God's Heart for All People
Acts 10:1–8 (NASB95)
1Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5“Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:1-8 demonstrates God's heart for all people and His divine orchestration in expanding His kingdom.
In this passage, we meet Cornelius, a Roman centurion whose story illustrates how God works beyond human boundaries. Although he was a Gentile, Cornelius was a "devout man" who feared God, demonstrating that His Spirit draws people from all backgrounds. What's remarkable is how God honored Cornelius's prayers and charitable acts—showing us that He sees and values sincere devotion, regardless of one's background.
While praying during the “ninth hour” (a time for Jewish prayer), Cornelius encounters an angel who affirms that his prayers and alms have “ascended as a memorial before God.” This language echoes Old Testament sacrificial imagery, elevating Cornelius’s acts of devotion as spiritual offerings. The angel’s message underscores God’s sovereignty: salvation for Gentiles is not an afterthought but rather a part of His redemptive plan. The vision dismantles barriers, demonstrating that God’s favor extends beyond ethnic Israel to all who seek Him.
The angel instructs Cornelius to summon Peter from Joppa, a command he follows promptly. His reaction demonstrates Roman military discipline and spiritual humility. By sending two servants and a devout soldier, Cornelius guarantees credibility and safety, while their shared faith emphasizes the communal aspect of God’s work. The inclusion of a soldier—a symbol of Roman authority—foreshadows the Gospel’s expansion into the heart of the empire.
This narrative challenges exclusionary norms. Cornelius, a Roman officer in a city full of Jewish-Gentile tensions, embodies the “unclean” in Jewish eyes. Yet God orchestrates his encounter with Peter, revealing that “what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” The paired visions affirm divine agency, paralleling Paul’s conversion and echoing Scripture’s emphasis on God’s universal salvation (Isa 49:6; Luke 2:32). By choosing a Roman centurion, Luke signals the Gospel’s disruptive power to reconcile even society’s oppressors.
Like Cornelius, we should stay attuned to God’s unexpected guidance. His plans often challenge cultural biases and personal comfort. Cornelius acted quickly despite the perceived risks. We must nurture our responsiveness to the Spirit, even when His directives confront our expectations or preferences.
Cornelius’s story reminds us that God prepares hearts and messengers to advance His kingdom. May we, like Cornelius, live in readiness to participate in His reconciling mission.
In Christ’s service,
Ryan Goodnight