With what took place in the home of Cornelius, Gentiles were admitted as full members of the new and rapidly developing Jesus family without having to become Jews in the process. In his otherwise fast-paced narrative, Luke gives the story several repetitions. We can only conclude that for Luke the admission of Gentiles into God’s people, without needing to take on the marks of Jewish identity was one of the central and most important things he wanted to convey.

Controversy and Vindication – sermon by Valentin Arnaudov