“A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.—Cornelius is 'devout' (eusebes, 'pious toward God') and a 'God-fearer' (phoboumenos ton theon, sebomenos ton theon), a technical term for Gentiles attracted to Judaism without full conversion. His almsgiving (dikaiosynē, often 'righteousness' or 'alms' in this context) and prayer exemplify the Gentile righteous; yet all his piety cannot constitute salvation without Christ. He stands at the threshold, prepared by grace.
Church Fathers on Acts 10:2
numerous. A devout man, he says, and one that feared God with all his house Acts 10:2: that you may not imagine that it is because of his high station that these things are done.— When Paul was to be brought over, there is no angel, but the Lord Himself: and He does not send him to some great one, but to a very ordinary person: but here, on the contrary, He brings the chief Apostle (to these Gentiles), not sends them to him: herein condescending to their weakness, and knowing…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!