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Cornelius the Centurion |
 | | Cornelius is called a God-fearer--that is to say, he was a monotheist, a Gentile who worshipped the One God. |
 | | Cornelius, then, was a Roman centurion, and a God-fearing man. One day, as he was praying, an angel appeared to him and told him to send a messenger to Joppa and ask Peter to come and preach to him. |
 | | Cornelius was the first Gentile converted to Christianity, along with his household, and Luke, recording this event, clearly regards it as an event of the utmost importance in the history of the early Church, the beginning of the Church's decision to admit Gentiles to full and equal fellowship with Jewish Christians. |
| www.satucket.com /lectionary/Cornelius.htm (402 words) |
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