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The conversion of Cornelius signifies a critical point in the early church. This event is effectively the inauguration of the mission of evangelism to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)<ref>JB Green, Dictionary of the Later New Testament and It's Developments, Editors: Ralpha P Martin, Peter H Davids, (Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press: 1997), 243</ref>. The nature of the church would forever be changed following the episode, with the dawning of a church that fully and equally incorporated both Jews and Gentiles<ref>JJ Scott, “The Cornelius Incident in the Light of Its Jewish Setting”, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. Volume 34, No 4, 1991:475. Online copy of article: http://www.wheaton.edu/DistanceLearning/Cornel00.htm</ref>.
Luke commences his narrative of the Acts of the Apostles describing the mission of the Apostles to be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The church in Jerusalem, consisting predominantly of devout Jews<rerref>IJ Elmer, “Between Jerusalem and Antioch - The Advent of the Gentile Mission”, Australian Ejournal of Theology. Issue 6, 2006. Online address: http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_6/elmer.htm</ref> in a culture of Jewish particularism, likely understood this commission in geographical terms for Jews<ref>PJ Achtemeir, JB Green, MM Thompson, Introducing the New Testament: It's Literature and Theology, (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans Publishing: 2001), 256</ref>. However, by the time Luke concludes his book, with Paul proclaiming salvation to the Gentiles in Rome (Acts 28:28-31) it has become clear to the church that this commission is better understood in racial and cultural terms<ref>JJ Scott, “The Church’s Progress to the Council of Jerusalem”, Bulletin for Biblical Research, 7, 1997: 205-224. Online copy of article: http://www.wheaton.edu/DistanceLearning/Progress.htm</ref>. Within this frame-work, the story of Cornelius sits centrally placed as the point where the mission to the Gentiles, those at the “ends of the earth”, began<ref>Green, Dictionary of Later New Testament, 243</ref>.
Prior to the conversion of Cornelius, the church, which was centred in Jerusalem, consisted mainly of Hebraic Jews<ref>Scott, “The Church’s Progress”</ref>. Hellenistic Jews who became believers after Pentecost had been dispersed throughout Judea and Samaria following Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1) leaving the more devout, Hebraic Jews in Jerusalem<ref>Elmer, “Between Jerusalem and Antioch”</ref>. These Jews continued to practice a disciplined form of Judaism<ref>W Barclay, The Fourth Gospel & The Acts of the Apostles, Volume Two, The Gospels & Acts (London: SCM Press, 1976), 233</ref>. Acts depicts the apostles continuing to observe times of prayer (Acts 3:1) and dietary laws (Acts 10:14) and to meet in the Temple (Acts 5:12). The church in Jerusalem had the appearance of a sect within Judaism whose members were followers of Jesus as the Messiah<ref>Scott, “The Cornelius Incident”</ref>.