Almighty God, our Sovereign Lord, who didst call Cornelius the Centurion to be the
first baptized Christian amongst the Gentiles; send your Spirit to strengthen us
so that we might follow his example of faith, charity, piety, and devout service; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[On this day the Order of Centurions recognizes its veterans as Honorary Tribunes]
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
1 Kings viii, Acts x. Psalm XL, John xiv. 15.
Homily
1 Kings viii. 41
[From Solomon's Dedication Prayer at the 1st
Temple]
CONCERNING a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far
country for thy name's sake;
(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched
out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;
Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger
calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as
do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is
called by thy name.
Acts X
THERE was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 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 saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 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. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 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 showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
John xiv. 15
IF YE love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him...neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one.
Other Homilies on Corneilus at Easter Monday
Augustine
It was
meet that God should first show that He worketh by the ministry of men; but afterwards
by Himself,
lest men should think, as Simon thought, that it was man’s gift, and not God’s. Though
the disciples
themselves knew this well already. For there were one hundred and twenty men collected
together,
when without the imposition of any hand the Holy Ghost came upon them. For who had
laid hands
on them at that time? And yet He came, and filled them first...
Again, another more
wonderful example. Peter came to Cornelius the centurion, to a
Gentile man, uncircumcised: he began to preach Christ Jesus both to him, and to those
who were
with him. “While Peter was yet speaking,” I do not say, when as yet he had not laid on
his hands,
but when he had not even yet baptized them, and when they who were with Peter were in
doubt
whether the uncircumcised ought to be baptized (for there had arisen an offence
between the Jews
who believed, and those who had been brought to the faith from among the Gentiles,
between the
Jews, that is, and the Christians who were baptized though uncircumcised), that God
might take
away this question, “while Peter was speaking, the Holy Ghost came,” filled Cornelius,
filled them
who were with him. And by this very attestation of so great a thing, as it were a loud
voice came
to Peter, “Why dost thou doubt of water? Already I am here.”
[CCEL.org NPNF (V1-06) Philip Schaff Augustine Sermon XLIX. [XCIX. Ben.] On the words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37,]