In the context of the Bible, the term "heathen" traditionally refers to those who are not part of the covenant community of Israel, often synonymous with Gentiles or non-Jews. The New Testament narrative of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, provides a profound example of divine revelation given to a heathen, illustrating the unfolding of God's plan to extend salvation beyond the Jewish people.

Cornelius: A God-Fearing Gentile

Cornelius is introduced in Acts 10 as a centurion of the Italian Regiment stationed in Caesarea. Despite being a Gentile, Cornelius is described as "a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2). His piety and reverence for the God of Israel set him apart from typical Roman practices, indicating a heart open to divine truth.

The Vision of Cornelius

The narrative of Cornelius marks a pivotal moment in the early Church's history. One afternoon, Cornelius receives a vision in which an angel of God appears to him, saying, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God" (Acts 10:4). The angel instructs him to send men to Joppa to summon Simon Peter, who is staying with Simon the tanner by the sea.

This divine revelation to Cornelius underscores the biblical principle that God is not limited by ethnic or cultural boundaries. Cornelius's vision signifies God's acknowledgment of his faith and devotion, despite his status as a Gentile.

Peter's Vision and the Breaking of Barriers

Simultaneously, God prepares Peter to embrace this new direction for the Church. While praying on the rooftop, Peter falls into a trance and sees a vision of a sheet descending from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals. A voice tells him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" (Acts 10:13). Peter resists, citing Jewish dietary laws, but the voice responds, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15). This vision occurs three times, emphasizing its significance.

Peter's vision is a divine revelation that challenges Jewish customs and prejudices, preparing him to accept Gentiles into the faith community. It signifies the breaking down of the wall between Jews and Gentiles, a theme echoed in Paul's writings: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

The Meeting of Peter and Cornelius

Obedient to the vision, Peter travels to Caesarea, where he meets Cornelius. Upon arrival, Peter acknowledges the divine orchestration of their meeting, saying, "God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean" (Acts 10:28). Cornelius recounts his vision, and Peter preaches the gospel, declaring, "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34-35).

As Peter speaks, the Holy Spirit falls upon all who hear the message, and the Jewish believers accompanying Peter are astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit is poured out even on the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-45). This event marks the first recorded instance of Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, affirming their inclusion in the New Covenant.

Significance in the Early Church

The divine revelations given to Cornelius and Peter are foundational in the early Church's mission to the Gentiles. This account demonstrates God's sovereign initiative in expanding His covenant to include all nations, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). Cornelius's account is a testament to the universality of the gospel and the breaking down of barriers that once separated humanity from the fullness of God's grace.Acts 10:1-7
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
Nave's Topical Index

The Conversion of Cornelius.
... The expectation of immediate revelations to awaken the careless ... were other means,
by which the divine favour might ... of Cornelius, who was not a heathen, left to ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiii the conversion of.htm

The Society of Friends, or Quakers.
... before his incarnation, scattered the divine seed of ... worship, and their indifference
to heathen missions ... Holy Scriptures."They contain the revelations of the ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 107 the society of.htm

Corinth
... pagan religion could claim, while the heathen Lords were ... magic to secure immortality
or to become divine. ... adherents of Stephen, and from revelations to Paul ...
/.../lake/landmarks in the history of early christianity/iv corinth.htm

New Testament History and Prophecy.
... Revelations, sketching the history of Israel and of heathenism, are put ... "This wild
beast of Heathen Rome has ... apotheosis, and been spoken of as Divine after his ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter x new testament history.htm

Acts XIII
... Paphos, claiming to bring additional revelations from the ... the proconsul to reject
the heathen oracles in ... pretensions stood confessed, and the divine mission of ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

Our First Proposition Was, that There is Satisfactory Evidence ...
... belongs to the ordinary evidence of Heathen or Popish ... it was not the nature of a
Divine interposition, or ... Thus the visions and revelations which Saint Paul ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter i our first proposition.htm

Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
... 376]545; of Christ, [377]304; on heathen festal days ... 412]498; gift of God, [413]545;
divine grace needed to ... Mouth, of God, His revelations, [777]562; what comes ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/aron brother of moses 486.htm

[Endnotes]
... doctrine was imparted to the initiated in the heathen mysteries ... "Divine Legation
of Moses," i.224 ... been sanctioned by retaining the chapter of Revelations as the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm

The Miracle of Pentecost and the Birthday of the Christian
... growth in knowledge, or special revelations on particular ... the object, namely, to
attest the divine mission of ... and conversion at home and in heathen lands, is ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 24 the miracle of.htm

What is a heathen? | GotQuestions.org

Who was William Carey? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to use vain repetitions in prayer? | GotQuestions.org

Heathen: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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