Acts 10:2

2 a religious man, and dreading the Lord, with all his household; doing many alms to the people, and praying the Lord evermore.

Acts 10:2 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 10:2

A devout man
A truly religious person, who had forsaken the Roman idolatry and superstition, in which he was brought up:

and one that feared God:
the one only living and true God, the God of Israel; he had the fear of God wrought in his heart, which is a part of the covenant of grace, a blessing of it, and the beginning of wisdom; he was truly a gracious man, a converted person, and who from an internal principle worshipped God externally:

with all his house;
he brought up his family in a religious way, as every good man should; and which was very remarkable in a Gentile, a soldier, and an officer:

which gave much alms to the people;
to the Jews that dwelt at Caesarea, and therefore was of good report among them, and much beloved by them, ( Acts 10:22 ) he had regard to both tables of the law, both to the worship of God, and the love of the neighbour: and prayed to God always; every day, at the usual times of prayer; prayed privately in his closet, and with his family, as well as attended public service of this kind.

Acts 10:2 In-Context

1 A man was in Caesarea [Forsooth some man was in Caesarea], Cornelius by name, a centurion of the company of knights, that is said of Italy;

2 a religious man, and dreading the Lord, with all his household; doing many alms to the people, and praying the Lord evermore.

3 This saw in a vision openly, as in the ninth hour of the day [or noon], an angel of God entering in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius.

4 And he beheld him, and was adread, and said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine almsdeeds have ascended up into mind, in the sight of the Lord.

5 And now send thou men into Joppa [And now send men into Joppa], and call one Simon, that is named Peter.