Cornelius - Acts 10:1

Luke the physician wrote how Peter, “tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner”, and in chapter ten and verse one of the book of Acts Luke shared about a man named, “Cornelius” where we read:

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

The verse begins, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, ...” Luke began with the words, “there was a certain man” which means “there existed a particular male human being” “in Caesarea” or “within Caesarea of Palestine which was built near the Mediterranean by Herod the Great on the site of Strabo's Tower, between Joppa and Dora and whose name means severed” “called Cornelius” which means “named and known as Cornelius which means of a horn”. Luke shared about a particular man who lived in the city of “Caesarea” whose name was “Cornelius”.

The verse continues, “... a centurion of the band called the Italian band, ...” Luke added the words, “a centurion” which means “an officer in the Roman army who was the captain of one hundred men” “of the band” or “belonging to military cohort which was a tenth part of legion or about six hundred legionaries” “called the Italian band” which means “named and known as the military cohort belonging to Italy”. Luke shared how “Cornelius” was an officer in the Roman army who was in charge of “one hundred” soldiers who were part of the military cohort belonging to “Italy”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about a man named “Cornelius” who was in charge of “one hundred” soldiers in the Roman army. This cohort of military members were part of a great “band of soldiers” who were from Italy. We shall see how “Cornelius” becomes part of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ who demonstrated God's desire to reach outside of the familiar areas to “foreign fields” to have a personal relationship with anyone who yields to His Son Jesus. God loves the world, and everyone is invited to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus. When they submit themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and use them in His Kingdom to share His “gospel”. Those who are wise carefully study this man “Cornelius” and discover God's intentional plan to make him part of His Kingdom.

Next time Luke shares how Cornelius was, “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".