Acts 10: 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Cornelius, whose name is Latin (Greek/Roman), was a centurion of a band called the Italian, which was stationed in Caesarea. He believed in the Lord and had a good report with the multitude of Jews that lived there. He had an encounter with the Lord such that the Angel of the Lord had appeared unto him, asking him to call on Peter. We see later that Peter became a vessel of confirmation for Cornelius, that the Lord is not just God of the Jews but all the world. Even Peter, who was the vessel of this message, was also a recipient of the same message.
What we see here is that Cornelius is called a just man. The reason of him being a just/righteous man is also given as he feared God. That does not mean he was fully righteous, but it meant that he followed righteousness, as to what he knew and understood, he followed.
Bible says fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom. Wisdom, we know, brings understanding. Thus fear of God gets us to know God more, and that helps us grow in Him. As we grow in Him, we understand and grow in love, and the fear is gradually replaced with love.
People who think they can become righteous without fear of God are foolish. They do not realise what they call love is not actually love. They mistake emotions, compassion, attraction, obsession/fixation, dependency, etc. as love. They will be surprised to know what love is, as I was after years of deep Bible study.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You alone, Lord, are Holy, Righteous and Truth. Lord, we pray that we realise, as Your Spirit guides us in the Truth, we become eligible for Righteousness. It is fear of God that makes us receive wisdom which brings understanding. Lo, we pray that fear of You remains in us until true love replaces it…
This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
Acts 10:1, 26-28
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.
Dated 26 July 2026
Bro Rollwyn