The Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot
Acts 10:21-33; John 7:1-13
Polyeleos Feast
Read Acts 10:21-33
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
We have a very interesting encounter between Peter and Cornelius. Cornelius, a very unique person, was a Roman centurion—a soldier who was responsible for 100 others. One would expect that based on his background and leadership position in the Roman army he would not be interested in humbly seeking the one true God. Despite all the pressures to conform to the Roman way of life as superior he listened to his conscience which calls each of us to always pray—he followed faithfully the set times for prayer— and to be ready to fulfill good works and alms—for his kindness the whole Jewish nation respected him. In this way Cornelius became known as a God-fearing man. This is why when Cornelius met Peter for the first time “the posture of his body demonstrated what devotion he had within his heart [toward God].” (Venerable Bede, Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 10.25). That devotion was unillumined and needed to be directed toward the fullness of the Truth—Jesus Christ. For this reason Peter was instructed to visit Cornelius to bring him the Good News of the Gospel. For the Gospel not only enlightens the heart and mind, directs our devotion toward God and not creatures, but also we notice that it raises us up toward human equality: “If such a man as Peter did not allow him [Cornelius] to kneel down before him but rather made himself an equal of Cornelius, and he said these things to one who was still a Gentile, what must we say about all other people?” (Ammonius, Catena on the Acts of the Apostles 10.26-27).