Questions concerning the prayer of Cornelius were answered previously in the pages of Gospel Gazette Online. See the following URL.

https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2008/aug/page20.htm

To that, I merely add the observations of the following commentators. “…having acted according to the light which he had, his prayers were heard, and his alms were accepted” (Barnes). “He was heard because he was yearning for light and using all the light he had” (Johnson). Aside from the miraculous trappings that existed in the first century since such does not persist in the present age (1 Corinthians 13:8-13), God’s providential (behind the scenes) response to earnest truth-seekers does still continue (Hebrews 11:6).

Works Cited

Barnes Notes. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2005.

Johnson, B.W. The People’s New Testament. Georgetown: Wordsearch, 2008.