Category:Cornelius (subject)
Cornelius was, according to the Acts of Apostles, Roman Centurion and one of the first non-Jews to join the early 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 on his way to 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 Second Temple sources
Acts of Apostles
Acts 10:1-31 -- At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort... [3] About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius”... [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 Scholarship
Cornelius in Fiction
Related categories
External links
Select Bibliography (articles)
- Cornelius / Beverly Roberts Gaventa / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:1154-1156
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