Chapter XCII.
THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS.
[Acts 10, 1—48.]
THERE lived in Caesarea[1] a man named Cornelius[2], a Roman centurion, a devout and God-fearing man, who gave much alms to the poor, and prayed continually. One day an angel appeared to him and said: “Thy prayers and thy alms have ascended for a memorial in the sight of God. Send men to Joppe[3], and call hither one Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He will tell thee what thou must do.” Then the angel disappeared, but Cornelius sent three men, who feared the Lord, to Joppe.
On the following day, as these men were drawing near the city, Peter, waiting for his mid-day meal, went up to the housetop to pray. During his prayer he was rapt[4] in ecstasy. He saw heaven opened, and behold, a great sheet, as it were, was let down by the four comers from heaven to earth. In the sheet there were all manner of four-footed beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air. Then a voice came from heaven, saying[5]: “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!”[6] Peter replied: “Far be it from me, Lord, for I have never eaten any common and unclean thing.” [7] But the voice spoke to him again: “That
- ↑ Casarea. Caesarea Palaestinae (so called to distinguish it from Caesarea Philippi, mentioned chapter XXXVI) was situated on the Mediterranean, about a day and a half’s journey north-west of Jerusalem (see Map). This town was the residence of the Roman governor, and was garrisoned by Roman soldiers.
- ↑ Cornelius. Cornelius belonged to one of the noblest families of Rome. He was a Gentile, for though he worshipped one God he was neither a Jew (not having been circumcised), nor was he a proselyte or affiliated to the Jews, like the Ethiopian officer of queen Candace.
- ↑ To Joppe. Where Peter had remained, as mentioned in last chapter, after the raising of Tabitha.
- ↑ Rapt. His spirit was, as it were, removed from the earth, and he was entirely absorbed in supernatural things.
- ↑ Saying. To Peter, who was still kneeling, absorbed in prayer.
- ↑ Eat. “Whatever you fancy”. Peter knew that the voice came from God, and thought that God was putting him to the test whether he were faithful in the observance of the Mosaic laws regarding food. Therefore he answered: “Far be it from me, Lord &c.”
- ↑ Unclean thing. Anything forbidden by the law to be eaten (see Old Test. VI).
