The lesson is that a person can be devout, prayerful, generous, and sincere — yet still be lost without hearing and believing the gospel.
Cornelius was a good man who gave alms and prayed to God, yet he fell down to worship Peter — evidence to Les Feldick that he was still far from the truth. He needed Peter to bring him the word of the gospel, and only when he heard it and believed was he saved. The same is true today: religious activity and sincerity cannot save; the message of Christ's finished cross work is the only way.
Acts 10:25-26 — Cornelius's worship of Peter reveals that his devoutness had not given him true knowledge of God — the very point behind the lesson.
Acts 15:7 — Peter's statement that the Gentiles heard the word of the gospel and believed shows that salvation came by the message, not by Cornelius's religious works.
Acts 10 introduces Cornelius as a Roman centurion: 'There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band.' He is described as 'a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway' (Acts 10:2). Even so, when Peter arrived, 'Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man' (Acts 10:25-26). His devoutness did not give him a true knowledge of God. At the Jerusalem council, Peter explained what the event had really accomplished: 'Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe' (Acts 15:7). What Scripture emphasizes is not Cornelius's prayers or alms, but that the Gentiles heard the word of the gospel and believed.
Les Feldick points out that Cornelius was a Roman officer who had command of a hundred troops — a Gentile suddenly being touched by the sovereign grace of God (Clip 0). He stresses that God always has the bigger picture: the salvation of that household was important, but God was also preparing Peter for the Jerusalem council twelve years later, where Peter would come to Paul's defense and testify that the Gentiles had heard the word of the gospel and believed (Clips 0, 1). Les also notes the placement of the account — Acts 10 follows Acts 9, where the chief of sinners, Saul, was saved, so that Paul's salvation comes first as the pattern, and then the salvation of a house full of Gentiles follows (Clip 3). Even Peter had to be compelled to go, and as he preached Jesus of Nazareth he had no idea God was now moving out to the Gentile world (Clip 5). Most importantly, Les uses Cornelius's attempt to worship Peter to show how far from the truth this devout man was: 'earlier it says he was a good man, he gave alms, and he prayed to God, but yet he was so ignorant of the true God that he fell down and tried to worship a mere human being' (Clip 2). The same lesson applies today. Les warns that going to church does not gain points for salvation, and that there are many a soul in hell tonight who never missed filling their pew on Sunday morning but thought their good works would save them (Clip 4). Anyone who depends on something they do — circumcision, church membership, baptism, anything in the flesh — as part of their salvation cancels the work of the cross (Clip 6). Les further compares unsaved church members to the mixed multitude that followed Israel out of Egypt — people hanging on to the church for the social environment and the music, but who have never truly experienced salvation (Clip 7).
Cornelius was a good man, he gave alms, and he prayed to God — yet when he met Peter, he fell down and worshipped him (Acts 10:25). Les Feldick says this shows how far from the truth he was: he was so ignorant of the true God that he tried to worship a mere human being (Clip 2). Scripture itself records no salvation for Cornelius until Peter preached the gospel and he believed (Acts 15:7).
Les Feldick explains that God always has the big picture. Saving Cornelius's household was important, but God was also preparing Peter for an event twelve years down the road at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15, where Peter would testify that the Gentiles had heard the word of the gospel and believed (Clips 0, 1). The placement of the account matters too: Acts 10 follows Acts 9, where the chief of sinners, Saul, was saved — so the pattern is established first, and then a house full of Gentiles is saved (Clip 3). Even Peter, as he preached Jesus of Nazareth, had no idea that God was now going out to the Gentile world (Clip 5).
The lesson is that being upright, serious about religion, faithful in prayer, and willing to give makes a person look like Cornelius — but those things do not bring salvation. Les warns that church attendance does not gain points for salvation, and that many a soul in hell tonight never missed filling their pew on Sunday morning, trusting in their own good works (Clip 4). He compares unsaved church members to the mixed multitude of the Exodus — hangers-on who enjoy the social side of church but have never experienced the new birth (Clip 7). So the warning stands: if anyone is doing something in the flesh to fulfill salvation, they cancel the work of the cross; the only way into God's heaven is what Christ accomplished for us (Clip 6).
A Gentile Centurion Touched by Grace
Les establishes that Cornelius was a Roman officer commanding a hundred troops — a Gentile — and that God's purpose included preparing Peter for an event twelve years later at the Jerusalem council.
God's Bigger Purpose Behind Cornelius's Household
Les confirms that God did indeed want the house of Cornelius saved, but the larger purpose was to prepare Peter to testify at Acts 15 that the Gentiles had heard the word of the gospel and believed.
Cornelius's Ignorance of the True God
Les uses Cornelius falling down to worship Peter as proof that a good, alms-giving, prayerful man could still be far from the truth — so far that he did not know the true God.
The Order of Acts 9 and Acts 10
Les explains that the chief of sinners, Saul, was saved in Acts 9, and then Acts 10 records the salvation of a house full of Gentiles — the order is essential to the pattern.
Church Attendance Does Not Gain Points for Salvation
Les applies Cornelius's lesson to today: going to church does not earn salvation, and many in hell never missed a Sunday morning pew because they trusted their own good works.
Peter Sent Against His Own Desires
Les shows that God forced Peter to go to a Gentile's house against his Jewish instincts, and even while preaching Peter did not realize God was now turning to the whole Gentile world.
Works Added to Salvation Cancel the Cross
Les warns that if anyone adds any human work — circumcision, church membership, baptism — to their salvation, they cancel the work of the cross and remain lost; salvation rests wholly on what Christ finished.
Church Members Who Are Never Saved
Les compares unsaved church members to the mixed multitude of the Exodus — people who enjoy the social side of church but have never been born again.
Acts 10:1: There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
This identifies Cornelius as a Roman centurion — a Gentile, which is why this event marked a turning point in God's dealings with the nations.
Acts 10:2: A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
This is Scripture's own description of Cornelius's religious devotion — the very qualities that proved insufficient to save him.
Acts 10:25-26: And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Cornelius's attempt to worship Peter reveals his ignorance of the true God despite his devoutness.
Acts 15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Peter's summary of the Cornelius account shows that salvation came by hearing the gospel and believing it — not by religious works.
No. Although Cornelius was devout, feared God, gave alms, and prayed always, Les Feldick notes he fell down to worship Peter, a mere man — showing he was still far from the truth. He needed to hear the word of the gospel and believe, which is exactly what Peter explained at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:7).
The main lesson is that religious sincerity, prayer, generosity, and morality do not equal salvation. A person can have all of these and still be lost. Salvation comes only through hearing and believing the gospel of Christ's finished work — not through anything done in the flesh.
No. Les Feldick is clear that going to church does not gain you points for salvation. He says there are many a soul in hell tonight who never missed their pew on Sunday morning, yet they trusted their own good works and never understood their need for the gospel.
Les Feldick says God's purpose was twofold: certainly to save Cornelius and his household, but also to prepare Peter for the Jerusalem council in Acts 15, where Peter would come to Paul's defense. God forced Peter to go against his own Jewish desires, and even while preaching, Peter did not realize God was now turning to the Gentile world.
Watch the Teaching: Was Cornelius Really Saved? Acts 10 Explained Verse by Verse