Why was Peter trepidatious when he came to Cornelius?
Peter was trepidatious because Israel understood itself as a people separated from Gentiles, a separation God had instructed and intended. The miraculous timing between Cornelius and Peter, however, showed him that God is no respecter of persons and accepts in every nation those who fear Him and work righteousness.
Les explains that when Peter comes to Cornelius, he comes with trepidations, and this is understandable because of the miraculous working and timing between Cornelius and himself. The Jewish audience earlier was so separated that they cried, “Away with such a fellow from the earth,” because he dared to mention Gentiles; that separation was what God had instructed and intended for Israel as a nation. Yet Peter says, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,” and in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. The word still came to Israel first, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Peter then recounts Jesus of Nazareth, anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, doing good, healing all oppressed of the devil, with witnesses in the land of the Jews and Jerusalem. He leaves out Gentile mention because Jesus stayed within Palestine and Israel to fulfill the Abrahamic promises and covenant.