From the Elder's Pen "Cornelius" 10/20/02 Past/Future Articles

 In the latter part of the 9th chapter in Acts, we find Peter at Joppa where he abode many days with Simon the tanner.  (V. 43)  In Lydda he had healed Aeneas and in Joppa he had raised Tabitha, called Dorcus, from the dead.  Miracles that led many to believe.  (Vs. 35, 42)  Thus, in the Providence of God, Peter was nearby when God was ready for the Gospel door to be opened to the Gentiles in Caesarea which was 30 miles to the North.  At this time the Gospel had been preached only to Jews, Jewish Proselytes, and Samaritians who observed the Law of Moses.  Cornelius lived in Caesarea and was on the threshold of becoming the first Gentile Christian.
 
 The Apostles must have understood from Jesus’ final commission (Matt. 28:19) that they were to preach the Gospel to all nations.  But it had not yet been revealed to them that Gentiles were to be received as Gentiles.  They seemed to have thought that Gentiles must first be circumcised, become Jewish Proselytes, and keep the Law of Moses, before they could be accepted into the household of God as Christians.
 
 Jews were scattered among all nations, and the Apostles, until God led them out of the notion, may have thought their mission was to these Jews only because they preached only to them.  (Acts 11:19)  But now Judea, Samaria and Galilee had been evangelized and the time had come to offer the Gospel to the Gentiles.
 
 Cornelius was the first Gentile chosen of God to be offered the Gospel.  He was an officer of the Roman Army in Caesarea which was on the sea coast about 50 miles northwest of Jerusalem.  It was the Roman Capital of Palestine, residence of the Roman Governor, and military headquarters of the Province.  The band of which Cornelius was a Centurion is thought to have been body guard to the Governor.  Thus, next to the Governor, Cornelius must have been one of the most important and best know men in the whole region.  (To be continued).