Cornelius und die spe??a ?ta???? (Apg 10,1)

This article examines Cornelius - a centurion of the so-called Italian cohort mentioned
in Acts 10:1 - within the military and historical context of early first-century
Judea. The passage referring to Cornelius and his cohort has been widely debated
both in New Testament scholarship and Roman military history. The study surveys
divergent assessments regarding the presence of a Roman citizen cohort in Caesarea
during the 30s-40s CE. Drawing on both literary and documentary evidence, the paper
situates Cornelius and his cohort in the broader context of auxiliary units, citizen
cohorts, and centurions' roles in provincial administration. It argues that, although a
positive proof of the cohort's stationing in Judea at that time is lacking, the presence
of Cornelius as a centurion - potentially detached from his unit for specific duties - is
historically plausible as it aligns reasonably well with known Roman military practices
in Syria and Judea.