This verse introduces a key figure in the Book of Acts: Cornelius. Let's break down what it tells us:
"Now there was a certain man in Caesarea...": This establishes the location of the story as Caesarea. Caesarea was a major Roman city in Judea, the seat of the Roman governor. This is important because it highlights the interaction between Jewish and Roman culture.
"...Cornelius by name...": This simply identifies the man we're about to learn about.
"...a centurion...": This is crucial information. A centurion was a Roman officer in charge of a century (around 80-100 soldiers). This means Cornelius was a person of authority, a respected member of the Roman military.
"...of what was called the Italian Regiment...": This tells us which specific Roman military unit Cornelius belonged to. The "Italian Regiment" (or "Italian Cohort" in some translations) was a Roman military unit composed of soldiers primarily from Italy itself. This might imply that Cornelius was not a native of the region, but rather an Italian stationed there.
In Summary:
The verse establishes that Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, belonging to a unit of soldiers from Italy. This is important because:
It highlights the setting: The story takes place in a Roman context, emphasizing the early church's outreach to Gentiles (non-Jews).
It indicates Cornelius' status: He was a person of authority and respect within the Roman military, not a common person.
It sets the stage for his role: As a Roman centurion, a Gentile, and a man respected in the community, Cornelius is a pivotal figure in the narrative of Acts, marking an important step in the expansion of the Gospel to non-Jewish people.
This verse introduces a key figure in the Book of Acts: Cornelius. Let's break down what it tells us:
"Now there was a certain man in Caesarea...": This establishes the location of the story as Caesarea. Caesarea was a major Roman city in Judea, the seat of the Roman governor. This is important because it highlights the interaction between Jewish and Roman culture.
"...Cornelius by name...": This simply identifies the man we're about to learn about.
"...a centurion...": This is crucial information. A centurion was a Roman officer in charge of a century (around 80-100 soldiers). This means Cornelius was a person of authority, a respected member of the Roman military.
"...of what was called the Italian Regiment...": This tells us which specific Roman military unit Cornelius belonged to. The "Italian Regiment" (or "Italian Cohort" in some translations) was a Roman military unit composed of soldiers primarily from Italy itself. This might imply that Cornelius was not a native of the region, but rather an Italian stationed there.
In Summary:
The verse establishes that Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, belonging to a unit of soldiers from Italy. This is important because:
It highlights the setting: The story takes place in a Roman context, emphasizing the early church's outreach to Gentiles (non-Jews).
It indicates Cornelius' status: He was a person of authority and respect within the Roman military, not a common person.
It sets the stage for his role: As a Roman centurion, a Gentile, and a man respected in the community, Cornelius is a pivotal figure in the narrative of Acts, marking an important step in the expansion of the Gospel to non-Jewish people.