Cornelius Account: by “words saved”

The Cornelius account in Acts 10 is one example that salvation is by faith in particular words from God.

In Acts 11.12-14, Peter defends his recent association with Gentiles, that he was sent by God to the house of the Italian Cornelius, who was divinely instructed to send for Peter, who will ‘tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.”

The account is showing that non-Jews could be saved--be right with God--without becoming Jews first. This was something the Jewish Christians had to learn, but it also shows that salvation is by faith alone. 

Peter is shown in a vision, Acts 10.9-17, that God allows contact with other nations: they are not to be considered unclean: Acts 10.24-28.  The other Jewish believers did not know this: Acts 11.1-3.   After hearing Peter’s account, they have a change of mind: Acts 11.15-18.  

When Peter speaks to Cornelius, he indicates that Cornelius knew some things about Jesus:  Acts 10.36-42.

Cornelius was one who feared God.   What all he knew and believed before Peter came is not certain, but the account reveals that salvation is in connection with faith in particular words from God.   The salvation of Cornelius and those with him was evident by the obvious manifestation of the Holy Spirit through them.  This salvation took place when certain words were spoken and believed.  Those words are in Acts 10.43:  "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

We know the words Cornelius and his group heard and believed.  What do these words tell us?  There is Divine authority these words.  There is reference to Jesus, believing in Him, and the promise of remission of sins to be received.

Saving faith obviously involves knowledge, but it is believing the Divine promise of remission of sins through faith in Jesus.  This “remission of sins” is salvation, because the “words” were by which they would be “saved,” Acts 11.2-14, and the manifestation of the Spirit was evidence of this.   This Divine promise is what they needed to know and believe.

Whatever a person may know and believe up to this point is not salvation until they believe this more particular promise of God. 

Believing is being persuaded.   These individuals didn’t need much persuasion because they had already responded positively to God up to that point.  They just needed this further revelation from God through Peter.   Their positive response prior to this event made them receptive and certain to believe.  This prior response may be represented in the words of the Jewish Christians who speak of the Gentiles  as being granted by God ”repentance to Life.” Acts 11.18  The repentance was a resolved to get right with God, which isn’t complete until one believes the words by which they are saved, 11.14.