which had the distinctive appellation of "the Italian Legion;" while it has been supposed that these ancient authors make no mention of an Italian cohort. But the deeply learned Wetstein, with his usual vast classical research, has shown several such passages, in Arrian and others, in which mention is made of an Italian cohort; and in Gruter's inscriptions, quoted by Kuinoel, there is an account of "a volunteer cohort of Italian soldiers in Syria;" and Palestine was at this time included with Syria, under the presidency of Petronius. This inscription, too, justifies my remark as to the high character of those who served in this corps. "Cohors militum Italicorum voluntaria" seems to imply a body of soldiers of a higher character than the ordinary mercenary mass of the army, being probably made up of volunteers from respectable families of Italy, who chose to enlarge their knowledge of the world by foreign military service, in this very honorable station of life-guard to the Roman governor, as Doddridge and others suppose this to have been. (See Doddridge on this passage; also C. G. Schwartz in Wolf. Cur. Phil. in loc.) It is considered also as fairly proved that the "Italian legion" was not formed till a much later period; so that it is rendered in the highest degree probable and unquestionable, that this was a cohort, and, as Schwartz and Doddridge prove, not a mere ordinary cohort, making the tenth part of a common legion of 4200, but a distinct and independent corps, attached to no legion, and devoted to the exclusive honorable service above mentioned. (See Bloomfield, Kuinoel, Rosenmueller, &c.)
Devout.—Some have tried hard to make out that Cornelius was what they call "a proselyte of the gate;" that is, one who, though not circumcised, nor conforming to the rituals generally, yet was an observer of the moral law. But Lardner very fully shows that there were not two sorts of proselytes; all who bore that name fully conforming to the Jewish rituals, but still called "strangers," &c.; because, though admitted to all the religious privileges of the covenant, they were excluded from the civil and political privileges of Jews, and could not be freeholders. Cornelius must then have been a mere Gentile. (See Lardner in his life of Peter; also Kuinoel and Bloomfield.)
Caesarea.—This is another of those cities enlarged or rebuilt by the princes of the Herodian line, and honored with the names of the imperial family. This city stood on the sea-shore, about 30 miles N. of Joppa; and (Mod. Trav.) 62 N. N. W. from Jerusalem. (600 stad. Joseph.) It has been idly conjectured by the Rabbinical writers, that this was the same with Ekron, of the Old Testament, Zeph. ii. 4; while the Arabic version gives it as Hazor, Josh. xi. 1,—both with about equal probability. The earliest name by which it can be certainly recognized, is Apollonia, which it bore when it passed from the Syro-Grecians to the Maccabean princes. Its common name, in the time of Herod the Great, was [Greek: purgos Stratônos], turris Stratonis, "Straton's castle," from the name of a Greek pirate who had built a strong hold here. Herod the Great made it the most splendid city in his dominions, and even in all the eastern part of the Roman empire; and in honor of Augustus Caesar, called it Caesarea Augusta. It was sometimes called Caesarea Palestinae, to distinguish it from Caesarea Philippi; for Palestine was then a name limited to the southern part of the coast of the Holy Land, and was bounded on the north by Phoenicia. This city was the capital of the whole Holy Land throughout the period of the later Herodian and Roman sway.
To this man was sent the first heavenly call, which ended in
bringing in the Gentiles to the knowledge of the truth revealed
by Jesus. After having fasted all day, he was employed in his
regular devotions, at the usual hour of prayer, (three o'clock in the
afternoon,) when his senses were overwhelmed by a vision, in
which he had a distinct view of a messenger of God, in shining
garments, coming to him; and heard him call him by his name,
"Cornelius!" Looking at him as steadily as he was able in his
great alarm, Cornelius asked, "What is it, Lord?" The heavenly
visitant replied, in words of consolation and high praise, "Thy
prayers and thy alms have come up in remembrance before God.
