A discussion came up in our Sunday morning bible class regarding Acts 10 and Cornelius’ conversion. Although he was not a “Jew,” verse 2 states he was: “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” …How can I explain John 9:31 that states “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” if Cornelius had not been baptized under the new Testament that went into affect when Christ died on the cross? ~ Keven Endsley
The following verses illustrate the attitude of God toward two types of souls who might appeal to him. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 1:28-29). “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13). “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9). “Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings” (Micah 3:4). Cornelius was clearly not of the one group and as clearly one who possessed the qualities of the other group.
Now, remember that God authored two systems of religion before the introduction of Christianity: Patriarchy and Judaism. God introduced Judaism to a small segment of the human population, the small nation of Israel. The rest of mankind remained under and amenable to the other God-authored form of religion: Patriarchy. Initially, Christianity was introduced to those amenable to Judaism—primarily the Jews and some Gentiles who had proselyted to Judaism (Acts 2). Later, Christianity was introduced to the Samaritans, whose ancestry was a mixture of Jews and non-Jews (Acts 8). Lastly, Christianity was introduced to Gentiles at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10).
By Acts 10, Christianity had been introduced to each class of people, making all classes of people (i.e., Jews, part Jews and non-Jews) amenable to Christianity. Previously, all mankind was amenable to Patriarchy until God introduced Judaism to Israel, at which time only Israel was bound by Judaism, and whereas people outside Israel were still bound to Patriarchy; God did not leave people outside Israel without divine law. The Jews were amenable to Judaism until Christianity was introduced to them. Likewise, Gentiles were amenable to Patriarchy until Christianity was introduced to them (as a class of people).
People living under Patriarchy worshipped God according to the prescriptions of Patriarchy. People living under Judaism worshipped God according to the prescriptions of Judaism. Today, of course, all people are obligated to worship God according to the prescriptions of Christianity, because both Patriarchy and Judaism have been replaced with Christianity.
Cornelius, being a Gentile and not a Jew, I believe, was amenable to Patriarchy at the time of his prayer. He was a good specimen of a Patriarchal worshipper when he prayed, and at which time God decided to introduce Christianity to those still living under Patriarchy.
If, however, this is not the case (and it is not a critical issue now since all people living today live in the Christian dispensation 2,000 years this side of the commencement of Christianity), Cornelius would at least be an instance of the one kind of prayer that in a sense to which God will respond (in our day, providentially) by providing one an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ. God may not have heard Cornelius’ prayer in the sense of accepting him as a child of God, but rather being aware of Cornelius’ prayer, nevertheless responded by sending opportunity to him.
