Category:Cornelius (subject)
Cornelius was, according to the Acts of Apostles, a Roman Centurion and one of the first non-Jews to join the early Christian Church.
< See Conversion of Cornelius -- Peter's Defense >
Overview
According to the Acts of Apostles, after Philip the Evangelist 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.
Cornelius, in ancient sources
Acts of Apostles
Acts 10:1-31 -- In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8 and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa...
[17] Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate... [22] And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say”... [24] And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. [25] When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him... [30] And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, [31] and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
Cornelius, in literature & the arts
- Cornelius (arts) -- survey of fictional works
References
- Cornelius / Beverly Roberts Gaventa / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:1154-1156
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