What is Cornelius in the Bible?
Lived in the New Testament era
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea. He is described as a devout man who feared God, gave alms generously, and prayed regularly (Act.10.1-2). Cornelius appears in 9 verses of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Cornelius?
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea. He is described as a devout man who feared God, gave alms generously, and prayed regularly (Act.10.1-2). Despite his piety, Cornelius was not a convert to Judaism. In a vision, an angel instructed Cornelius to send for Peter, who was staying in Joppa (Act.10.3-8). Meanwhile, Peter had a vision in which God revealed that he should not consider anything unclean that God had made clean, preparing him to accept Gentile believers (Act.10.9-16). When Peter arrived at Cornelius' house, Cornelius gathered his relatives and close friends to hear Peter's message (Act.10.24-27). As Peter shared the gospel, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentile listeners, confirming that God had accepted them (Act.10.44-46). This event marked a significant turning point in the early church, as it demonstrated that the gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles. Peter then ordered that Cornelius and the other believing Gentiles be baptized (Act.10.47-48). The conversion of Cornelius and his household was a pivotal moment in the spread of Christianity, paving the way for the inclusion of Gentiles in the church.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Cornelius appear in the Bible?
Cornelius is referenced in 9 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Acts 10:1
- Acts 10:3
- Acts 10:7
- Acts 10:17
- Acts 10:22
- Acts 10:24
- Acts 10:25
- Acts 10:30
- Acts 10:31
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Cornelius.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Cornelius?
Cornelius appears in 9 verses, all of them in Acts.
Which books of the Bible mention Cornelius?
Just one: Acts.
Where can I read every verse about Cornelius?
This page lists 9 of them. Protos carries all 9, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
