CORNELIUS RECEIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT

The story of Cornelius is found in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 10. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a member of the Italian Regiment, stationed in Caesarea. He was a devout man who feared God, gave generously to those in need, and prayed regularly.

One day, while he was praying, an angel of God appeared to him and instructed him to send for Simon Peter, a disciple of Jesus who was staying in Joppa. The angel told Cornelius that Peter would bring him a message that he needed to hear.

At the same time, Peter was also praying on a rooftop in Joppa when he had a vision. In his vision, he saw a sheet being lowered down from heaven containing all kinds of animals, both clean and unclean, and heard a voice telling him to kill and eat. But Peter, being a devout Jew, refused, saying he had never eaten anything unclean.

The voice then told Peter not to call anything unclean that God had made clean. This happened three times, and then the sheet was taken back up into heaven. While Peter was still puzzling over what the vision could mean, the men sent by Cornelius arrived and asked Peter to come with them to Caesarea.

When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house, he explained that he had previously thought it was against Jewish law to associate with Gentiles but had now realized that God does not show favoritism and that anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to Him.

As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and all who were with him, just as it had on the day of Pentecost with the apostles. Peter then baptized Cornelius and his household, and they became the first Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit and be accepted into the Christian community.

The story of Cornelius demonstrates that God’s love and salvation are available to all people, regardless of their race or background. It also shows how the Holy Spirit was active in the early church, leading people to faith and breaking down barriers between different groups of people.