Cornelius, a Centurion

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Cornelius, a Centurion

Date: Mar. 30, 2019

Passage

Acts 10:1-8 (ESV)

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 10:4b

And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

1. Devout and God fearing (1-2)

To be a centurion in the Italian regiment would usually mean that one's loyalty would be to Rome alone and one would be regarded as an enemy and oppressor of Israel. However, Cornelius was different. He was devout and God-fearing; he both gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. This tells us he sincerely sought God but had not yet found peace or an answer to his inner sin.

2. Bring back a man called Peter (3-8)

God heard Cornelius' prayer and sent an angel to tell him to find Peter who was in nearby Joppa and staying with Simon the Tanner. God wanted Cornelius to meet the man who could lead him to Jesus. Cornelius was obedient to God; he also had a trusting relationship with his two servants and a devout soldier, who went to find Peter.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, thank you that there are sincere and spiritually hungry people like Cornelius. Help me always be ready to share Jesus with them.

One Word: Everyone needs Jesus

Ahaz Leads Judah into Destruction

2 Chronicles 28:16-27

Key Verse: 28:19

Today's Question

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