Act 10:2, 11:14, 16:15, 31, 1Ti 3:4 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 2. A devout man. Pious; or one who maintained the worship of God. . Comp. . And one that feared God . This is often a designation of piety. . It has been supposed by many that the expressions here used denote that Cornelius was Jew, or was instructed in the Jewish religion, and was a proselyte. But this by no means follows. It is probable that there might have been among the Gentiles a few at least who were fearers of God, and who maintained his worship according to the light which they had. So there may be now persons found in pagan lands, who, in some unknown way, have been taught the evils of idolatry; the necessity of a purer religion; and who may be prepared to receive the gospel. The Sandwich Islands were very much in this state when the American missionaries first visited them. They had thrown away their idols, and seemed to be waiting for the message of mercy and the word of eternal life, as Cornelius was. A few other instances have been found by missionaries in heathen lands, who have thus been prepared by a train of providential events, or by the teaching of the Spirit, for the gospel of Christ. With all his house . With all his family. It is evident here that Cornelius instructed his family, and exerted his influence to train them in the fear of God. True piety will always lead a man to seek the salvation of his family. Much alms . Large and liberal charity. This is always an effect of piety. See . Prayed to God alway . Constantly; meaning that he was in the regular habit of praying to God. Comp. . As no particular kind of prayer is mentioned except secret prayer, we are not authorized to affirm that he offered prayer in any other manner. It may be observed, however, that he who prays in secret will usually pray in his family; and as the family of Cornelius is mentioned as being also under the influence of religion, it is perhaps not a forced inference that he observed family worship. (+) "devout" "pious" (f) "man" (g) "feared"

Acts 10:2

Verse 2. A devout man. Pious; or one who maintained the worship of God. Lk 2:25. Comp. Acts 2:5, 8:2.

And one that feared God. This is often a designation of piety. Acts 9:31. It has been supposed by many that the expressions here used denote that Cornelius was Jew, or was instructed in the Jewish religion, and was a proselyte. But this by no means follows. It is probable that there might have been among the Gentiles a few at least who were fearers of God, and who maintained his worship according to the light which they had. So there may be now persons found in pagan lands, who, in some unknown way, have been taught the evils of idolatry; the necessity of a purer religion; and who may be prepared to receive the gospel. The Sandwich Islands were very much in this state when the American missionaries first visited them. They had thrown away their idols, and seemed to be waiting for the message of mercy and the word of eternal life, as Cornelius was. A few other instances have been found by missionaries in heathen lands, who have thus been prepared by a train of providential events, or by the teaching of the Spirit, for the gospel of Christ.

With all his house. With all his family. It is evident here that Cornelius instructed his family, and exerted his influence to train them in the fear of God. True piety will always lead a man to seek the salvation of his family.

Much alms. Large and liberal charity. This is always an effect of piety. See Jas 1:27, Ps 41:1.

Prayed to God alway. Constantly; meaning that he was in the regular habit of praying to God. Comp. Rom 12:12, Lk 18:1, Ps 119:2, Prov 2:2-5. As no particular kind of prayer is mentioned except secret prayer, we are not authorized to affirm that he offered prayer in any other manner. It may be observed, however, that he who prays in secret will usually pray in his family; and as the family of Cornelius is mentioned as being also under the influence of religion, it is perhaps not a forced inference that he observed family worship.

(+) "devout" "pious" (f) "man" Acts 8:2, 22:12 (g) "feared" Eccl 7:18

Acts 11:14

Verse 14. And all thy house. Thy family. This is a circumstance which is omitted in the account in Acts 10. It is said, however, in Acts 10:2, that Cornelius feared God with all his house. And it is evident, from Acts 10:48, that the family also received the ordinance of baptism, and was received into the church.

Acts 16:15

Verse 15. And when she was baptized. Apparently without any delay. Comp. Acts 2:41, 8:38. It was usual to be baptized immediately on believing.

And her household. Gr., Her house, (οοικοςαυτης.) Her family. No mention is made of their having believed. And the case is one that affords a strong presumptive proof that this was an instance of household or infant baptism. For,

(1.) her believing is particularly mentioned.

(2.) It is not intimated that they believed. On the contrary, it is strongly implied that they did not.

(3.) It is manifestly implied that they were baptized because she believed. It was the offering of her family to the Lord. It is just such an account as would now be given of a household or family that were baptized on the faith of the parent.

If ye have judged me to be faithful. If you deem me a Christian, or a believer.

And she constrained us. She urged us. This was an instance of great hospitality, and also an evidence of her desire for further instruction in the doctrines of religion.

(b) "besought us" Heb 13:2

Acts 16:31

Verse 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a simple, a plain, and an effectual direction. They did not direct him to use the means of grace, to pray, or to continue to seek for salvation. They did not advise him to delay, or to wait for the mercy of God. They told him to believe at once; to commit his agitated, and guilty, and troubled spirit to the Saviour, with the assurance that he should find peace. They presumed that he would understand what it was to believe; and they commanded him to do the thing. And this was the uniform direction which the early preachers gave to those inquiring the way to life. Mt 16:16; comp. Acts 8:22.

And thy house. And thy family. That is, the same salvation is equally adapted to, and offered to your family. It does not mean that his family would be saved simply by his believing; but that the offers had reference to them as well as to himself; that they might be saved as well as he. His attention was thus called at once, as every man's should be, to his family. He was reminded that they needed salvation; and he was presented with the assurance that they might unite with him in the peace and joy of redeeming mercy. Comp. Acts 2:39. It may be implied here that the faith of a father may be expected to be the means of the salvation of his family. It often is so, in fact. But the direct meaning of this is, that salvation was offered to his family as well as himself; implying that if they believed, they should also be saved.

(f) "on the Lord Jesus Christ" Hab 2:4, Jn 3:16,36, 6:47, Acts 13:39 (g) "house" Acts 2:39 (*) "house" "Household"

1 Timothy 3:4

Verse 4. One that ruleth well his own house. This implies that a minister of the gospel would be, and ought to be, a married man. It is everywhere in the New Testament supposed that he would be a man who could be an example in all the relations of life. The position which he occupies in the church has a strong resemblance to the relation which a father sustains to his household; and a qualification to govern a family well, would be an evidence of a qualification to preside properly in the church. It is probable that, in the early Christian church, ministers were not unfrequently taken from those of mature life, and who were, at the time, at the head of families; and, of course, such would be men who had had an opportunity of showing that they had this qualification for the office. Though, however, this cannot be insisted on now as a previous qualification for the office, yet it is still true that, if he has a family, it is a necessary qualification, and that a man in the ministry should be one who governs his own house well. A want of this will always be a hinderance to extensive usefulness.

Having his children in subjection with all gravity. This does not mean that his children should evince gravity, whatever may be true on that point; but it refers to the father, he should be a grave or serious man in his family; a man free from levity of character, and from frivolity and fickleness, in his intercourse with his children. It does not mean that he should be severe, stern, morose--which are traits that are often mistaken for gravity, and which are as inconsistent with the proper spirit of a father as frivolity of manner --but that he should be a serious and sober-minded man. He should maintain proper dignity, (σεμνοτης;) he should maintain self-respect, and his deportment should be such as to inspire others with respect for him.

(a) "ruleth well" Ps 101:2