The main question among earliest followers of Jesus of Nazareth was this one: In order to be a follower, does one have to be a Jew or become one? A lot of people thought so. After all, for the first few years all those converted were racially Jews even though many came from different parts of the Roman empire.
The first converted Gentile was a Roman army officer named Cornelius, described as a devout and generous man. This is all detailed in Acts 10-11, and the story is one of my favorites in scripture. God's interest is obvious. First, an angel is sent to Cornelius, who instructs him to send for the apostle Peter who's staying at the time in Joppa. Peter will then, the angel says, tell Cornelius what he is to do. By the time Cornelius's men arrive in Joppa, Peter has had a vision himself, one repeated three times. Troubled by what he's seen, Peter finally understands: God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. (10:28 KJV) Led by the Holy Spirit, Peter accompanied by six believing Jewish friends, went to Caesarea to meet with Cornelius. For what happened there let's read Peter's own summation.
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
(Acts 11:1-18 KJV)
Cornelius was no pagan. Oh, he was no doubt born pne. And raised one. However, scripture tells us another thing about this man. He was, it says, "one that feared God with all his house" (10:2 KJV) He was what is now referred to as a "God fearer." At some point he had come to believe that God alone was God and had given up all idolatry. Others of the ten commandments were required of God fearers as well. They weren't to murder, steal, or commit sexual sins. Such men were welcome in the synagogues.
Jewish believers weren't required to leave Judaism, or even encouraged to do so. As we see in Acts 15 and the book of Galatians, Gentiles were not required to become Jews-- or even encouraged to do so. Becoming a God fearer, though, was a different question. Certainly no convert was going to continue in idolatry.
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