Faithful Friday: Cornelius the Centurion

By T.K. Wilson

What we know for sure about Cornelius the Centurion is found in Acts chapter 10. Cornelius, a righteous Roman soldier, who feared the God of the Jews and took care of the poor, was visited by an angel, who told him to send for a man called Simon Peter. Meanwhile, the Apostle Peter, living in Joppa (now a suburb of Tel Aviv), was sent a vision by God. In this vision, Peter saw many animals, ritually clean and unclean alike, and warned to no longer call anything or anyone unclean.

When Cornelius’s messengers arrived, Peter immediately went with them. When they arrived in the Centurion’s home, he preached the gospel to all who were there. All in the house believed his word, received the Spirit, and were baptized.

Tradition gives us more information about Cornelius. According to some traditions, he became Bishop of Caesarea, others say he was Bishop of Skepsis in Mysia (modern Anatolia in Turkey). How this happened is recorded in further tradition that Cornelius retired from the army and accompanied Peter and Timothy to Ephesus. Near Ephesus was the smaller city called Skepsis, which is where Cornelius made his way.

While there, the former soldier was interrogated by the pagan Prince Demetrius of that city. He tried to force Cornelius to sacrifice to Zeus, but the temple collapsed, trapping the prince’s wife and son in the rubble. When the prince heard his family was still alive, he fetched Cornelius out of prison and begged him to help his wife and child. After the pair were freed from the rubble, the prince, his family, his servants, even the priest of Zeus converted and were baptized on the spot. Upon hearing the news, Peter installed Cornelius as bishop, where he died at a venerable age.

Let us behave as good soldiers of the Cross, as St. Cornelius did.

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