Why Didn't God Leave Cornelius Alone?

Cornelius was a good man.

Acts 10.2 tells us that this Roman centurion was “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” The word “devout” (eusebes, meaning godly, devout, or pious) is only elsewhere used in 2 Peter 2.9, translated “godly”. Cornelius was a godly man, a man who feared God (like Job: Job 1.1) and a man who cared about the poor around him (as those with pure religion do: James 1.27). Cornelius was a man who today we would expect to find donating toys for needy children around Christmas or working in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. Continual prayer is something we find connected with spiritual giants like Daniel (Dan. 6.10, 16). His household shared in his fear of God, certainly indicating strong spiritual leadership in his home (like Abraham: Gen. 18.19).

In short, it’s hard to think of someone who would be a better friend, father, and husband than Cornelius. Imagine working for Cornelius as a Roman soldier in the “Italian Cohort”. Imagine being a resident in Caesarea where he lived and seeing all the good he did for the community. Given the description in v.2, it is even plausible that Cornelius had been converted to Judaism: Imagine seeing this Roman soldier attending synagogue in Caesarea! How much better can a person be?

And yet, Cornelius was instructed by an angel of God to send to Joppa, and bring forth Peter, and then listen to what Peter had to say (Acts 10.3-8, 22, 33). Peter would go and preach the Gospel of Jesus to Cornelius and his household (10.34-43), culminating in the command to “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (10.48).

My question is this: Why didn’t God just leave Cornelius alone?

Think about it: What does he gain by converting to Christianity? He already fears God, gives to the poor, leads his family toward God, and prays continually. Cornelius is already a good, decent, even godly man. Why not leave him be? Christianity is only going to complicate and endanger his life moving forward. The Jews, led by men like Saul of Tarsus, roamed the countryside locking up and overseeing stoning of converts to Christianity (Acts 7-9). The Romans would soon follow suit in their persecution: Imagine what they would say to Cornelius when they found out he too was a Christian? Converting to Christianity might upset his family situation: Maybe not everyone in his house follows his example?

If a man anywhere close to the character of Cornelius were to die today, his funeral service would be packed with tearful speeches lauding his goodness, his exemplary character, and how sorely he will be missed by the community. Not a person in that room would leave with the impression that someone like him would be found displeasing to God. Who would dare say that he wasn’t saved?

“He wasn’t saved” is precisely the reason why God did not leave Cornelius, or the rest of the gentile world, or the Jews alone. When Peter retells the story of Cornelius’ conversion in Acts 11, the listening Jewish Christians concluded thusly: “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11.18).

God didn’t leave Cornelius alone because Cornelius didn’t have life. Cornelius had not believed, repented, and obeyed the Gospel in baptism. Cornelius was a good man, but Cornelius wasn’t saved. And if Cornelius had not obeyed the Gospel and died, Cornelius would be condemned alongside all those who failed to carry out God’s will, despite his general goodness and the complimentary speeches made over his tomb.

““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt. 7.21-23)