at home.

The next morning he went with them, taking along some friends from Joppa. The next day Cornelius expected them and assembled relatives and friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius fell on his face in worship! Peter pulled him up. “On your feet! I’m human just like you.”

Cornelius introduced Peter to everyone and Peter began: “You know Jews don’t enter homes of other ethnicities. But God showed me that no people group is better than any other, so I came to share this exciting news: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you come to God His way, the door is open. You heard about salvation through Jesus Christ in Israel, right? Well, God’s making that salvation available to everyone.

“You heard about Jesus who, anointed by the Holy Spirit and God’s power, went throughout the country helping and healing those oppressed by the Devil. We observed everything He did in Judea and its capital, Jerusalem, where they crucified Him. But three days later God raised Him to life again! Not everyone saw Him then—He wasn't put on public display. God had handpicked witnesses beforehand—us! We had the privilege of eating and drinking with Him after He came back from the dead. God commissioned us to announce Jesus as His appointed judge of the living and dead and His means of forgiveness of sins for everyone who believes. The prophets also declare it so.”

Even as Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit descended upon the listeners. Peter asked his friends, “Any objections to baptizing these new friends who have received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did?” No one objected, so they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

What a day! Peter learned that anyone (even a Gentile) can come to God through faith in Jesus. Cornelius learned that everyone (even “good” people who fear God) needs to hear the good news of Jesus and believe.