Difference between revisions of "Category:Cornelius (subject)"

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Cornelius was, according to the Acts of Apostles, a Roman Centurion and one of the first non-Jews to join the early Christian Church.

Overview

According to the Acts of Apostles, after Philip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch, Peter was in Joppa. He there received an invitation by the Roman centurion Cornelius, an officer of the Italian cohort, to visit him at Caesarea Maritima.

Although not a proselyte, the God-fearer Cornelius was already associated to some Jewish-Hellenistic community. His "conversion" must be still seen within the framework of an inter-Jewish debate. It raised however difficult questions about the status of Gentiles within the new Christian movement. Not everybody was convinced, and Peter had a hard time to justify his deed. The reference to a vision Peter had at Joppa while Cornelius' messengers were on their way from Caesarea Maritima, indicates that there were no teachings of Jesus regarding the problem.

Nothing is said in the Acts about Cornelius' life and role in the Church. Later Christian tradition would make him the first bishop of Caesarea, or the bishop of Scepsis in Mysia.

In Depth

• Cornelius (sources) -- survey of ancient sources

• Cornelius (arts) -- survey of fictional works

Related categories

• Peter

References

• Cornelius / Beverly Roberts Gaventa / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:1154-1156

External links

• Wikipedia
• Catholic Encyclopedia