ABSTRACT
It is evident that Cornelius was a converted man before Peter went to him. He was devout, feared God, gave alms, and prayed to God always. It is easy to read between the lines that Philip, who had preached at Caesarea, was used of God in the conversion of Cornelius. Philip, however, would not baptize a Gentile and receive him into the Christian church; his mission was to the Jews. I am aware that in rehearsing the matter to the council of Jerusalem, Peter declared that the angel said to Cornelius, “Send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who shall tell thee words whereby thou and thy house shall be saved.” But this does not prove that Cornelius was unsaved. We sometimes announce that we will preach on how to be saved, or that in an after-meeting we will tell the people how they may be saved. This does not imply that everyone present will be unsaved. The soldiers and household, servants of Cornelius, were doubtless many of them unsaved, and he was anxious for their salvation. Peter comes with another message to Cornelius, but with a message of saving grace to his household.
