Home › People of the Bible › Cornelius
People of the Bible
Who Was Cornelius?
In short
Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a devout, God-fearing Gentile whom God directed by a vision to send for the apostle Peter.
When Peter came and preached, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household, throwing open the door of the gospel to all nations. God, Peter learned, is no respecter of persons.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Acts 10:34-35 · King James Version (public domain)
Cornelius at a glance
| Name | Cornelius |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Acts |
| Key passage on this page | Acts 10:34-35 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Romans 2:11
- 2 Chronicles 19:7
- Deuteronomy 10:17
- Colossians 3:25
- Job 34:19
- Luke 20:21
- Ephesians 6:9
- 1 Peter 1:17
- James 2:9
- Colossians 3:11
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Cornelius in the Bible?
Cornelius appears in Acts. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Acts 10:34-35?
Readers most often set it next to Romans 2:11, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Deuteronomy 10:17, Colossians 3:25.
Why does Cornelius matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Cornelius is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Father, you are already present in Cornelius, before any of us arrive. We bring you Cornelius, Acts. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, Acts 10:34-35, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Cornelius's story says about God, not only about Cornelius.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Cornelius
You can read the story of Cornelius in Acts on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
