The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

1 AND there was a certain man of Caesarea named Cornelius, a captain of the band which was called the Italian band: 2 A devout man and one that feared God with his whole household, and one which gave alms to all the people, and which prayed to God continually. 3 He saw plainly in a vision about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius, 4 And beholding and being afraid, he said: What is it Lord? Then he said to him, Thy prayers and thy alms are come up into remembrance before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch Simon, which is called Peter: 6 He lodgeth with Simon a Tanner, whose house lieth to the Sea, he shall tell thee what thou must do.

1 AND there was a certaine man of Cesarea named Cornelius, a captaine of the band which was called the Italian band: 2 A deuout man and one that feared God with his whole houshold, and one which gaue almes to all the people, and which prayed to God continually. 3 He saw plainly in a vision about the ninth houre of the day, an angel of God comming in vnto him, and saying to him, Cornelius, 4 And beholding and being afraid, he said: What is it Lorde? Then he saide to him, Thy prayers and thy almes are come vp into remembrance before God. 5 And now send men to Ioppa, and fet Simon, which is called Peter: 6 He lodgeth with Simon a Tanner, whose house lyeth to the Sea, he shal tel thee what thou must doe.

1 Luke passeth over now unto a worthy history: to wit, that God vouchsafed to advance a stranger, and one uncircumcised unto singular honour above all the Jews: because he doth both send his angel unto him, and for his sake bringeth Peter to Caesarea, that he may instruct him in the Gospel. But first of all Luke showeth what manner person this Cornelius was, for whose cause an angel descended from heaven, and God spake to Peter in a vision. He was a captain of the Italian band. A band did consist upon a thousand footmen, & he which was chief captain, was called a Tribune or Marshal. Again, every hundred had a captain. A legion had for the most part five bands. That band was called the Italian band, because the Romans did choose soldiers oftentimes from amongst those which dwelt in the provinces, but they had the strength of the army out of Italy. Therefore Cornelius was an Italian borne. But he lived at Caesarea with his hundred, to guard the city. For the Romans were wont so to distribute their places of abode: that every city of renown might have a garrison to stay sudden uproars. A rare example that a soldier was so devout toward God, so upright and courteous toward men. For at that time the Italians, when as they were carried into the provinces to live in warfare, ran to and fro like hungry wolves to get some pray: they had for the most part no more religion than beasts: they had as great care of innocency as cutthroats. For which cause the virtues of Cornelius deserve the greater commendation, in that leading a soldiers life which was at that time most corrupt: he served God holily, and lived amongest men without doing any hurt or injury. And this is no small amplification of his praise, in that casting away superstition wherein he was borne and brought up, he embraced the pure worship of God. For we know what account the Italians made of themselves, and how proudly they despised others. And the Jews were at that time in such contempt, that for their sakes pure religion was counted infamous, & almost execrable. Seeing that none of these things could hinder Cornelius, but that forsaking his Idols, he did embrace the true worship of the true God alone: it must needs be that he was endued with rare and singular sincerity.