Pride and racism are intolerable evils and must never be accepted by the church of God. All who are in Christ are one in him, be they rich or poor, black or white, male or female, learned or unlearned. All true believers are brothers and sisters in Christ (Col. 3:11; Eph. 2:11-18; 4:1-6). In Christ there are no distinctions of race, sex, or social class, and none should exist in us. This unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ was perhaps the most difficult obstacle for the early Jewish converts to overcome, and it remains a very difficult obstacle for many today. The Jews looked upon Gentiles as being unclean and had no dealings with them, except by necessity.

For four thousand years the revelation of God was restricted to the nation of Israel. The Jews alone had the light of divine truth. Then, because of their unbelief, after Christ came, God rejected the physical nation of Israel and sent his servants to preach the gospel in all nations that he might gather his elect from the four corners of the earth (Matt. 21:3-43; 23:37-38; 28:19). The apostle Peter was sent to preach the gospel to Cornelius, who was a Gentile, that he might be established in the faith of Christ. The lesson Peter had to learn, the lesson we all must learn is found in verse 34 - "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." The grace of God is not dependent upon or limited by earthly, human distinctions (John 1:11-12; Rom. 9:15). God has no regard for those things that separate and distinguish fallen men from one another.

Cornelius was a man of faith, a Gentile in whom the grace of God was evident. He had been converted from paganism to the faith of God's elect. He worshipped God according to the law of Moses. But he was ignorant of the fact that Christ had come and fulfilled the law as the sinner's Substitute. He believed God (vv. 1-2). He saw Christ pictured in the types and shadows of the law. He trusted Christ as he was set forth in the prophets. But he had not yet learned that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God. Therefore, God sent Peter with the good news of the gospel, telling Cornelius that the Savior for whom he was looking had come and accomplished redemption. Like Simeon, he waited for the coming of Christ in faith, not knowing that Christ had come (Lk. 2:25-32). Cornelius was a man in whom all the characteristics of saving faith were evident.

HE WAS A MAN WHO FEARED GOD (vv. 1-2). When the Holy Spirit tells us that Cornelius "feared God", he is telling us that he was a saved man, a child of God, a regenerate soul. Those who have the fear of God established in their hearts are saved. The Word of God holds out a multitude of promises to those who fear him. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him (Psa. 147:11). Those who fear God are accepted by him (Acts 10:34-35). "The Lord pitieth them that fear him" (Psa. 103:13). "The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him" (Psa. 33:18). God's hand is open to and ready to feed them that fear him. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" (Psa. 25:14). God remembers those who fear him and comes to them (Mal. 3:16; 4:2). Salvation belongs to those who fear the Lord (Psa. 85:9). Indeed, all the goodness and blessedness God has laid up for his elect in heaven belongs to all who fear him as Cornelius did (Psa. 31:19). The fear of faith is not a slavish, legal fear, but a loving, gracious reverence for the Lord God.

CORNELIUS WAS A CHARITABLE AND GENEROUS MAN (v. 2). Faith that causes a person to fear God also creates in him a loving, generous spirit toward his fellow man. Cornelius "gave much alms to the people," because he feared God. Faith produces and works by love (Gal. 5:6), and love shows itself by acts of kindness (I Cor. 13:1-8).

HE WAS A MAN OF EARNEST PRAYER (v. 2). His religion was not a nominal form of worship. Cornelius was earnest. He sought the Lord with all his heart (Jer. 29:12-14). He did so by making diligent use of the outward means of worship. At the hour of prayer he was in prayer. At the time of sacrifice he was found in the outer court of the temple. He "prayed to God always." (See. I Thess. 5:16). That means he lived by faith in dependence upon the Lord God. He sought the will of God in all things. Cornelius was a child of light. He walked in the light God had given him (I John 1:7), and God gave him more light.

ONCE IT WAS MADE KNOWN TO HIM CORNELIUS WAS IMMEDIATELY OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF GOD (vv. 3-23). In Old Testament times the Angel of the Lord ministered to people in much the same way as God the Holy Spirit does today. He appeared to Cornelius when he was engaged in prayer and assured him of his acceptance with God (vv. 3-4). Like Enoch, he pleased God by faith in Christ (Heb. 11:6). "The prayers which he had put up in faith, and the charitable actions he had performed from a principle of love, ascended to God with acceptance" (John Gill). Then the Angel of the Lord showed Cornelius where he could find a messenger from God for his soul. And Cornelius sought him out (vv. 5-08). In the meantime, God graciously prepared Peter's heart to minister effectively to his beloved people at Ceasarea (vv. 9-23). Cornelius needed a word from God. So he sought it by earnest prayer. Peter needed the help of God to preach the gospel. So he sought it by earnest prayer. And both men got what they needed from the Lord.

THIS MAN, CORNELIUS, RECEIVED GOD'S MESSENGER WITH REVERENCE AND SUBMISSION (vv. 24-33). He was anxious to hear what God would say by the voice of his servant. Knowing that God spoke to men by Peter, he gathered his family and friends to hear the Word of God. And he held God's servant in high esteem. He erred in giving too much reverence to Peter (vv. 25). But his attitude was right (I Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7, 17). When reproved, Cornelius submitted (v. 26). He even overlooked the sinful faults of God's messenger (vv. 27-28). He was determined to let nothing keep him from hearing what God had to say! When he listened to Peter preach, Cornelius expected to hear from God (v. 33), and he did!

HE BELIEVED THE WORD OF GOD (vv. 34-43). He believed what God taught him by his servant Peter: (1) That no man has any claim upon the grace of God (vv. 34-35), (2) That Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God (vv. 36-40), and (3) That the Lord Jesus Christ is the exalted sovereign of the universe (vv. 42-43).

CORNELIUS' FAITH IS ALSO SEEN IN HIS OBEDIENCE TO THE ORDINANCE OF CHRIST (vv. 44-48). The Spirit of God fell upon these Gentile believers, showing Peter and the brethren from Joppa that all believers, Jews and Gentiles, are one in Christ (vv. 44-47); I Cor. 10:16-17). And all who believed were baptized, symbolically confessing their death, burial, and resurrection with Christ (Rom. 6:4-6).