Topical Bible: Poor: Kindness to Cornelius

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In the biblical narrative, the theme of kindness to the poor is a recurring motif that underscores the moral and spiritual obligations of believers. One notable example of this is found in the account of Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army, whose account is detailed in the Book of Acts. Cornelius is depicted as a devout man who feared God, gave generously to those in need, and prayed continually to God (Acts 10:2).

Cornelius's acts of charity and his reverence for God are significant in the context of the early Christian church. His kindness to the poor is not merely a reflection of personal piety but also serves as a catalyst for a pivotal moment in the spread of the Gospel. The angelic visitation to Cornelius, as recorded in Acts 10:3-4, highlights the divine acknowledgment of his prayers and alms: "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God" (Acts 10:4). This divine recognition underscores the importance of charitable acts as a form of worship and obedience to God.

Cornelius's account is further intertwined with the apostle Peter, who receives a vision that challenges prevailing Jewish customs and prejudices. In Acts 10:34-35, Peter declares, "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right" . This revelation is pivotal, as it marks the opening of the Christian faith to Gentiles, emphasizing that righteousness and kindness transcend ethnic and cultural boundaries.

The narrative of Cornelius serves as a profound example of how kindness to the poor is integral to the Christian faith. It illustrates that acts of charity are not only pleasing to God but also instrumental in the unfolding of His divine plan. Cornelius's generosity and fear of God exemplify the virtues that believers are called to embody, reflecting the heart of the Gospel message that extends grace and mercy to all, regardless of social or economic status.

In the broader biblical context, the call to care for the poor is a consistent theme. Scriptures such as Proverbs 19:17, "Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender" , and James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" , reinforce the mandate for believers to engage in acts of compassion and justice.

Cornelius's example serves as a reminder of the transformative power of kindness and the role it plays in the life of faith. His account encourages believers to emulate his generosity and to recognize the profound impact that caring for the poor can have in advancing God's kingdom on earth.

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Acts 10:2,4
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
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Library

The Epistles of Cyprian
... the Clergy, Concerning the Care of the Poor and Strangers ... the Clergy, Bidding Them
Show Every Kindness to the ... To Cornelius, on His Refusal to Receive Novatian's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/

A Seeker for Truth
... Jesus, and her life was filled with acts of kindness. ... sympathy, and she freely
ministered to the poor and the ... God to take the gospel to Cornelius, in Caesarea. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 14 a seeker for.htm

Letter Lxxix. To Salvina.
... was a certain man in C??sarea called Cornelius, a centurion ... all stations but especially
for the poor, the charge ... wrong; still it is only a kindness to admonish ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxix to salvina.htm

Hebrews vi. 13-16
... [7.] Such were the offerings of Cornelius. ... Is there no one really poor? ... It is the
season of kindness, not of strict enquiry; of mercy, not of account. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xi hebrews vi 13-16.htm

Christ's Humiliation in his Incarnation
... a patre praefinitum; so Ambrose, Luther, Cornelius a Lapide ... came to man, resolving
to conquer obstinacy with kindness. ... the pearl, and comes to poor sinful man ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/6 christs humiliation in his.htm

1 Cor. Iii. 18, 19
... to walk?" (Acts 3:12.) Unto [57] Cornelius also he ... account do I chiefly admire the
loving-kindness of God ... He can make thee poor, though unwilling, but He will ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily x 1 cor iii.htm

The Spiritual Gifts.
... meet with it afterwards in the house of Cornelius and in ... or for the regular
ecclesiastical care of the poor and the ... 626] Love is natural kindness and affection ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 45 the spiritual gifts.htm

The Church of Rome in the Third Century.
... bishop in opposition to Cornelius; and became the ... three or four comparatively poor
congregations dispirited by ... these strangers by various offices of kindness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter v the church of.htm

Letter Lxxi. To Lucinius.
... faith of my Lucinius was foreshadowed in Cornelius, "centurion of ... 5. As for my poor
works which from no merits ... theirs but simply from your own kindness you say ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxi to lucinius.htm

The Promises of the Law and the Gospel Reconciled.
... own worth, he, by his fatherly kindness and indulgence ... Cornelius being endued with
true wisdom, in other words ... for instance, "If the man be poor," "thou shalt ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 17 the promises of.htm