Acts 10:1

This chapter is concerned exclusively with the conversion of Cornelius, the same event also being under consideration in Acts 11. Luke's devoting so much space to the narrative of a single conversion indicates the importance of it. It was in the conversion of this Roman centurion that the issue of receiving Gentiles into Christ was finally decided. Yes, other Gentiles had been saved prior to this; but it was upon the basis of their having first been proselytes to Judaism. Many of the earliest Christians (most of whom were Jewish) were willing to welcome Gentiles into the faith AS PROSELYTES first and Christians later. Cornelius' baptism was the end of that, despite the fact of "Judaizers" continuing to advocate the old view for a considerable time afterward, as seen in the Pauline epistles.

That the devout Gentile chosen by God for the special treatment accorded him in such things as (1) visitation by an angel, (2) hearing the gospel preached by one of the Twelve, (3) having the Holy Spirit fall upon him in a manifestation suggesting that of Pentecost, etc. - that the Gentile chosen for such blessings should have been a soldier must be regarded as significant. Ryle noted that "In no case is there the slightest hint that the profession of a soldier is unlawful in the sight of God."[1] There are some eight or ten centurions mentioned in the New Testament, and without exception they all appear in a favorable and commendable light. In the decadent condition of the Roman Empire at that time, the non-commissioned officers of the imperial army constituted something of a residual repository of the ancient virtues of honesty, sobriety, integrity and the fear of God. Only this could account for the number and character of the centurions mentioned in the New Testament. For a list of these and other comment, see Luke 7:2 in my Commentary on Luke.

The absolutely unique aspect of the event related in this chapter should not be overlooked, there never having been the slightest hint anywhere in the New Testament that what happened at the house of Cornelius was to be considered any such thing as a normal Christian experience. Safeguards against such a misconception appear in every line of the narrative. As a matter of fact, God prepared both the apostolic preacher and the convert himself for the unique event by supernatural appearances to both of them.