Finding Cornelius

In Acts chapter 10 we read about a man named Cornelius, a devout man who believed in God and prayed frequently (Acts 10:1-2). It is important to notice that he was a good man that believed in God, yet his sins were not forgiven; he was not saved. Though not a Christian (at the beginning of the chapter), we do see that he is one of the best examples in the Bible of a truth seeker, someone who was looking for answers to the most important questions in life, and did whatever was necessary to find them.

As we read through the chapter, we see that Peter is chosen to teach Cornelius about Christ, and the things he must do to become a Christian (Acts 10:6). The text goes on to tell about Peter's vision that, after pondering what it meant for a while, told him that God has accepted Jew and Gentile alike to be part of His kingdom, and that he ought to teach men and women regardless of their race (Acts 10:34; cf. Gal. 3:28). In this regard, we see that after teaching Cornelius and his household, Peter and the Jews with him watched as they were immersed in the Holy Spirit, and given the ability to speak in different languages (tongues) they had never before learned, just as the apostles at the beginning (Acts 10:44-46; 11:15; cf. Acts 2).

This was a sign to all Jews that Gentiles were meant to be Christians as well, and since that was the case, Peter correctly reasoned that the right to be baptized (immersed in water) for the forgiveness of sins should be allowed these men, and so commanded them to do so (Acts 10:47-48; cf. Acts 2:38). Since they had no choice in whether they were immersed in the Holy Spirit, it is at this point, baptism, that Cornelius and his household had their sins washed away (Acts 22:16) and became Christians, as they had done what they were told they MUST do (Acts 10:6).

The main point of this event was to display the equality between Jew and Gentile in the kingdom of God, but it also tells us that there are truth seekers out there. There are people in our communities that are good people; caring and kind people; people who believe in and are willing to obey God. God assures those who seek Him and seek true wisdom will find it (Pr. 8:17; Matt. 5:6). This is where Peter came in for Cornelius, and this is where the Christian comes in for the truth seeker.

We all have a Cornelius in our lives. He or she may be a relative, friend, neighbor, or co-worker. We may not even know them at present. We may not even like them. As Peter, a Jew, prepared to teach a Roman centurion, our Cornelius may not even be who we expect. Regardless, we need to find them, and we need to teach them. We need to be ready to give an answer, a defense, for anyone who asks us "Why?" (1 Pet. 3:15) because we may be that person's opportunity to find that for which they have been searching.