John Calvin Commentary Acts 10:2

"a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." — Acts 10:2 (ASV)

He says that Cornelius possessed several key attributes:

1. He was a godly man and one that feared God.
2. Like a good householder, he took care to instruct his household.
3. He is praised afterward for the duties of love, because he was beneficent toward all the people.
4. He prayed to God continually.

The sum is this: Cornelius was a man of singular virtues, in which the integrity of the godly consists, so that his life was framed, in all points, according to the rule which God prescribes to us. And because the Law is contained in two tables, Luke commends, in the first instance, Cornelius’s godliness; secondly, he proceeds to the second part, that he exercised the duties of love toward men. This is very profitable to note, because we have a way to live well described in his person.

Therefore, in ordering one's life well, let faith and religion be the foundation; if this foundation is taken away, all other virtues are nothing but smoke. Luke enumerates the fear of God and prayer as fruits and testimonies of godliness and of the worship of God, and for good reason.

For religion cannot be separated from the fear of God and reverence for Him, nor can anyone be counted godly, except the one who, acknowledging God as his Father and Lord, dedicates himself wholly to Him. And let us understand that voluntary fear is commended here: when those who duly consider what is due to God submit themselves to Him willingly and from their heart.

Moreover, because a great part of the world, with feigned trifles, corrupts and depraves the worship of God, Luke added, for good reason, that Cornelius prayed continually. By this, he signifies that Cornelius demonstrated his godliness not only with external ceremonies, but that he worshipped God spiritually, as he exercised himself in prayer.

We must also note the continuity of his prayer, from which we gather that he did not pray only coldly, according to common custom, but that he was earnestly committed to prayer. This is important because the continual benefits of God exhort us and urge us forward to such prayer, and it is there that the power of faith ought to show itself.

Therefore, let every one of us exhort himself to persevere in prayer, following the example of Cornelius.

With all his house. We must not lightly pass over this commendation that Cornelius had a church in his house. And surely, a true worshipper of God will not, as much as lies in him, allow God to be banished from his house. For how unsuitable it is for him to firmly maintain his own authority, so that his wife, children, and servants obey him, yet not to be concerned that God is disobeyed.

It will sometimes happen that a godly man cannot have even his wife share his convictions; yet he, who rules others, must endeavor by all means to have God obeyed; and there is nothing more fitting than that we should consecrate all that is ours to God, just as we consecrate ourselves.

Therefore, if a godly man has children who are unlike him, or a wife of wicked disposition, or immoral and wicked servants, let him not turn a blind eye, nor allow his house to be polluted through his laziness.

The diligence of Cornelius is not commended as much as the blessing of God, by which it came about that he had his household obedient to him in godliness. And we must not overlook the fact that he instructed his family in the fear of God, making light of the fear of danger that consequently hung over his head. For the Jewish religion was held in great contempt, and no citizen of Rome was permitted to freely adopt any foreign religion, as they called it.

Therefore, although the sincere profession of the gospel is spoken evil of in the world, it is an excessively corrupt timidity if that unjust hatred hinders anyone from offering his family to God as a sacrifice through godly instruction.

Giving alms. There is also the figure of synecdoche in this clause. For as it was said just now, that the worship of God was demonstrated by prayers, so now, when Luke speaks of love, he chooses one specific example, by which he shows that Cornelius was a liberal and bountiful man.

For our godliness ought to appear to men in such a way that we declare our fear of God by practicing generosity and justice. The word alms refers to those external good works with which we help the poor (Isaiah 58:7), since misericordia, or mercy, is, strictly speaking, the inward affection of the heart.

For from this fountain springs true and well-ordered generosity, if the troubles and sorrows of our fellow believers move us to compassion; if, considering the unity that is among us, we foster and cherish them as we would cherish our own flesh, and strive to help them as we would help our own members.

Hypocrites are, indeed, sometimes liberal, or at least generous; but however much they may give away, no relief that they bestow upon the poor will be worthy to be called alms. For we must hold to what Paul says: He which hath no love is nothing, though he give all his goods to the poor (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Let us, therefore, learn from this passage that God then approves our liberality if we relieve the poverty of the poor, being moved with compassion, and if, as it were, with open hearts we bestow what the liberality of God gives.

When Luke says that he gave alms to all the people, it signifies "to the poor everywhere"; for there were many rich men, and to have given to them would have been absurd. But in bestowing so liberally upon the Jews, he declared his agreement with them in religion; in this respect Luke says, shortly after, that he was approved by all the Jews.

And if he was such an excellent example of godliness and holiness, even when he had only a small smattering of faith, although he was hindered in so many ways, ought we not to be ashamed, we who wish to be considered foremost Christian teachers, and yet are so cold in the practices of godliness?

If a small spark of faith prevailed so much in him, what ought the full brightness of knowledge to accomplish in us? But however much we boast of Christ openly, yet how far are we, for the most part, from the example of this holy man, so that there appears scarcely a small shadow of those virtues with which he was filled?

For how lax are we in prayer? How slow and sluggish to perform the duties of mercy? Indeed, many are not only hindered by impurity and covetousness from giving liberally as much of their own as they ought, but they are so inflamed with a desire to acquire, they have become so beastly through cruelty, that they are not afraid to rob the poor of their substance and to devour their very flesh.