Whom did Cornelius gather together to hear Peter?
Cornelius gathered together his kinsmen and near friends—that is, his relatives and likely some nearby neighbors—to hear Peter when Peter arrived in Caesarea. Scripture records that Cornelius waited for them and had called these people together before Peter entered.
Les explains that in Acts chapter 10 Cornelius was in Caesarea and had called together his kinsmen and near friends, meaning his relatives and probably some nearby neighbors. Peter came there with certain brethren from Joppa; later in chapter 11, Les notes there were six believing Jews with Peter, making seven in total, God's perfect number. When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him, which Les says shows that Cornelius was pagan.