At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
1. Luke passeth over now unto a worthy “Memorabilem,” memorable. history, to wit, that God vouchsafeth to advance a stranger, and one uncircumcised, unto singular honor above all the Jews, because he doth both send his angel unto him, and for his sake bringeth Peter to Cesarea, that he may instruct him in the gospel.
Cornelius was the first Gentile deliberately brought into the gospel, a mystery even to the apostles. Mark that he was both great and good, two characters seldom united; yet when they meet, goodness makes greatness truly valuable, and greatness makes goodness far more serviceable to the world.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 10:1-8
CHAPTER 10 Introduction: This chapter commences a very important part of the history of the transactions of the apostles. Before this, they had preached the gospel to the Jews only. They seem to have retained the feelings of their countrymen on this subject, that the Jews were to be regarded as the peculiarly favoured people, and that salvation was not to be offered beyond the limits of their nation.