Cornelius

Cornelius was a centurion of the Italian band, stationed in Caesarea. Despite being a Gentile Roman soldier, he was "a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway." An angel appeared to him, telling him his prayers and alms had risen as a memorial before God.

The angel instructed Cornelius to send for Peter, then staying in Joppa. Meanwhile, God prepared Peter through a vision of unclean animals and the command, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." When Cornelius's messengers arrived, the Spirit told Peter to go with them without hesitation.

Peter found Cornelius's household assembled and waiting. Peter explained that Jews ordinarily wouldn't associate with Gentiles, "but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." As Peter preached about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on all the listeners—astonishing the Jewish believers present, because "on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Peter immediately arranged for their baptism. This event was pivotal: when Jewish believers questioned Peter, he recounted everything, concluding, "What was I, that I could withstand God?" The Jerusalem church glorified God, saying, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."