Event New Testament
Cornelius and the first Gentile believers
Also known as Peter's vision at Joppa
A Roman centurion at Caesarea named Cornelius was told in a vision to send for Peter. Peter, prepared by his own vision at Joppa, went and preached, and the Holy Spirit fell on the whole Gentile household while he spoke. They were baptized, and the Jerusalem church concluded that God had granted repentance to the Gentiles as well.
Why it matters. The door of the Gospel opens to the nations by God's initiative, and the church recognizes it.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: high
Acts narrates the event in chapter 10 and Peter's retelling to the Jerusalem church in chapter 11 as one unit.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The conversion of Paul precedes Cornelius and the first Gentile believers
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceActs narrates these events in this order.
Evidence:Cornelius and the first Gentile believers precedes The church at Antioch
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceActs narrates these events in this order.
Evidence:Cornelius participates in Cornelius and the first Gentile believers
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe text names Cornelius in this event at the cited verses.
Evidence:Peter participates in Cornelius and the first Gentile believers
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe text names Peter in this event at the cited verses.
Evidence:Cornelius and the first Gentile believers occurs at Caesarea
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceCornelius lives at Caesarea, where Peter comes to him.
Evidence:Cornelius and the first Gentile believers develops the theme The Holy Spirit
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe Spirit falls on the Gentiles as at Pentecost.
Evidence: