Who Was Cornelius in Acts 10:1–8?
Cornelius was a Gentile centurion whose genuine piety still needed the gospel Peter would bring. Acts 10:1–8 shows God noticing his prayers and generosity and directing him toward the message that would complete what his devotion had begun.
Does God hear prayers from people who are not Christians? A Biblical Guide
God took notice of Cornelius, a Gentile who feared God but had not yet heard the gospel, and his response was to send Peter to him. The passage answers the question by pointing past the prayer to the preaching of Jesus.