John Calvin Commentary Acts 10:24

"And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends." — Acts 10:24 (ASV)

The day following he went forth. It would seem that they arrived a little before night because they were not yet in the city at noon, and the vision which was shown three times required considerable time. Therefore, after resting all night, they prepared to return. Again, it was a point of courtesy that some of the faithful accompanied Peter, who were sent, one might think, by the whole church, to bring him as far as Caesarea. These men journeyed with Peter for goodwill and honor’s sake, but the Lord brought them so that they might be witnesses of His grace. Thus, they were bountifully rewarded for their thankfulness when, for the confirmation of their faith, they saw the kingdom of Christ spread abroad even to the Gentiles.

Cornelius waited for them. Luke does not only commend the godly affection of Cornelius in this, that he waited earnestly for Peter’s coming, but also because he wanted his friends and relatives to be companions with him in the faith. This was not without great danger: to call together a group of people so that they might embrace a new kind of religion.

And he did not lack reasons, under the pretext of which he might have excused himself, for he was not commanded to call others to accompany him. Instead, they were passed over, and he himself was chosen to be a partaker of such great goodness. But he considered with himself how much he was indebted both to the glory of God and also to the salvation of his brothers.

He knew that it was an unjust thing, and a point of discourtesy, to provide for himself alone and not to regard others. He considered it a point of shameful carelessness to hide the treasure of the gospel under the ground. Therefore, he did what the Lord requires of all His own through Isaiah and Micah: that everyone should exhort his brother (taking him, as it were, by the hand) to the faith.

Therefore, Cornelius has taught us by his example that when God reveals Himself to us, we must not choke the light of His knowledge with sloth or fear. Instead, we must endeavor for our faith to shine before others, to give light and to show them the way.

For the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven is not such that even the least portion can be taken from us if many are made partakers of it; rather, if others are made co-heirs with us, it will increase our glory. Furthermore, we must note how far he is from vainglory, for he calls them to be his fellow learners, being himself ready to learn.

This is the true study of godliness: when, together with zeal, there appears such humility that we are not ashamed to depend upon the mouth of God. For many are spurred on by ambition to employ themselves in teaching the ignorant, and foolish babbling reveals their folly when they earnestly pour out words and want no one to be heard but themselves.

But this alone ought to be the aim of all people: to bring themselves and the whole world under God, so that when people are subdued to true humility, He alone may have the preeminence.

Let not him who excels in the faculty and grace of teaching refuse to teach his brothers, provided he is free from boasting and a proud desire to excel. Let him to whom it was not granted to be a teacher keep himself within his bounds. Let neither of them desire to be master, as James teaches them; but let one so edify another that neither the learned nor the unlearned are ashamed to be brought into order.

Nevertheless, the question is raised: what relatives could he have in Judea, since he was a foreigner and had come there only because of the war, which continued but for a short time? While I affirm nothing with certainty, I consider it most probable that he had some in his garrison who were his kinsmen; for neighbors and acquaintances were accustomed to serve under one captain. And we need not doubt that Cornelius’s kinsmen were desirous to be under him, since he was a centurion. He calls familiar friends αναγκαιους, as the Latins call them Necessarii, who are very close.