ACTS – To the Ends of the Earth: Day 10
Acts 10 — Cornelius, A Devout and God-Fearing Man
Acts 10 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Book of Acts.
Maybe it is because of Cornelius, and perhaps because I bear the feminine version of his name, Cornelia. But beyond that, this chapter reveals one of the most transformative truths in Scripture.
Here, God overturns generations of separation between Jews and Gentiles and reveals a single principle that still stands today.
As long as a person believes and fears God, ceremonial laws and cultural divisions have no power to separate us.
God accepts all who fear Him and do what is right.
Cornelius: A Soldier With a Tender Heart
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. (Acts 10:1–2)
Cornelius was a centurion, a commander over one hundred soldiers in the Roman army. Centurions were well respected and well paid, often earning several times more than an ordinary soldier. Cornelius was wealthy and influential, yet humble and prayerful.
Though a Gentile, he aligned his life with certain Jewish practices such as prayer and giving to the poor. He was not a convert to Judaism, but he had a heart for God. And God noticed.
One afternoon, an angel appeared to him and said,
“Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”
This shows that God hears and remembers sincere prayer. Cornelius’s devotion and generosity became a sweet offering before the Lord
Peter’s Vision: When God Redefines What Is Clean
Meanwhile, in Joppa, Peter had a vision. A large sheet came down from heaven filled with all kinds of animals, and a voice said,
“Rise, Peter, kill and eat.”
Peter refused, saying he had never eaten anything unclean. But the voice replied,
“What God has made clean, you must not call common.” (Acts 10:15)
This vision was not about food. It was about people.
Peter was still holding on to old traditions that separated Jews from Gentiles. He thought he was protecting his faith by avoiding what was “unclean.” Yet God was showing him that holiness is not measured by tradition or culture but by what God declares righteous.
The vision happened three times. God was preparing Peter for an assignment that would change everything.
“You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation,” Peter said, “but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28)
Peter confessed what God had revealed to him. The gospel was never meant to be bound by race or rule.
Cornelius shared how an angel had visited him, giving clear instructions to send for Peter. Then he said,
“Now we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:33)
Cornelius’s heart was open, ready, and expectant. He did not keep the invitation to himself. He called his family and friends so they could all hear the message together.
The Message and the Miracle
Peter began to preach and said,
“Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” (Acts 10:34–35)
While Peter was still speaking, something powerful happened.
“The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.” (Acts 10:44)
The same Spirit that filled the disciples at Pentecost now came upon the Gentiles. They had never followed Jewish customs or traditions, yet God poured out His Spirit freely.
The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed. The Holy Spirit had come upon people who were once considered outsiders.
Peter then said,
“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (v.47)
Cornelius and his entire household were baptized. Peter stayed with them for a few days, sharing meals and fellowship with people he once thought were unclean.
A Shift in the Story of Redemption
Acts 10 marks a divine turning point.
Until now, the gospel had mainly reached Jews and Samaritans. Through Cornelius, God opened the door for all nations.
The promise Jesus gave in Acts 1:8 — that the gospel would go to the ends of the earth — began to unfold through a man of prayer, generosity, and humility.
God used two people, one who prayed and one who obeyed, to bridge the greatest divide in history.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank You for breaking every wall that separates us.
Teach me to see people through Your eyes and not through my own filters.
Help me to walk in humility, obedience, and love.
Make my life a living testimony that welcomes others to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.