How the Other Half Lives

At the time when Luke wrote Acts, Roman legions had established imperial rule in Judea and Galilee, having put down repeated Jewish rebellions. The Romans then set about imposing their values on the provinces through a program of city building, creating an urban culture modeled on Rome and reflecting the glory of the empire through their systems of planning and architecture. The incident recorded in this passage takes place in Caesarea, a city built by Herod the Great in Roman style to honor the emperor Augustus Caesar.

Now comes a surprise. We are introduced to a Roman centurion, an agent of the imperial system, someone who played a significant role in establishing and maintaining Roman rule. Peter, still lodging in nearby Joppa, was not used to close social contact with such a person; indeed, on a previous encounter with military men he had taken up the sword in an act of violent resistance (John 18:10)!  The soldier we meet in this text, Cornelius, would have been classified by Peter as an unclean pagan, existing in the darkness and ignorance of the Gentiles, who knew nothing of truth and righteousness.

How extraordinary, then, is Luke’s description of this man’s fear of God and his holy life. Positive phrases are piled up one after the other: he and his family are devout; he gives generously to the poor, and is a man of frequent prayer (2). When his profound spiritual hunger and longing brings a response from heaven in the shape of an instruction to invite Peter to his home, he sends representatives (including another “devout” soldier) to request the apostle to visit him (7,8). Is there anywhere in Scripture that is a clearer warning of the danger of stereotyping people? True piety and deep spiritual hunger may exist where we least expect them.

Think of a group of people who are stereotyped with regard to their values, religion or way of life. Ask to be open to discover the truth concerning them.