The story of Cornelius, as told in Acts chapters 10 and 11, is an interesting study.  One wonders why and how he developed such faith.  His story marks a pivotal point in the history of the Church.

Cornelius was a centurion, meaning that he was an officer in the Roman army in command of a century, or 100 men.  Being a Roman, he was thus a gentile, coming from a background of idolatry.  He presumably came from Rome, and was stationed at Caesarea, an important port city on the Mediterranean seacoast, 33 miles north of Joppa.

Roman policy was to be respectful of the religions of the people over whom they ruled.  Cornelius’ lot was to have been placed among the Jews.  Apparently he not only respected them, but came to admire their pious devotion to one God.  Being a humble man he adopted their practices of prayer, of almsgiving, and of fasting.  He gained the Jews’ respect; but more importantly, he gained a personal testimony of God.  He learned much, and taught his family and servants.  He was able to see, though, that Judaism itself, though worshipping the one true God, did not have the full truth.  Some of Judaism’s practices did not ring true with him, so he refrained from joining the sect, though he worshipped their God.

Cornelius was like many confused people today.  He believed in God, but did not know where to find the full truth.  And so, Joseph Smith-like, or James Kerns-like, he prayed.  Such a prayer for light, knowledge, and direction will always be answered.  In Joseph Smith’s case, he was visited by the Father and the Son.  In James Kerns’ case, he heard a voice.  In Cornelius’ case, an angel came, and gave specific directions that he was to “send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

“He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner,” he was told, “whose house is by the sea side; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.”

These directions by the angel were fraught with all sorts of possible problems for both Cornelius and Peter; but to the credit of them both, neither argued nor disputed about what they were asked to do.

The main problem was that Cornelius was a gentile, and therefore, was unclean in the sight of the Jews.  Up to that point, the gospel, or the Church, could only be taken to the Jews, or to someone who had first converted to Judaism.  The gospel was very restrictive, and could only be offered to a limited few.  The situation was very much like conditions in the Church when I was baptized in 1967.  At that time missionaries were not to go to the Blacks.  If the missionaries knocked on a door, and a black person answered, they were to only invite them to come to church, and nothing more.  I’m told that a black person could not be taught until he had requested it three times.

In the Lord’s wisdom, from the earliest times, the gospel has always been withheld from certain people.  This has been a blessing to them.  If the gospel could not be offered to them, they had no responsibilities where it was concerned, and were under no condemnation for not obeying it.  Their final state was, therefore, vastly better than if they had been offered the gospel and had refused it.

It has only been since 1978 that the gospel has been offered in its fullness to all men.  This is a new thing.  All men are now under the responsibility of accepting and living the gospel.  The Church is under the responsibility of taking it to all the world in preparation for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am currently serving a mission in the country of Vanuatu, an island nation inhabited by black people.  It became an independent nation in 1980, two years after President Kimball received the revelation extending the Priesthood and its blessings to all men.  It is an extremely gratifying thing to see these fine men bearing and honoring the Priesthood, and taking it to islands and places where it has never been.  My heart has been touched as I’ve watched these men bear testimony of Jesus Christ, of His prophet Joseph Smith, of the restoration of the gospel, and to see tears flowing freely down their faces as they do so.

White Cornelius occupied the same position that black men occupied before 1978.  The gospel was not to be offered to him.

Cornelius was “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people.”  (Acts 10:2).  He was “a just man, and one that fear(ed) God, and (was) of good report among all the nation of the Jews.”  (Acts 10:22).  He was kindly toward the Jews, gave them help and alms, was respectful of them, and was respected in return.  But he was a gentile.  It was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with him, or to come into his house.  He wasn’t to go into their houses.  It was unlawful for one such as he to set foot in the temple.  To do so was a capital offense, because he was considered unclean.

He could have converted to Judaism, but he wasn’t a believer in the Jews’ system of religion.  He was a believer in God, and therefore, sought for God’s guidance.  This non-member seeker of truth believed that God would direct him.  He began a fast.  At 3:00 in the afternoon of the next day (the ninth hour) he was praying in his house when an angel “in bright clothing” (Acts 10:30) appeared to him.

When the angel Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith, Joseph observed that “Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description.”  (Joseph Smith 1:32).  That was Cornelius’ observation, too.

Their initial reactions were similar as well.  Joseph said, “When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.  He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me…”  (vs. 32-33).

Similarly, the angel came in to Cornelius, called him by name, and Cornelius “was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?  And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side:  he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.  (Acts 10:3-6).

In obedience to the angel’s instructions, Cornelius immediately “called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier” (Acts 10:7), told them what had just happened to him, and sent them to Joppa to seek Peter.  These three men were believers, too, having been taught by Cornelius.  They must have set out for Joppa that very day, even though it was past three o’clock, because at noon the next day (the sixth hour), they were already at the door of Simon the tanner.  Perhaps they went horseback; but if they walked, the 33-mile journey would surely have taken at least 10 hours.

It was noon, and Peter was hungry.  Lunch wasn’t yet ready, so he went upon the housetop to pray.  While praying, he had a vision.  (It is noteworthy that each of the visions we’ve discussed was preceded by prayer).  In the vision he was plainly told that he “should not call any man common or unclean.”  (Acts 10:28).

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing:  for I have sent them.  (10:19-20).

Sure enough, “the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, and called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.”  (10:17-18).

Being in Vanuatu, I can see this episode in my mind’s eye, because that’s the way things are done here as well.  One doesn’t knock on a door.  Instead you’d stand outside and call, “Is Simon, which is surnamed Peter, lodging here?”

Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek:  what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Then called he them in, and lodged them.  (At least one, and probably all three, were gentiles!)  And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  (10:21-23).

The “certain brethren” were six in number, according to Acts 11:12.  So the next morning this group of 10 men set out for Caesarea to retrace the 33-mile journey that Cornelius’ servants had traveled the previous two days.  This journey, too, required two days to complete.  “And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea.  And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.”  (Acts 10:24).

Peter entered Cornelius’ gentile house, preached to the assembled group, the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and the result was the conversion and baptism of Cornelius and all his household.

These were the first baptisms of non-Jewish people.  Thus was the gospel message opened to a major part of the world’s population which, up to that point, had been excluded from that blessing and privilege.

Step by step, in the Lord’s wisdom, has the gospel message been expanded and extended until it is now available to every people and part of the earth except where existing governments still prohibit it.  It is the Lord’s intention that the gospel shall sound in every ear.  It is, therefore, safe to say that the way will soon be opened for the gospel to be preached even in those currently restricted areas where that blessing has not yet come.

Never before in the history of the world has the gospel been available to every people.  Never before in the history of the earth has the Priesthood been made available to every man who will make himself worthy of it.

The baptism of Cornelius turned the key for taking the gospel to the gentiles.  Official Declaration 2, issued by President Spencer W. Kimball in 1978 turned the key for taking the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.  We live in momentous times.  We will be witnesses to fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy that the gospel shall be taken to all nations.  (Matthew 28:19).