Acts 10:2

He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrator describes Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Regiment at Caesarea, in the moment immediately before his vision (Acts 10:3). No one is speaking; this is a character summary that frames what follows.

The words — εὐσεβής (eusebēs) compounds εὖ ("well") with σέβη ("reverence"), giving a literal sense of "well-revering." Paired with φοβούμενος (phoboumenos, "fearing"), it forms the standard LXX formula for God-fearing Gentiles, a category distinct from full covenant membership.

The thread — The angel's reply in Acts 10:4 confirms the description by naming his prayers and alms, and Acts 10:22 repeats the same characterization from the messengers' perspective. The "God-fearing" label recurs for Gentile seekers throughout Acts (13:5, 13:16, 13:43, 17:4, 17:16–17, 18:8).

Why it lands — Cornelius is doing everything the text credits—praying, giving, revering God—yet remains outside the covenant he has not been shown how to enter. The verse exists to make the next chapter's disruption feel earned: his righteousness is real and insufficient at the same time.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Cross-references

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 10:22 “Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
Acts 10:35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
Acts 13:16 Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
Isaiah 58:7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Acts 8:2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
Daniel 6:16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.