Cornelius's Obeisance to Peter (Acts 10:25-26) and Judaea Capta Coins

The narrative in Acts 10:25-26 features two gestures: a Roman soldier prostrating himself before a Judean man and the Judean raising the soldier back up. In this article, I argue that Cornelius's prostration before Peter evokes Roman graphic representations of Rome's status domination over the provinces and enacts the logic of Roman expansion. I argue further that Peter's raising up of Cornelius subverts this logic and communicates the equal status of Judeans and gentiles in the kingdom of God.